“But how are you going to get your parents to say yes?”
I slanted a look at Mom who was busy distracting Carlotta from her breathing problems. Dad was in the restaurant working all night. Diego, my constant shadow, was busy with party preparations. Nonna would soon watch her favorite telenovela. “Don’t worry. Can you pick me up so we can get ready together?”
“Sure, I’ll be there in ten minutes. Do you have clothes to wear?”
“Not really. Nothing for a party.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll figure something out.”
I hung up and picked up the cake. “Mom, I’ll take this cake to the Falcone’s as a surprise for Savio. Toni’s driving me there.” Other than me, Toni was allowed to drive. I didn’t even have a license.
Mom nodded distractedly.
I grabbed a jean jacket, then stepped outside. As promised, Toni pulled up a few minutes later in her father’s Mustang. I slipped in. Her nose was slightly red and her eyes still a bit swollen. She glanced at my cake. “Don’t tell me you want to give that to Savio. He didn’t even invite you to his party!”
“I’m invited to coffee tomorrow,” I muttered. “Today I’d obviously be in the way. He’s probably going to bang half of Vegas.”
Toni laughed. “Bang? I didn’t even know you could pronounce that word.”
I poked my tongue out at her. Toni’s home, an apartment not too far from the Arena, was silent when we stepped in, but that was usually the case. Her dad worked even more than mine.
Thirty minutes later, we were both dressed for the party. Toni wore hot pants, Doc Martens and a black bodysuit. I’d squeezed into the only pair of jeans that fit me. Toni wasn’t as curvy as me, so the black fabric hugged my body like a second skin. Above it, I wore a crop top with flowing sleeves and a low neckline that dipped down to my sternum. Toni helped me fixate the fabric with double-sided tape to prevent an embarrassing show of nipple.
“I’d kill for your abs,” Toni said.
“And I’d kill for your legs.”
We smiled at each other. Toni sighed. “Thanks for being there and distracting me.”
“Always. But I’m not sure if this is the best choice as far as distractions go. You’ll see Diego.”
She shrugged. “If I see him with another girl, I can move on.”
Was it really that easy? I wasn’t sure how I’d feel if I saw Savio with another woman today. After we were done with our hair and makeup, we took Toni’s car to the address that one of the girls in the Arena had mentioned to her.
It was a mansion not too far from the Falcone mansion. The moment we got out of the car, the bass of the party reached us. Different colored lights flashed up.
“He’s got a bouncer for his party. He’s so damn extra,” Toni whispered as we approached the gate where, indeed, a huge man was standing guard.
I knew the man distantly, probably a Camorrista.
“How will we get in?” she asked when we’d almost reached him.
“I have the entrance ticket around my finger.” I smiled at the bouncer whose face flashed with recognition. I held up my engagement ring. He stepped back at once. Toni clutched my arm in a death grip as we made our way up the driveway. A few half naked girls were chasing each other with bottles of champagne.
The inside of the house was crowded with people and the irresistible throb of the music. I recognized many faces from school and from the gym. Most of the men were Camorrista while the majority of the girls weren’t from Italian families. The usual.
I scanned the crowd for two particular faces. Soon I noticed the appreciative looks of the men surrounding us. I usually didn’t wear this much makeup and in the dim light they probably didn’t recognize me. A few guys headed our way, pushing each other in our direction until the tallest stopped in front of me and his friend in front of Toni. He grinned and was about to say something when his friend said something to him. His eyes flitted to the ring on my finger and his expression morphed into shock. He looked around then disappeared without a goodbye. Toni shook her head. “With you at my side, I probably won’t find a cute guy today. They’re all scared of Savio.”
My mood dropped.
We fought our way deeper into the house. I could only hope word about my appearance wouldn’t reach Savio or Diego. In the living room, several platforms rose up, on which girls danced in different states of undress.
Toni gripped my arm tightly. I followed her gaze to Diego who was dancing with a blond girl, his hands on her ass and his tongue in her mouth.
Toni scowled. “I knew it.”
“Do you want me to go over and break his nose?”