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I feel sick. Dear god, my own mother. She’s here as my attorney. Ready to sell me and maybe even this family.
“Is that what you would tell your client to do, Mom?” I ask, frostily.
“Forgive me,” Victoria interrupts, a cold smile on her face. “I just assumed you came here, understanding how this all works. Had I known we were going to spend valuable time explaining basic concepts to you, I would have booked out the reservation for longer…”
Anger rises in my chest. Where does she get off talking to me like that?
I throw the papers on the table next to me and cross my arms, trying to mimic the same confident posture that I see Nico and Enzo have all the time. When they do it, others back down.
“I’ll review it and get back to you,” I say, sweetly.
“Fine,” Victoria snaps. “You have until the first of the month.”
“No,” I smile again, “As this is a prenuptial agreement, I think I’ll sign on the morning of the wedding and not a day before.”
My mother chokes on her water but I ignore her. I’m locked in a battle of wills with Victoria, one I can’t afford to lose.
“Fine.”
I smile and take a little sip of my orange juice. Winning, even if it’s something little, feels good.
“You’ll need to address the concerns listed on page five before the end of next week.”
I flip to page five, reading the words there. Sexual health examination? My head snaps up as I take in their meaning.
“I just don’t want my only son to marry a common whore,” Victoria says, sneering. Gone is the façade of attempted civility. She won’t even try now.
My hands clench into fists but I school my face.
“Of course,” I say before my mother can respond. “I’ll see if I have time.”
If loving the men I’m with makes me a whore, then I am one. Gladly so. Hell, I’d drop to my knees this moment if Nico or Enzo asked. I straighten the napkin on my lap.
That’s the thing about good men, they have the ability to create a space safe enough to become whatever type of person you want. To feel things, explore – and feel free.
I highly doubt her pathetic, coddled son has such power.
“And, as I’m sure you’ll understand, I have the same concerns about Jimmy,” I pause, letting my smile break across my face. “I’m sure you’ll provide an equal sexual health examination to quell any concerns. There have been… rumors… circulating the University. I would hate to put myself at risk.” I take a drink of my water. “If that’s not in this agreement, we will certainly need to add it.”
Victoria clenches her talons around her water glass and glares at me. Her eyes are ice cold.
“Of course.” She gives me a tight smile.
It fills my chest with a warm surge of pride to know that I’m getting to her like this.
Fuck them.
“Now that that’s settled, let’s discuss colors, shall we?” I clap my hands in false excitement.
My mother kicks me under the table but I ignore her.
Lunch is served without further incident. During the discussions, I manage to convince the women at the table that my deepest desire is to have a black wedding dress. It takes an incredible amount of self-control not to laugh when I see horrified looks that spread across both Victoria’s and my mother’s faces.
“And a bouquet of black roses to match it,” I add. “Naturally.”
Beside me, my mother’s shoulders stiffen as if bracing herself for what I’ll say next.
Across from us, the elder Mrs. Cosa visibly pushes herself away from the table, careful to turn her body away from mine, as if my taste might be contagious.
