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“Not dead, necessarily. And it’s not that simple.” His brow furrows. “It’s just unfortunate. In my line of work, sometimes you’re safer not knowing. Rest assured I’ll never hold back what you truly need.”

I set my fork down. “I’m not sure I’m good with the whole not knowing thing. I’m too curious for my own good.”

“Curiosity kills, woman.” His eyes darken. “I’m asking you to reel it in, for your good and mine. No point in both of us going crazy.”

“Huh?” I blink at him.

“Never mind. You can try for me, Sylvie?”

“I can. But Nonno? Good luck with that when it’s wedding announcement time. You know how it is with old guys like him. They’re hardwired to ask embarrassing questions.” I pluck a piece of strawberry off the plate and twist the stem. “Oh God. How do we break the news? He’s going to think I’m off my rocker.”

Luca doesn’t say anything, but his lips quirk up.

“I don’t have much family left. One thing I know, Nonno wanted to give me away. I was planning on a real wedding with a church, even if I didn’t have the family to fill the pews. He’s going to go ballistic when he finds out there wasn’t even a reception!”

“I am sorry.” He sounds genuine.

“Thank goodness there’s no one else and my parents are gone. I’d probably be disowned,” I mutter, popping another strawberry into my mouth. “What about your family? Like, won’t your brothers wonder what’s up? Or do they already have arranged wives they pulled off the street too?”

He lets out a small chuckle that sweeps down my back.

If a sound could smolder, it’s this laugh.

“They’ll give me a universe of shit. Well deserved. They don’t hold back.”

I smile.

That’s how brothers are, I guess, and as an only child, I’m a little jealous.

“What about the rest? Your parents?”

“My parents… My mom has been gone for a long time. And my papa's pretty much checked out mentally. He used to lead the family. Now it’s just my brothers and me. They’ll come calling soon enough, and we’ll handle them then.”

“You don’t seem that worried.”

“I’m not.” He shrugs. “I’m the middle child. That gives me a metric fuckton of practice taking flak from the older, responsible bully and the little brat.”

I giggle.

“I’m an only child. I would’ve loved to have siblings,” I tell him. “I think my parents wanted it that way, originally, but… it just wasn’t meant to be. Mom passed when I was really young. Then it was just Dad and me, living in Seattle, until he… yeah.”

He smiles, thin and kind. “You have your grandfather, and you love him a lot. Tell me about him.”

“I do. He’s not just family. He’s also my best friend. But I mean, there’s not much to tell. He’s just Nonno.” I’m sure my eyes light up anyway as I laugh. “He loves his baseball, long dinners that last half the night, and poker. He used to be a huge card fiend back in the day. Played in a lot of tournaments and such before he met my nonna. Then he only played when he could. They were married for forty years. But she passed away while I was in college.”

Luca nods sympathetically.

“They were so funny. They’d always try to outdo each other with who could be the better cook. Their house always smelled like an Italian restaurant! I think that’s probably why I never got in too deep with cooking. I can do the basics, sure, but I’d never be able to outdo them. Oh, and every time I went there, I’d gain another few pounds. Bad hearts run in the family, so I’d better watch out.”

He nods again.

When I look at him, I’m startled.

His strange, melancholy blue eyes stay glued to me like I’m the only interesting thing in the world, and he doesn’t mind it one bit.

“Sorry,” I whisper. “I’m rambling on.”

“It’s great, dove. Gives me ideas.”