Which, she could see now, was exactly what she’d done.
Gia was moving blueberries under an uneaten pancake, which Tessa translated to mean she might be thinking about what Tessa had just said. “I worry about my dad being alone,” Gia admitted. “And I worry about if I’d be able to handle my classes away from home. Leaving seems…scary.”
“Every single decision we make in life is scary because we basically have to guess whether it’s the right choice or not. There’s no magic crystal ball.”
“That sucks.”
“Yeah. But that’s the fun in life, I guess,” she said. Gia rotated a little in her seat and caught a peek at the boy across the way, who looked quickly away. “And now I have a question for you.” Tessa tipped her head to the left. “Who’s that boy who’s been staring at you the whole time? He is cute.”
Gia looked up, turned red, and went back to pushing blueberries. “His name is Aaron.”
“He’s definitely checking you out.”
“I don’t want to make my life complicated before college.”
“Honey, life has a way of getting complicated no matter how hard we try to keep it simple.”
Like kissing Leo. And not being able to stop thinking about him.
“My two favorite women,” she heard someone say. Turning, she saw Leo standing at their table, reaching over to kiss her on the cheek with a big “MWUAH,” which made her chuckle at his silliness—and bring the memory of last night rushing back. She was relieved when he crossed the table to hug his sister. “You ready for farm adventures?”
“Can’t wait,” Gia said, eating the last bite of her breakfast.
“We’re going to learn all about growing different kinds of tomatoes.” He sat down next to Tessa, peeking into her almost-full coffee mug. “Do you mind?”
She pushed the coffee toward him, and he quickly downed it. Then started on her hot chocolate. Maybe someone else didn’t sleep so well, either.
“Hey, Gia,” someone said. Tessa looked up to see the boy from across the way, brave soul that he must be, standing at their table. He was tall and blond and tanned, and he had a nice smile. “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Castorini. I’m Aaron.”
Tessa nearly laughed aloud. Mr. and Mrs. Castorini?
But geez, that was actually who they were, wasn’t it?
Leo sat there, his thick brows knit down, apparently trying to look as threatening as possible.
Aaron seemed undaunted. “Can I ask you a homework question?” he asked Gia.
“A homework question?” she repeated, her cheeks coloring.
“Gia, we really should get going,” Leo said, impatiently checking his watch.
Tessa elbowed him under the table. But she was thinking of something else besides his bad manners.
At Gia’s age, Tessa might have said something to cut a boy off. Anger had made her cutting and quick around men. Anger at being stuck. At losing her choices.
It had grown and ballooned and…taken over. She didn’t want that to happen to Gia.
“Leo,” Tessa said, “come with me and see how they’ve planted that beautiful flower bed.” She pointed to the edge of the outdoor seating area. “I was thinking maybe we could do something like that on your new restaurant patio.” She turned to Gia and hitched her thumb toward the flowers. “We’ll be right back.”
She literally dragged Leo to the flower bed, where some wilted petunias baked in the sun.
“Nice flowers,” he said drily. “Why are you encouraging my sister to talk to a boy?”
She shook her head. “Because she’s seventeen, and that’s what normal seventeen-year-olds do.”
“Not under my watch. No dating till she’s…thirty. At least.” He quirked a smile.
She hoped that meant he was kidding—but she wasn’t really sure.
Tessa crossed her arms. “Leo. Do not pull that big-Italian-brother thing with her. Gia’s shy and quiet, and she’s, well, missing out. Push her a little to let her have a life.”
“My sister has the top GPA in her class. She’s headed for great things. Why let some guy derail that?”
“He’s just a friend.”
He shot her a skeptical look. “Also, she’s the top contender for the candle factory scholarship,” he said. “I know she wouldn’t let anything get in the way of winning. I mean, no one would, right?”
She searched his eyes. Was he talking about her? Of course not. Because he couldn’t know anything about that, could he? “Leo, your sister’s a great kid.”
“I know.” He beamed a look of pride. “She’s amazing,”
“Maybe a little too amazing.” She chose her words carefully. “Also, she’s not really a kid anymore. She’s almost eighteen and ready for college.”
That got his attention. “What do you mean by too amazing?”
“What I mean is, she’s got things a little too figured out.”
He shrugged. “I tried to talk to her about the college thing. But she’s so assured; it’s hard to change her mind. I think you’re over-reading.”
“No, Leo.” She grabbed his arm, which got his attention. “I have a gut feeling about this. I think that she feels an obligation to take care of your father. Promise me you’ll talk more with her about this.”
He searched her eyes for a long time. “Okay. If you feel that strongly, I will.” After a pause, he said, “Look, about last night. I want you to know it won’t happen again.”
Oh, the kisses. As if she could forget them for more than a minute. “Right,” she said. “Absolutely in agreement. A huge mistake.” Embarrassing, never to be repeated, but…so, so good. In all the wrong ways, of course.
“Okay, great.” He put his hands in his jeans pockets. “No more to be said, then.”
“Is it still guys’ night tonight?” She was relieved to change the subject.
“They’re coming around eight. You sure it’s okay?”
“Sounds fun. Um, what exactly does card night entail?”
Leo shrugged. “Eating pizza. Drinking beer. Smoking cigars.”
“Sounds fun. But the cigars will be smoked outside, right?”
“Definitely,” he said with a little smile.
“Okay, great.” There was an awkward pause. “Have you talked to your dad yet about us preparing a full meal for him?”