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Aliyana’s eyes looked tired Fuck, I knew lint as she stared at ain

A server ca back to a server in the kitchen to set up the patio He’d spoken in perfect Italian The waiter arrived at our table, his eyes flaring as they fell on Aliyana

The guy flushed bright red and fuhtened in my stomach as Aliyana smiled up at hi fucked off that this asshole was hovering, I sat back in lared He soon met my eyes, and when he did, his eyes immediately dropped to the notepad and he nervously asked us anted

"Caffè doppio e una brioche alla creh his expression was still guarded, he asked, "Tu parli Italiano?"

"Si," I replied

"Da dove vieni?" he asked, wanting to knohere I was froenitori loro sono Italiani," I said, telling him my mamma and papa were Italian, notmyself to I only ever spoke Italian to Ma out of prison, it hadn’t felt right Maue forme inside

The server must have seen my body stiffen and my eyes drop to the table as he moved on to talk to Aliyana I didn’t even hear what she ordered, too busy trying to breathe through the pain ripping me apart

The feel of Aliyana’s war up to clash with hers

"Are you okay? You went real quiet onyour naood"

We sat in silence while the server brought our coffees Once he’d left us alone, Aliyana took a packet of sugar, poured it into her coffee, then fiddled with the packet

"So" She broke the silence "You speak fluent Italian?"

"Yes"

"I’ve been told Elpidio is an old Italian name" She lifted her latte to her lips, but her eyes never leftme to answer her question