Slowburn

Chapter 41

        I had assumed Renzo didn't wanna show me to his family, but I realize now that it is the exact opposite. He doesn't wanna show his family to me. I couldn't help the smile that grew. "I'm Portuguese, my family is just like this" I assured him. There are a lot of similarities in the culture. "I highly doubt that" he muttered to himself, but I heard him. 

"You wanna eat something?" He asked me. I was so confused how I just got involved with the Revello family reunion. I was just meant to drop off a key. How did I end up here? "Here, lemme take this" Renzo removed his hand from my waist and slid my bag off my shoulder. "I'll put it behind the bar, on the shelf" he told me from over his shoulder. 

       "KITTEN" I heard the same drunk voice practically gasp. "I thought they kicked you out," Dante laughed as he stood from the card table and clasped my shoulders to redirect me to that table. It was the area to the left where there were those half circle booths. A bunch of young Italian guys were all looking at me, and my cheeks heated pink. Some young, like teenagers, but mostly older like ranging through their 20's.

"This is Kat," he announced, still holding my shoulders from behind me. "Um, hello" I waved, but I was squirming under all these eyes checking me out right now. I shouldn't have worn this outfit. I have midriff showing and everything. They'll think I'm some slut, oh gosh. 

One of them licked his lips and sat up straighter. "Hello Kat, very pretty, you are" he tried with a charming grin. Suddenly Dante's hands were gone from my shoulders, which made me glance back. Renzo had shoved him off and replaced him, standing directly behind me. Almost close enough for me to feel his frame on mine. 

        "Go talk to your baby's mother" Renzo called his cousin out. Everyone at the table started laughing and ragging on him. "Damn, why you gotta call me out like that. I was trying my shot" he sucked his teeth at Renzo. Renzo turned me away from those people, and led me towards the back right hand area.Back where there is usually a scattering of tables stretching all the way down to the back wall. 

The bar is sort of in the center of it all. "My mother saw you greet my father, which means if you don't greet her she'll be offended" he spoke low in my ear as he walked me along. I swallowed. Meeting his mom. My heart fluttered.

"Renzo, I'm dressed slutty" I stopped in my tracks. I saw his lip twitch in amusement. "This is what you consider slutty? Look at my aunt, her chest is hanging out everywhere. You're fine" he shook his head at my modesty. 

Who knows what an Italian mother would think. I know some older Portuguese women who only gossip and talk bad about others. I don't want to be that topic of conversation. 

        "My handsome nephew, oh bella, who is this?" An auntie came out of nowhere with very heavy perfume on. He just kept us going. He spoke in Italian and every woman turned her head. My gut clenched and my heart rate spiked. I smiled sheepishly and I knew I was blushing. 

"Hello, nice to meet you all. I'm Kat" I tried speaking loud enough for them to hear over the men lined at the bar beside this area, who were cackling and shouting. My voice is soft, so I don't know if they heard me well enough.

         As soon as I caught eyes with a particular woman I just knew it was his mother. I smiled more, "You must be Mrs. Revello" I stepped forward to shake her hand. "How'd you know" she tipped her head at me. "You have the same beautiful eyes as your son," I admitted. She grinned and patted my hand. "Oh thank you honey, what did you say your name was?" She looked at me from head to toe. 

She's a beautiful woman who also aged gracefully, though I see she works to maintain her youth. She has midnight hair that she blow dried into curtain bangs that looked nice on her, and she had flawless makeup that shed her years.