Amore Inaspettato

Capitolo 22

Vitto
Hey pretty girl

Ginevra smiled down at her phone as she saw the message. The last bell had just rung and Vitto wasn't wasting any time texting her.

Ginevra
Do I know you?

Vitto
I'd hope so. Does
anyone else call you
pretty girl? Do I have
some competition?

Ginevra
Only you

Vitto
So whatta ya say? Want
to grab something to eat?

Ginevra
With you?

Vitto
No, with Carlo. Thought
I told you he liked you?

Ginevra
Hmm. I don't think you
mentioned that. I don't
think I'll go then, there's
kinda this other guy I
may be talking to.

Vitto
Ooooh...?

Ginevra
Yeah he kinda
mentioned today that
he might want to grab
something to eat
tonight. I'd hate to
stand him up.

Vitto
I'll make sure to let
him down easy.

Ginevra
But seriously I am
starving. You wanna
follow me to my
house?

Vitto
I'll meet you in the
parking lot.

Ginevra laughed as she pushed her phone into her pocket and made her way to the parking lot. She spotted Vitto by his car, which was coincidentally parked right next to her.

"Hey, stranger," Ginevra said getting his attention. She walked over and leaned up against the driver's side back door.

"Hey," Vitto smiled as he walked over to her, "You ready?"

"Sure. I'm gonna change before we go when we get to my house," Ginevra said.

"Is it all right if I stop by mine after? Before we go get something to eat," Vitto asked, placing his hand on her car right by her shoulder.

"Sure," Ginevra smiled.

"I'm glad you agreed to go out with me," Vitto said.

"We're just grabbing something to eat," Ginevra said, "It's not a date...yet."

"I can work with yet," Vitto smirked. His eyes flashed over her head to Nicco who was staring at the two. Virginia was talking his ear off but it didn't look like he was paying attention to a word he was saying. Vitto looked back at Ginevra who was smiling up at him. He leaned forward, placing a quick kiss on her cheek.

"What was that for?" Ginevra blushed.

"I can't just kiss you on the cheek for no reason, pretty girl?" Vitto asked.

"I guess. But only on the cheek," she said pointing her finger at him. Vitto laughed it off as he pushed off the car. His eyes traveled back over to Nicco. If looks could kill, he'd surely be dead. Vitto just sent the boy a nod before walking to get in his car.

Ginevra walked over to Vitto's car as they got to her house. "Should I stay out here or come in?" Vitto asked.

"Oh, you can come in, my dads..." Ginevra tried to figure out what to say, "He's gone right now. No one should be home."

"Cool," Vitto smiled. Ginevra walked into the house, Vitto shutting the door behind her.

"I'm just gonna change and then we can go," Ginevra said. Vitto opened his mouth to reply but a noise from the back of the house stopped him. Ginevra turned around quickly, her eyes surveying the room.

"I thought you said no one was home," Vitto said.

"No one should be home," Ginevra whispered as she turned to the boy. Another noise made her look back to the living room. "Maybe we should call the police."

"You're sure it's not your dad?" Vitto asked, "I'd hate to call the police if it's him."

"I mean... I guess it could be him," Ginevra said, "I don't know I haven't seen him in over a month and I don't know when he's supposed to be back."

"Well maybe we should call out to him," Vitto said.

"That is the last thing you want to do if it's an intruder," Ginevra whisper yelled.

"Right, okay. Well then we gotta check it out," Vitto said, "You stay here and I'll go check it out."

"I'm not staying here by myself!" Ginevra said, "Don't you know that's how people get killed!"

"Okay well I don't want you to get hurt if it's an intruder," Vitto said.

"Well, don't you think two against one is better odds?" Ginevra asked.

"All right Just--just stay behind me," Vitto said. Ginevra walked behind Vitto as they slowly started to walk farther into the house.

"Wait!" Ginevra whispered loudly. She ran back over to the closet that was in the living room.

"What are you doing?" Vitto asked. The girl smiled at him as she pulled a bat out and walked back over to him. "Why do you have this in the closet?"

"I'm a teenage girl who's been living alone for the past month," Ginevra shrugged, "You can never be too careful." Vitto just laughed to himself as he grabbed the bat. Ginevra followed him down the hallway. "I don't hear anything anymore."

"Maybe we were just--" The door to their left opened making them both jump. Vitto raised the bat at the man who stood in the doorway.

"Wait!" Ginevra yelled recognizing the man, "Dad..."

"Ginevra," Alessio said. Vitto dropped the bat to his side quickly, almost embraced this is how he was meeting her father. "Who is this?"

"I'm Vittorio Gallo," Vitto said, "I'm a uh--a friend of Ginevra's from school."

"I-I didn't k-know you--," Ginevra stuttered, "I didn't know you were back."

"Just got back this morning," Alessio said, "It must have been right after you left for school." Her eyes looked over his body, he looked healthier than when she last saw him. He had on clean clothes, he was freshly shaven, and he had a smile on his face. Ginevra didn't know what to say or do, she just stood behind Vitto staring at her dad. "I figured we could have dinner. I can make your favorite."

"Umm Vitto and I were gonna grab something to eat, actually," Ginevra said.

"We can go another time," Vitto said. Ginevra turned her head toward the boy. She honestly didn't know if she wanted to be left alone with her dad yet or not.

"Vitto, you should stay for dinner," Alessio said sensing his daughter's hesitation.

"Sure," Vitto smiled, "I'm gonna run to my house and change."

"I'll go with you," Ginevra quickly said

"All right," Vitto said not really sure why she wanted to come with, but he didn't want to question it.

"We'll be back," Ginevra said turning back toward her father.

"I'll be here," Alessio said.