Mr. Vincenzo | 18+

twenty-two

e I o i s e

The 'meeting' was ongoing.

"Boy, just because I last played with those ketchup and mayo cables, do you think I have no skills?"

"You are against a master, Uncle Vincenzo," Aiden said. "Your 19th century skills don't stand a chance."

"Watch and learn, noob."

Their fingers working so fast I wasn't sure if they themselves knew what they was doing. I glanced back at the screen. Two figures were engaged in a one-to-one sword combat. Swish, clank, and grunts resonated through the speakers as did another colourful word from Aiden's mouth.

It was swiftly followed by a real-life smack.

"Ow, Mom, are you on my side or Uncle Vincenzo's side? Do you want me to lose?"

"Yes. I want Vinny to beat your ass."

"Darling, now that's hypo—" one look and Dad shut up. How real were sleeping on the couch threats?

"Consider it done, Ava. I'm not letting this troublemaker of yours win."

"Uncle Noob, I wish you luck."

Vincenzo chuckled, then one of the characters aggressively swung forth, drastically damaging the health meter of his opponent. The other couldn't gain his footing. Aiden cursed. Mom smacked his head. He hit the buttons more furiously, his attention all on the screen.

Aryanna came from the kitchen with a bowl of chips and sat on the arm beside Vincenzo. "Dad, which one are you?"

"Fuck no." Aiden exclaimed, the controller falling limp in his hold as the screen flashed green, one character standing while the other lay fallen.

Vincenzo kept down his controller on the table. He was as smug as young boy. "The winner, Anna."

He looked cute. Like really cute. Like I-want-to-kiss-him kind of cute.

I stopped for a moment. He was always I-want-to-kiss-him kind of cute or handsome or something. If I could, I would kiss him now too. I wanted to kiss him now too.

I had a crush. A huge crush on Vincenzo Rodriguez.

"You only won because Mom hit me—"

"Noob," Aaron said from his place on the bean bag. "I shouldn't even recognise you as my brother after this. You lost to the guy who last played with ketchup and mayo cables?"

"At least I went to the finals instead of losing Round 1, noobest of noobs."

"I wasn't parading myself as a master—"

Mom casually picked up a magazine from the table. My brothers looked at each other and shut up.

Aryanna laughed out loud. "I swear, Aunt Ava, only you can handle these two devils. But don't share those tips with Dad's girlfriend, okay? I would very much not want to be them."

"Yeah, that little brain would just fly out with one hit—"

I grimaced as that magazine was put to use. I definitely didn't want to be Aiden.