Belongs to him

32 | Hospitality

Alina Romano

"Dad, " the words shot out of his mouth, almost in disbelief. He was surprised that his dad was actually here in front of him. From what I heard when Kingston was growing up, his father would make it when he could. Still, due to family dealings, he wasn't around much.

Kingston was more quiet about him, Pierce. I'd done some googling, and the man was wiped from the internet. He was just listed as Kingston's father, and that was it. He was like a ghost.

As he stared at me, he didn't lack any confusion. Instead, he smiled slightly, "It's great to meet you finally, Alina." The ring in his voice with my name bothers Kingston. Which hinted something else was going on that I didn't understand.

"It's great to meet you, Mr. Romano," I offered out my hand, and he shook it. "I'm glad you could make it for the holiday." A screech followed my words, and when I turned, Sofia looked more than excited to see her husband.

"Oh darling, you made it," it was her doing to get him here. I knew this Thanksgiving meant more to her than to me. This was the first time they were meeting me and accepting the two of us.

"I have a turkey to carve," Kingston says coolly and moves into the dining room. He leaves me and Matt with them and I chuckle softly.

"He's in a mood," I excuse. Pierce smiles at me and his eyes glance at me up and down, stopping at my abdomen. It leaves me with discomfort; I knew this would happen.

"Are you?" He asks, waiting for confirmation.

"No," the words left me drained. I was expecting this from his father, but I wondered if this would be the question that followed me.

"Mio Dio Pier, hai appena incontrato la ragazza. Mostrale un po' di rispetto!" Sofia flips at him, and I can't understand a word. Only respect in which I'm guessing she told him he'd been disrespectful.

Matt grabbed my arm as I stood awkwardly and pulled me away from them.

"You didn't deserve that," he whispered to me. This meant he also knew Italian, my sign to begin investing in a tutor other than my husband. Kingston could spot my discomfort immediately, and I saw a flare in his eyes.

"What did he say?" His voice grew dark as he spoke. I could tell that something was off.

"Kingston..." I sputter.

"That wasn't a question; it's an order," his tone is sharp as he speaks. I shrug, not in the mood for this. So he looks to Matt, "What did he say? " He seems exhausted by his father, and it has only been five minutes.

"We should've just ordered pizza and watched football with some beer," Margaret mumbled to Enzo, watching this dinner crumble.

"He not so subtly asked if you were expecting. Sofia flipped out at him," Matt explains, and the silverware in his hands clatters to the plate.

"I apologize," Pierce's voice cuts through the tenseness in the air. His father pulled out the chair at the other end of the table. It was inappropriate for me to ask; I apologize, " he repeats once more.

Nodding in understanding, I take my seat beside Kingston. God, this dinner had been a mess and had barely begun. At least Margaret and Enzo seemed to be enjoying themselves.