Oblivion ✓

B| Drivers license I

highschool

JOSEPHINE

Everything had been prepared. Domenico had been away for a few days, Riccardo and Matteo were going to visit their friend Oliver, whom I only had to tell that a national football match was being broadcast, and I had told Valentino that he would never be able to give a Hot Stone massage. Fortunately, I was able to quickly arrange an appointment for him.

So that left only Vito. His assistant May had promised me she would block the evening in his calendar and arrange his day so that he wouldn't be exhausted when he came home. The rest was easy. Maria had helped me prepare his favorite meal, and I was setting the table for us when I heard his car pull into the driveway. Nervously, I smoothed out my sweater—specifically Matteo's—and quickly checked if my hair still looked presentable.

'Deep breaths, inhale, exhale, everything will be okay,' I told myself, trying to calm the storm inside me. But my nerves were still running high. I couldn't let this opportunity slip by.

I walked to the entrance, my hands trembling slightly, but I tried to steady my breath. The moment of truth had arrived. I heard him approaching, and there he stood, looking slightly surprised to see me waiting at the door.

"Hey," Vito said, his tone a mix of curiosity and amusement. "What's all this?"

I gave him a warm smile, though my heart was pounding in my chest. "Come in," I said, stepping aside to let him through. "I've been waiting for you."

Vito stepped inside, his gaze sweeping over the room as his eyes landed on the table set for dinner. "This... this is a bit much for a simple evening, don't you think?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I laughed nervously. "It's not just any evening, Vito," I replied, my voice slightly shaky. "I wanted to do something special for you. You've been working so hard lately, and I thought you deserved a night to relax."

He seemed taken aback by my words, his expression softening. "You really didn't have to do all of this," he said gently.

I shook my head, trying to smile through my nerves. "I wanted to. Besides, I know how much you like Maria's cooking, so I thought we could spend some time together while everyone else is out for the evening."

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "You really went all out, didn't you? It looks fantastic. Let me just freshen up a bit, and I'll be right back."

"Of course," I said quickly, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "Take your time, no rush." I watched as he headed toward the stairs, his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet house. Once he disappeared upstairs, I quickly went to the kitchen to check on the food Maria had helped prepare. The aromas of his favorite dishes filled the air, and for a moment, I let myself relax, before returning to the table. I couldn't believe I had actually done it. Everything had been planned so carefully, but still, part of me felt unsure. I glanced at the table, the soft glow of the candles reflecting in the polished surface, and reassured myself. Nothing could go wrong anymore.

Except when I turned the corner, I found Valentino sitting at the dining table, scrolling through his phone like he didn't have a care in the world. "Aren't you supposed to be driving to your appointment right now?" I asked, trying to sound unbothered.

He waved his hand dismissively. "Nah, still enough time. Why does everything here look so fancy?"

I sighed, trying to keep my cool. "It's not fancy, Valentino. It's just... I want to make tonight nice. For Vito."

Valentino gave me a skeptical look, tapping his phone absently. "Uh-huh, sure. It's like a five-star dinner just for him, huh? I thought I was your favorite brother."