*Giovani*
I stared at the phone in my hand and my son in his crib. Olivia stood frozen beside me, neither of us wanting to let reality puncture the beautiful bubble we’d created.
I shook myself. Gabriele was my right hand, but he was also my best friend. He wouldn’t be calling unless whatever happened needed immediate attention.
I answered the call. “What?”
Gabriele sighed heavily.
“Don’t drag it out,” I snapped as I walked out of Elio’s room. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Olivia bend to press a kiss on Elio’s head before she followed me.
“Tell me how you really feel,” Gabriele said.
I inhaled to say something I’d certainly regret, but he cut me off.
“Alright, alright. It’s not good.”
“It better not be,” I hissed.
Olivia rubbed my shoulders, trying to ease a little of the tension that had crept back into them.
