"This evening, I have a special place to show you."
After their sisters had left for town, Aaron and Giovanni stayed in their room all afternoon. They were seated on the bed, Giovanni leaned against the pillows, Aaron snuggled up against him.
"A place? Where might that be?"
"It's a surprise."
Giovanni didn't want to let go of Aaron, their bodies tightly entwined. They kissed and cuddled each other. Giovanni had left red marks all over Aaron's body, even on his feet, preventing him from wearing shorts.
The phone beside Aaron on the bed rang, and it was his mother calling. He answered the call and slightly moved away from Giovanni, who was still lying on the bed next to him. Giovanni gently took the phone and placed it on his knees. He remained silent, fearing to disturb Aaron or let out a noise that could have been heard by his stepmother.
"Greetings, mother," Aaron said, in Russian.
"All is well, mother," he reassured his mother, who seemed to be concerned about them.
"Yes, mother. I will convey your message to her," he assured.
Giovanni was surprised to see how normal Aaron's family seemed. Even though he found Aaron to be too formal with his mother. He had feared that as a mafia family, they would be distant from each other, but even Aaron's father seemed warm. Each member of the family took turns talking to Aaron on the phone.
"Don't forget to bring us back some souvenirs," his mother reminded him before Myra took the phone back from her hands.
"Take lots of pictures," she added, before their father took over.
"Take care of yourself and your sister. Don't spoil her too much. Relax and enjoy your vacation. You deserve it."
"Thank you, father," Aaron replied, and they hung up.
Giovanni had heard it all, with his head resting on Aaron's shoulders.
"Was that your family?"
"Yes, my parents and my sister."
"You seem close."
"Just like you and Olivia."
"That was not always the case. But now, she is my only family, along with the people here. They are not related to me by blood, but I consider them as my family, especially Umberto and Margherita."
"You know, family is not limited to those we share a blood relation with. There are people..." Aaron paused, looking at the time. It was already 3 PM.
"Oh darn," he exclaimed as he got up from the bed.
"What?" Giovanni asked, looking concerned.
"I forgot Umberto wanted to show me something."
"What is it?" Giovanni insisted, not wanting Aaron to leave.
Aaron knelt on the edge of the bed, grabbed Giovanni by the collar, and stole a quick kiss before leaving the room with a smile, leaving Giovanni alone and stunned. Giovanni then lay down on the bed, burying his face in the pillow to muffle a cry of frustration. Then, resting his hands behind his head, he stared at the ceiling, lost in his thoughts.
"I will end up losing my mind at this rate," he thought to himself, before calling his sister.
"Do you have what I asked for?" he inquired.
"Oh darn, I forgot... hahaha... I'm kidding. They are here. I brought ten packs," she replied.
"Are you on your way already? And Kira?" Giovanni asked.
"She is with me," his sister replied.
Kira had an unpleasant surprise when she caught her boyfriend Yuri kissing another woman. In a fit of anger, she slapped the girl, stormed out of the place, and Yuri tried to stop her, but she drove away, throwing it into a ravine, and called Olivia to come pick her up at Giovanni's. Upon arriving home, Kira went straight to her room and locked herself inside.
Concerned, Aaron went to see his sister to find out what had happened. Kira explained what she had witnessed and announced her decision to break up with Yuri. Despite her sadness and anger, Kira seemed determined to have a good evening at the wine tasting organized by Olivia. Aaron reminded her not to drink too much.
"Yes, Daddy !"
Meanwhile, Olivia handed a box of condoms to her brother.