vehement

5

• AMALIA •

"Hi, daddy." I say. "Here, sit down."

     I smile at him. He furrows his eyebrows as suspicion laces his features. He sits down anyway, smiling when Enzo sits right beside him. He wraps an arm around his little shoulders.

     "Everything okay?" He asks me.

     I nod.

     Mason leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he watches eagerly. I send him an annoyed glance, but it only makes him grin.

     "Do you want anything?"

     His eyes narrow a little. I give him another smile.

     "What's going on?" He asks me.

"Nothing." I bite my nails, my eyes watering.

His expression softens. "Amalia, what's the matter?"

     "I'm sorry." I whisper.

     Puzzlement fills his eyes. "For what?"

"In Vegas.. I.. uh.. I.."

"You what, sweetheart?"

I put my head in my hands.

"Grandad?" Hannah whispers.

"Yeah, honey?"

"Auntie Lia was silly." She tells him.

     I'd laugh if I weren't so worried.

     "Do you know what she did?" He asks her gently.

     "Yes I do." She replies.

     I look up, seeing her right in front of my dad. Her blonde hair is disheveled around her face.

     "Auntie Lia." She says.

     "Hm?"

     She looks back at her dad, who smiles at her. Then she turns to me. "I don't think it's that silly."

My lips tilt up. "Thanks, Han."

She smiles and rocks back on her feet. Then she rushes back over to her dad, who grins as he lifts her up beside him.

"Is someone going to tell me what you're talking about?" My dad asks.

     Mason grins.

     "Mase?" He questions.

Mason smiles again. "Well—"

"I got married." I whisper.

He pauses for a moment. Then he leans forward, peering his eyes. "What?"

I bite my bottom lip between my lip nervously. "Sorry." I say quietly.

"Tell him who you got married to." Mason laughs.