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her sister.”
    “Watch your mouth in my house, Franco.” Ma glanced at the bathroom door. “And she wants to sing. That’s a difficult road. It’s a good thing she has you to—”
    “To what? We’re just friends.”
    “Now, but I see the way that girl looks at you. She’s looking for a lot more than friendship.”
    I stared at my coffee cup, refusing to meet Ma’s gaze. “Well she’s gonna have to keep lookin’. Friendship’s all I can offer right now.”
    Ma clicked her tongue and started to say more, but I cut her off.
    “What’s going on?” I asked. “Why am I really here?”
    She stood and started clearing away plates. “Isn’t missing my son enough? Why does there have to be a reason?” Now she wasn’t meeting my gaze. I loved my mother. I took care of her and David financially and there wasn’t a damn thing I wouldn’t do for them. But we weren’t exactly a close family, and hadn’t been in several years.
    “Ma—”
    “I’m dating someone. I’d like you and Ariana to come to dinner with us so you can meet him.”
    “No.”
    Ariana picked that very moment to come out of the bathroom. The tension between me and Ma was so thick Ariana didn’t even make it to the table before asking what was wrong.
    Ma gave her another of those ear-to-ear smiles. “Nothing, dear. I was just inviting you and Franco out to dinner with me and my boyfriend. I think Franco’s a little intimidated and—”
    “Ma!” I swear the woman was relentless.
    Ma winced, and Ariana startled at the harshness of my tone before turning to Ma and asking when the dinner was.
    “Well, Tito asked me out this Saturday. Are you free?”
    Tito? Great. Mom’s boyfriend sounded like a seventies pimp. I put my head in my hands, dreading the inevitable.
    Ariana checked her phone. “I’m free. Bones?”
    She had me by the balls. Who knew what lies Ma would tell Ariana if I didn’t go with her? All I could do was nod.
    “Great!” Ma said. “I’ll text Franco the location. Tito’s gonna be so excited! Can I get you another pizzelle?”
    Ariana nodded. “Please. These are amazing.”
    As soon as Ma headed for the kitchen, Ariana retook her seat beside me. “You okay?” she whispered.
    Hell no, I wasn’t okay. “Great. Outstanding. Never better.” My Saturday night would be spent playing family with Ma and her new boyfriend. I was over-the-moon with anticipation.
    Her brow creased. “What’s wrong?”
    Ma returned, carrying more pizzelles.
    “Later,” I whispered.
    “So, Saturday’s a go, but what about the following Thursday?” Ma asked.
    Thursday was Christmas. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d shared a holiday meal with my mother. “You know I gotta work, Ma.”
    She looked to Ariana and I about lost my shit. Thankfully she declined before I could blurt out my thoughts on the matter.
    “Thanks for the invite, but I gotta work too,” Ariana said.
    “Well how about tonight? The lasagna is almost ready and—”
    It was time to get the hell out of there. I stood, interrupting Ma, and dragged Ariana along with me. “Thanks for the cookies. It’s been great, but we gotta jet.”
    Before Ma could object, we were out the door.
     

CHAPTER SIX
    Bones
     
    B Y THE TIME Ariana and I left my mother’s house, my shoulders were so tense I thought my head would snap off and go rolling down her front porch steps. Observant as ever, Ariana reached out and gave me a quick massage.
    “Hey, you okay?” she asked.
    I didn’t want to lie, but what could I say to make her understand what Ma was really like? Maybe it was best to let her believe Ma was a sweet old lady who served coffee and cookies. “Yeah.”
    “Don’t lie to me, Bones. What’s going on?” Ariana dug her fingers in deeper, working out the knots in my neck. “Something’s going on. I’ve never seen you like this before. What is it? Do you not want me to go to dinner with you and your mom?”
    Since I wouldn’t put it past Ma to be listening