Alessandro

Jesus, this dude was still drunk. Had he constantly been drinking since we left him last night? How did he even manage to get around in his state?

Paul was talking, and Bianca complained about needing to complete some paper before her shift at Two Sheets later. I’d been there a few times and bought drinks for the guys, which is how I knew exactly who she was as soon as Dad told us about the dinner last night. 

Bianca was the kind of girl who was saving her V-card until her knight in shining armor came upon a horse and took her in his arms. Sure, she looked hot last night, but the girl didn’t know how to dress or hold herself. Bianca walked around in sweats and t-shirts, and a knight wasn’t going to take a girl that didn’t dress like a princess.

If she couldn’t be bothered to keep up her physical appearance, I hated to think what the inside her dorm looked like. Most likely like Adolfo’s room. As for my other brother, Carlo… any girl would do for him. He was so damn horny. He was so interested in her, he went as far as to open up a group text and include me in it. Then, he took our phones and sent messages on our behalf.

This morning she was wearing a sweatshirt a couple of sizes too big for her, and her hair was tied up in some crazy-ass bun thing, but at least she’d improved from wearing sweatpants to jeans. She had on no makeup, unlike yesterday. It was as if she wanted to wipe yesterday out of her mind and go back to her normal self.

I wondered if Carlo would be so quick to send her a text if he saw her now. The real Bianca.

“Is it logical for me to stay? Or is there any logic in your dad being drunk at nine thirty in the morning? If you’re such a great philosophy student, then shouldn’t you be doing a thesis on your dad?”

She nearly choked on her orange juice as she looked in my direction.

I continued, “Logic, ethics, motivation… he lacks everything and more in his drunken state!”

I stood up, ready to leave, when Bianca did the same and gave me a piece of her mind.

“Not everyone has everything handed to them on a plate. Some of us have to work and find it difficult to cope with the basic things in life, for example a lost loved one.”

“So losing someone gives you the right to con someone and be drunk all the time?”

“Your mom is still around, but mine isn’t,” she said defensively. “Ever since we lost her, Dad has had a hard time. He doesn’t go around creating some list and degrading women like you do. You should be ashamed of yourself, waving your gold card, preying on women. Men like you make me sick!”

“Well, we only have a gold card because we’re on a budget. Dad says that we need to know the meaning of money.”

She tutted and stormed off. I sounded like such a snob and an idiot as I told her the reason why we didn’t have a black card. I hated the idea of having to explain it to her. She thought I was some irresponsible, stuck-up jock, but she didn’t have a fucking clue about anything in my life. I chased after her, not wanting to let her get away with having the last word.

“Sweet petaled Rose!” I yelled, and she ignored me as she picked up speed. I was a fucking athlete, so catching up with her wasn’t an issue.

I grabbed her arm as we reached the hotel door.

“What?” she screamed, loud enough for everyone enjoying their breakfast to be startled.

“Your dad’s sniffing around mine as if he’s some kind of bank. If you had any decency, then you would do something about it. So don’t talk to me from your high horse. We both know that if Dad didn’t have money, then Paul wouldn’t have been eager to meet him.”

“My dad’s a grown man, and until yesterday, I didn’t even know our dads knew each other,” she scoffed.

I crossed my arms. “How fucking convenient.”

“What are you getting at?”

“Nothing, just seems like you were pimping yourself out last night in your minidress and your hair all done up. I’ve seen you around campus and at Two Sheets—you never dress like that. Never. This is the real you.” I motioned my hand from her messy bun right down to her worn-out sneakers.

I’d hit a nerve, apparently. She found herself speechless, her mouth opening and closing before she took a deep breath, stuck her hands in the pocket of her sweatshirt, and walked away.

I could have chased after her as she slowly moved in the direction of her dorm, but I felt like an asshole. I’d belittled her.

I hung my head low as I walked to my apartment.

Breakfast had been a bad idea.

I was supposed to go to calm Dad down, but instead I’d done the complete opposite and lost my cool. It was as if Dad and Paul weren’t even at the table as I took over breakfast and made Bianca feel small.

I didn’t know who I hated more right now—Paul for being a drunk, or me for being an asshole.