Chapter 301) Stars Misaligned

Nick and Adrianna winced and sprayed apart from their intense kissing when suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, a guitar sounded, and a smooth baritone blared out in a fake Tartosian accent

“When-a de moon hits-a your eye like-a big pizza pie, that’s amoreeeeeeee … But for dessert-a you-a still-a need-a use-a condohhhhhm-a …..”

“Goddamn it, granpa! Seriously!? Dafuq did you come from now?” Nick protested, but Blaine only grinned, plinked a few chords, then resumed, dancing around the young couple in a hilarious fashion, making Adrianna giggle, then clap along to the rhythm.

“When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine
that’s amoreeeeeeee .. But-a don’t drink and drive or you’re a moron-eeee
Bells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling … DING DING DING
And you’ll sing ‘Vita bella’ – you lucky-ass fellaaaa
Hearts will play tippy-tippy-tay, tippy-tippy-tay
Like a gay tarantella– but also the rest of LBGTQ+ lalalalalalalaaaaaa

When the stars make you drool just like a pasta e fasule
that’s amoreeeeeeee …
When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet
You’re in looooove
When you walk in a dream but you know you’re not dreaming, signooooore
Scusa mi, but you see, back in old Del Sol Valleyyyyyyyy
that’s amoreeeeeeee ..“

“GRANDPA! ENOUGH!” Nick grabbed Blaine and started dragging him away.

“THAT’S AMOOOOOREEEE … If you touch me there again Nicholas, you owe me din-din-din-dinner …”

“Nick, leave him! I love it! He’s so GOOD!” Adrianna doubled over laughing.

“See, grandson? I am good. Your lady likes it. Women like to be entertained, if you can make them laugh, that’s half the rent! Take out a pen and take notes, kid. I know what the ladies like … I can tell you volumes! All the secrets …” Blaine told Nick, finally in a talking voice, winking at Adrianna, who couldn’t help smiling big and blushing slightly.

“Ah-yeah? Go ahead, Blaine, I am all ears!” Scarlett appeared; her arms crossed.

“Oh, bella mia, you always-a make-a me drool like a pasta e fasule!” Blaine turned to her, now singing at her.

“Fantastic, coming from someone who doesn’t eat. You – with me – NOW! Sorry about that kids. It would seem that Nick’s grandpa is off his meds tonight.”

“Nah, Nick’s poor POOR grandpa just hasn’t gotten laid in a while and is losing his few leftover brain cells to a serious case of blue balls …” smirked Blaine.

“Ugh!” Scarlett made, then grabbed Blaine’s arm and dragged him with like a toddler.

He complained at first, then turned back to the teens, winking demonstratively, then goosed Scarlett’s behind, to which they could only see her get up in his face in the distance, which he stopped with a very passionate kiss.

Adrianna giggled, while Nick still rolled his eyes, frowning.

“I hope we’ll be just like them one day. They are so crazy, but you cannot help see they are in love. I think they’re great, Nick. And he’s not wrong. I like laughing. Especially now. With you so far away. Normally I mean. I miss you like crazy, baby.” Adrianna said softly.

“Well, for now you have me for a whole week.” Nick replied.

“I know, but it’s gonna just fly by and then you have to go home and I am still here … without you.”

“Your dad is an ass.” Nick started to get upset again, but Adrianna gently running the back of her hand against his cheek calmed him right down, as a faint little moan escaped him. How he had missed this.

“Don’t be so hard on him, Nick. My dad is heartbroken. You don’t see that side of him. I feel sorry for him. I mean, we are all heartbroken, first mom, then Giacomo. So tragic, he didn’t even get to meet his first child, and his widow lost her mother not too long ago too. So much tragedy, and that’s a lot of deaths for a family like ours, that is so close. I am sure you get that. Losing the love of his life and then his son, my dad really isn’t doing well. If living here makes it better for him, I kinda get it.”

“Hey, wait a minute. I thought you hated this place?”

“Look around, Nick, open your eyes. It’s beautiful here. I don’t hate it. I hate being away from you.”

“Well, just one more year and change and we’ll be together forever. First Britchester, then somewhere. Anywhere but here.”

“Yeah, about that. Nick, I have been thinking. Bianca and I are all dad has left now. Vitto is married and took over the family business, Giulia is a mother, Sandrine is trying to get her own life in order, and they are all far away and settled in their lives. I don’t think I can leave him. And this is starting to feel like home. I am not so sure I want to leave. I am not sure that I can. My poor dad.”

“WHAT?! What the hell are you saying, Addy?”

“I am saying that I am not so sure I want to leave here. And without trying to sound entitled or old-fashioned, but I really don’t see much of a point in having a degree. I am gonna inherit a fortune anyway when dad passes, while he’s alive he takes good care of me, I will never run the family business … I really am not interested in any profession. All that stress and drama.”

“You gotta be kidding me right now! So you are gonna throw all of our dreams together away? You are throwing us away?!”

“No. I am finding me, Nick. I am growing up, and I am beginning to see the world for what it really is. Who I really am and who I want to be. There is no use fighting the facts. I mean, I am an Auditore, that cannot be reasoned away, and you know that us kids of high-profile and wealthy parents can’t just go and have some regular job and lead a regular life. Paparazzi are only the tip of that iceberg.”

“So, you are doing what? Just staying here living with your dad and sister till he dies?”

“I don’t know Nick. All I know is that I don’t want to waste my time getting some college degree I don’t need and will never use. I don’t want to get some job, just to say I have a job. That feels nonsensical to me. And I don’t think I want to leave here.”

“FUCK THIS! Fuck YOU, Adrianna!” Nick yelled, then turned and ran off.

He ran down a few streets, the beaches, ran for hours on end, until he finally got to the rental villa, bursting in, stomping towards his parents.

“Hey – kid! There you are. Oh boy, why the long face? What’s going on?” Liam wondered.

“What’s going on, he asks. I’ll tell you what’s going on, dad. My life went down the toilet, that’s what! Out of the blue Adrianna just told me that she reinverted herself and with that, me out of her life! At least I think this is where we are headed.”

“Oh no! Baby!” Vivien said.

“Oh yeah, mom. It took me almost two years to realize my girlfriend is some entitled fucking socialite golddigger bitch, who wants to spend her life sitting her ass fat while mooching off her rich daddy! Ambitions – NOPE – wrong address! Fuck it all. If you ask me, we can pack up and fly home tomorrow. I hate this place! And I hate women! They are cruel! Those who I am related to excluded! But if Adrianna doesn’t pull her head out of her ass – she and I will NEVER be family. She better come to her senses or there will not be a Nick and Addy anymore!”

With that he turned and stomped up the stairs, shortly after they heard the door to his room slam hard.

Vivien looked at Liam.

“Yikes. So – was that a break-up?”

“I don’t know. Sounds like they are still together, for now, but on a very slippery downward slope. I have no idea what to do or say here.”

“Same. I don’t want him to hurt, but I am not so sure I really want them to stay together if this is what that’s like. Honestly, I really have been wondering about their relationship even having a snowball’s chance in hell. I mean, when she lived in the Bay, she seemed like the perfect girl for him. But with this long-distance thing … I just don’t know.”

“Not like you or I get a say here. I have a feeling as parents we are not gonna feel like winners regardless. He and his moods are already something, but Nick after a break-up. Ouch. Poor him, but poor us!”

“No joke. Are we really gonna go just pack up and fly home now?”

“Oh, HELL NO! That boy can mope and be grumpy under the beautiful Tuscan sun. I earned this vacation. We are staying. Kid needs to toughen up.” Liam decided, smirking.

“I feel like we are going to be facing parenting bootcamp. Maybe we can give him up for adoption?” Vivien giggled.

“Worth looking into. If that fails, maybe eBay.” Liam played along with the joke.

“Don’t be silly, Liam. We made him ourselves, he goes up on Etsy! 100% handmade, with love.”

“Good point. Speaking of, mind refreshing my memory on how we made him again? The memory is so faded. But I think I faintly remember doing that thing you like. You know, THE thing.” Liam smirked, wiggling his eyebrows.

Vivien just giggled.

“You dawg. Our poor little boy is heartbroken, and you think of nookie.”

“Well, at least two of us four will have a big smile on their faces. The boy is moping after his girlfriend, the daughter is combustible as she is about to enter puberty. I am just upping our chances for this vacation to not be a total loss.” Liam laughed.