Someone to Love by Lucy Scala Read Free Book Online

naturally,” I told myself.
    Alberto approached me with a glass of champagne in hand and the corners of his mouth lifted into a smirk. “Nice to see you again.” There was no nervousness in his voice and I just had to imitate him.
    â€œAlberto…” I murmured, drawing a step nearer. “Are you by any chance stalking me?” it was a joke but my tone was ambiguous, somewhere between serious and mischievous.
    â€˜Well, I could ask you the same question,” he said. I could see a nuance of amusement on his face.
    â€œMum, what’s he doing here? I mean, how do you know him?” I asked, still surprised by the situation.
    â€œAnd why don’t you ever tell your mother anything?” she asked, as astonished as I was. “Like I said before, I hurt my wrist playing tennis and luckily Alberto was there. He really is a gentleman and offered to accompany me to the emergency room… I had to repay his kindness somehow.”
    I looked firstly at her and then at Alberto in confusion and then smiled. The situation was rather ridiculous.
    â€œBut look what a beautiful couple you make together!” began my mother, coming closer and changing the subject. “What do you think?” She let out a murmur of happiness.
    â€œAlberto is really elegant and, sorry if I dare…” pointed out my sister, justifying herself to her husband, “the problem is yours, Mia, you really don’t know what elegance is. That dress is so out! Don’t you ever browse through fashion magazines?” she exclaimed, playing with one of her curls.
    I looked down to see myself better. Out? But if I only bought it two months ago? “As you know, I work all day,” I tried to defend myself. “I have no time to waste on frivolities like you do,” I said drily.
    Lucy muttered something to Federico and walked away towards the dining room, where Nancy had just made her entrance with a tray of appetizers.
    â€œYou should learn from your sister, Mia,” advised my mother. “And write down a few tricks.”
    I gave her an adoring smile. “I will, mother dear. I will note them down later in my diary to remember them.”
    I seemed to have gone back in time ten years, when Lucy’s presence always managed to overshadow mine. She was the favourite and everyone always took her side, whatever she did.
    Alberto, as a real gentleman, moved the chair to allow me to sit down. The family silver was laid out on the table and a chandelier with three arms lit the room. Jazz music was coming out of the speakers.
    I had to try and relax.
    To my great surprise, dinner wasn’t a complete disaster, even if the whole evening revolved around Lucy’s continuous chit-chat, with the inevitable puns about my haircut, too old fashioned in her opinion.
    I asked my brother-in-law how his work was going and he lost no opportunity to launch into a monologue. Serious mistake. My impression was that of being the only normal person in the middle of this mass of people vying for attention in the most boring conversations. Wine had become my ally and the only means of survival. Several times I tried to hold back a comment or a word: I wanted to avoid embarrassing situations, there was a guest after all.
    Nancy continued to move around the table ensuring everyone had everything they could possibly want. I smiled at her and motioned her not to worry.
    â€œThe roast is really delicious. Simply exquisite,” exclaimed Alberto, trying to find a pretext to talk to the others.
    A slight blush of satisfaction painted my mother’s cheeks as she acknowledged the compliment gracefully and moved on.
    â€œAlberto is a well-known surgeon in town.” After drinking a sip of wine, she went on: “I still don’t understand how you two know each other,” she sounded genuinely interested and brushed my hand with hers.
    I moved it away, angrily.
    â€œToo kind, Signora Beatrice. I met your