Chapter 65

                                    

                                          

        "Boyfriend? O que está acontecendo, Katarina?" (What's going on?) My father asked me. Michael stood up from the sofa and finally walked over. "Michael, her brother. Are you gonna cheat on her too?" He started his protective brother act. He's full of crap. 
I smacked Michael on the chest for saying that in front of our parents. "Cheating?" My mom gasped. I glared at my brother. We were all standing in the middle of the room practically still in the doorway while a lot of information was coming out all at once. 
"Yes, he did. But I'm fine. Everythings fine" I huffed, flustered. "It's okay, Kat. I'll tell them. Don't get flustered" Renzo put his hand on my shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. He looked up at my parents and with a straight face said,
         "I'm the one who offered Kat the job at the restaurant that my family owns. Your daughter's a hardworking girl, sir. My family's very happy to have her on. That's how we met, but she had a boyfriend, so I respected that. Unfortunately he cheated, well, unfortunate for him not me. I'm a respectable man, Mr. Costa. Katarina is in good hands. I've been keeping an eye out for her," he assured my dad, playing him like a fiddle. 
My dad shook his hand again. "Thank you for looking after my daughter. There's a lot of crazy people out there. I tell her but she doesn't wanna listen to me. Italians are good people. It's the American's that have the cheating, and they don't care about family. I raised my Katarina better" my dad started rambling in his heavy Portuguese accent.
Michael just continued to eyeball Renzo and I wondered what he was thinking. 
        "Do you work in the business too? What do you do?" My dad started his inquiries. Renzo asked for it. "Carlos, ai, we have the poor guy waiting by the door. Come sit down. Are you hungry?" My mom started in on him. I just stood there in shock as Renzo followed my parents into the dining room. 
Michael lingered behind while Mya clung to my leg. "Is he a good guy? Are you alright?" He noted my demeanor. I had to snap out of it. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just wasn't planning on telling mom and dad I was dating somebody else so soon" I played it off. 
He chuckled,"well go save your boyfriend then or he'll be answering questions all night" he picked up my niece and walked us into the dining room. 
        "Yes, I own my own cigar club," Renzo lied. "Ooo, I used to smoke the cigars, but my Ana, she doesn't like it" he patted my mom's hand. Renzo threw his hands up in surrender. "Don't worry, Mrs. Costa, I won't give him any when you guys come visit us" Renzo grinned. 
I literally could not believe it. He's so good at lying. This mask of a life he's created. The good 'businessman'. It's all a facade, and I fell right into it just like my parents are eating it up right now. 
My dad is old fashioned, so he thinks I should marry a man who can 'support me', and that's what he is seeing in Renzo right now. That's why he likes him, because he's an established man. What a beautiful lie. 
        "The only thing I don't like is this. Everything else is very good" my dad waved at Renzo's arm tattoos. "Dad" I cut off his rude blantuncy. Renzo chuckled. "Well, you're like my father then. He hates them too" Renzo answered gracefully. No angry psycho man. This guy was someone I've never seen before. 
"Why didn't you tell us he was coming?" My mom asked after filling the table with random food items that we picked at. "That's my fault," Renzo spoke up. 
"I wasn't sure if I could take the time off of work to come help her, so she didn't say anything, but I cut a little time aside to come here, I'm just sorry it'll cut our time so short. We have our flight booked for later tonight. I can't miss work" he gave my dad an apologetic expression.