Ang knew that Gael liked her. She wasn''t that dumb. But hearing it from someone who had known him for years made her feel warm and fuzzy that she felt like a girl in middle school. A small smile that she couldn''t help appeared on her face.


    "Nonna, I''m pretty sure he feels more than that." Alice was responding to Nonna via at first and then was now looking at Ang. "I''m even surprised he brought you here. It''s so not like him. Very interesting."


    "What do you mean?" Ang wondered. She had just finished packing thest of the box and stacking it on top of another that would be brought outter.


    "Gael may have dated around, but he never brought anyone for us to meet."


    "Never?"


    "Well, we saw him with a few girls in the past—all a bunch of hussies… They were just for passing the time, I''m sure. But he hadn''t brought anyone here to introduce to us, no. You''re the first." Alice smiled.


    "And hopefully thest," Nonna via added. "He''s at the right age. He should settle down now." She patted Ang''s hand as if making sure her message came across and punctuated.


    Ang was still stuck at the "you''re the first". She was aware that Gael dated Ba in the past and something happened there, but she didn''t know the full story. She thought that the two were probably serious—but he hadn''t brought Ba here to meet his family? The thought of it gave her a sense of satisfaction. She''d be lying if she said she wasn''t at all curious about his past rtionships, but she wasn''t sure if she wanted to hear who he had been with.


    Then Nonna went on and gave her hints about settling down. Everything was happening so fast; she needed to get out of here.


    Alice chuckled, probably seeing Ang''s slightly panicked gaze, and then said, "With the way that he was looking at you the entire time he was here, it''s pretty obvious that he''s smitten. You too, you know! You look like a cute couple."


    Couple?! She mentally gasped. "Oh… Gael and I are—"


    "Mama!" A little girl came running into the kitchen and tugged on Alice''s shirt. "Can you help me get dressed for the homeless party, please?"


    Alice only nced at her daughter before turning back towards the big hot pot of butter chicken, carefully scooping and transferring some into a dishpan. "It''s not a homeless party, baby. Don''t call it that. And my hands are full. We need to get moving pretty soon. You already know how to clean up, don''t you? I hung your clothes at the back of the door."


    "But I can''t reach it," said the little girl.


    Alice sighed as she looked at her work. "Okay."


    Seeing an opportunity to get out of this kitchen, Ang offered, "I can help her change, Alice."


    "Are you sure?"


    She nodded with a smile on her face. "I can''t help with the cooking, but I can surely help with dressing her up."


    Alice chuckled as she went back to transferring food into the dish. "Thank you, Ang! I must warn you, though, Elisa asks a lot of questions."


    Boy did Ang realize that soon after.


    She and the little girl went up the stairs, passing by a few closed doors on the way. Ang wondered if Gael was inside behind one of them. He''d been gone for a while, and she hoped everything was okay.


    They reached a smaller room at the end of the hallway with pink walls and white furniture with toys all over the ce. Ang helped Elisa clean her face on the sink before changing her into the clothes that Alice prepared. Then Ang let Elisa sit in front of a dresser andbed her hair.


    "Do you like my Uncle Gael?" Elisa suddenly asked.


    The question threw Ang off, but she masked her surprise with a smile and answered truthfully, "Yes."


    "Are you and Uncle Gael boyfriend and girlfriend?"


    "I''m...uh… We''re…" Ang gulped. ''Holy crap. Good question. What are we?!''


    Before she could even formte a sentence that made sense, the little girl asked another shocking question, "Are you two having sex?"


    "What?" Ang''s eyes widened, her hands freezing on top of the girl''s head.


    "I saw you two hold hands, and he kissed you on the forehead in the kitchen before he left with Uncle Giovanni. My ssmate told me she saw her parents having sex one time, and I asked my mom about it. She said that''s what having sex means—two people who like each other, kissing and holding hands." Elisa blinked, her face looking curious and innocent.


    Ang''s soul left her body, feeling like a bucket of water just sshed her smack in the face. ''Oh, god. If that''s what it means...then we''ve been having sex all this time? How ridiculous!''


    "Um…" Ang was not prepared for all these questions. Being in the kitchen with Alice, Nonna, and the others seemed safer than being with this innocent-looking girl—she''s really not so innocent.


    "What did I tell you about asking questions, Elisa?" Gael''s deep and smooth voice gave Ang a start. She snapped her head to the door and saw him leaning against the door frame, the sleeves of his white shirt straining against his biceps. He had a neutral expression, but his eyes definitely had amusementced in them.


    "If it''s not my business, don''t ask," Elisa muttered as she got off the chair and sauntered towards him. He bent down to her level, and she kissed his cheek, her little arms circling his neck for a brief hug. He whispered something into the girl''s ear before straightening up.


    Then Elisa faced Ang again. "Sorry I asked. It wasn''t my business. But if you like him, you should have sex with him. Bye, Ang! Thanks for helping me get dressed!" She ran out of the room and went downstairs.


    Ang was speechless. What the hell just happened?


    Gael''s shit-eating grin stered on his face. Though he looked sly, his stupidly handsome face did things to her that weren''t appropriate in this little girl''s bedroom.


    "I want to apologize for my niece, but...she gives great advice for a seven-year-old. She''s straight forward." He held out his hand for her.


    She exhaled a sigh as she walked towards him, her eyes narrowing at him as she folded her arms under her chest. "You''re enjoying this."


    "A little bit."


    She yfully pped his bicep with the back of her hand, and heughed, making herugh as well. Ang then allowed Gael to ce his arm around her waist as he ushered her towards the stairs and told her, "Come on. The court''s already full. We''re leaving."