Confessions of a Wild Child (14 page)

Goodbye, South of France
.

Goodbye, waitress job
.

Goodbye, me and Jon
.

It’s all a major shock, especially the news about Pippa. I can’t believe that she’s gone, it doesn’t seem real.

Just for a change Gino is giving me the silent treatment. After his initial blow-up he proceeds to ignore me as if I don’t exist. In a way I’d sooner he was yelling and screaming – at least then I’d know he cares.

Olympia is coming back to earth with a bang. No sex with sleazy Warris. No grass. No freedom. We’re both busted and she knows it.

We are sitting next to each other on the plane. Neither of us are too happy.

Olympia stares at me accusingly. ‘Did you tell them where to find us?’ she demands in a hoarse whisper. ‘Did you?’

I’m horrified that she would even think it was me. ‘No way,’ I answer, quite insulted. ‘As if I would.’

‘Wouldn’t put it past you,’ she mutters.

‘What?’

‘Oh, don’t play the innocent with me,’ she snarls. ‘I know you hated Warris.’

The last thing I expected is for Olympia to blame me. We sink into an uncomfortable silence and soon we both fall asleep.

When Dimitri’s plane arrives in Paris we part ways without a word. My once best friend is now my enemy.

How did
that
happen?

The answer.

Warris. Mister Sleaze.

*  *  *

My father and I sit in a VIP lounge waiting for a flight to New York or LA. I’m not sure where he has in mind to take me next. He’s still not talking.

I watch him as he interacts with the hostesses in the lounge who are fussing all over him because they obviously fancy him. Gino the Ram, with his dark good looks and wicked smile, he’s quite a catch. And I suppose I have to admit that he
is
a very charismatic man.

After a while I ask him where we are headed.

‘Home,’ he answers brusquely. ‘Where you belong.’

This gets me thinking. Where
do
I belong? Apparently not in the South of France with Jon – I can write him off as a boy I’m probably never going to see again. So . . . do I belong in Gino’s New York apartment? Probably not. Then we must be on our way to LA and the Bel Air mausoleum.

Oh great! Back to home-schooling and serious lock-down.

And . . .
Marco
. Yes, the good news in that I’ll be seeing Marco again, so maybe things are looking up. That’s if he doesn’t continue to treat me like a kid. Which I’m so not.

How do I convince him of this?
Hmm
. . .
gotta think about it
.
Gotta come up with a plan
.

*  *  *

I am right, Bel Air it is. Lush, beautiful Bel Air, a maze of winding streets filled with mysterious gated mansions and an abundance of greenery and palm trees. Home. My home.

We arrive in the afternoon, and all I want to do is throw myself in the welcoming blue swimming pool and wash away our miserable travels.

A woman is at the door to greet us. An athletic type in a jogging suit, with mousy hair pulled back into a ponytail. She is thirtyish, not my father’s type at all. ‘This is Miss Drew,’ Gino says. ‘She’ll be keepin’ an eye on you.’

I should’ve known. Miss Drew must be my latest prison guard. Great!

‘I don’t need anyone to keep an eye on me,’ I say sulkily. ‘I’ll be sixteen in a few weeks. I can look after myself.’

‘Sure you can,’ Gino says with a sarcastic twist. ‘Just like your girlfriend the whore.’

Oh my God, is he actually calling Olympia a whore? WOW! That’s major cold. Besides, if she’s a whore, what does that make him? I can’t keep track of all the women he’s been linked with, and I certainly don’t want to.

Gino the Ram or Gino the male whore
?

I giggle at the thought.

Miss Drew shoots me a look.

Gino scowls and vanishes into the house.

‘I’ll take you up to your room,’ Miss Drew says.

‘Excuse me?’ I retort, standing tall. ‘This is my
home
. I don’t need you taking me anywhere.’

‘Your father said I was to—’

‘
What?
’ I say, giving her a baleful glare.

She backs down.

Ha! Perhaps this is one tutor/guard/housekeeper I can control. After all, I’m not Gino’s daughter for nothing.

I take off to my room and fling myself on the bed. Miss Drew chooses not to follow me. Smart woman, she knows when she’s not wanted.

I start reflecting on everything that’s happened. Running away from school in Connecticut; the crazy drive to the South of France; Olympia’s aunt’s villa; Olympia hooking up with Warris; ah, Pippa. Poor Pippa. No future stardom for her. And finally Jon. I guess I’ll never see
him
again. Too sad.

Miss Drew appears at the door to my room shortly after seven.

‘Your father wishes you to join him for dinner,’ she says, all crisp and proper. ‘Seven thirty in the dining room.’

Oh yippee! I can’t wait
.
Another silent evening of fun
.

As I change my clothes for dinner I decide that whether Gino wants to talk to me or not, I am having it out with him. He needs to know how I feel. I am not his little puppet that he can control. I cannot be ignored. It’s not fair, and I refuse to stand for it. Surely he must realize that by now?

When I enter the dining room, Gino is already there, sitting at the table reading a newspaper. He lowers the paper when he sees me and throws me a quizzical look. ‘So, kiddo,’ he says in quite a friendly fashion. ‘What are we gonna do about you?’

Relief floods through me. It seems I don’t have to force anything – he’s opening up a dialogue and I am thrilled.

‘I’m sorry,’ I blurt, ’cause I’m sure that’s exactly what he wants to hear.

‘For what?’ he retorts.

‘For dragging you halfway across the world to get me.’

He raises an eyebrow. ‘That’s
all
you’re sorry for?’

‘Well . . . yes,’ I answer sheepishly, because I’m sure as crap not sorry about ditching school. Why should I be? He shouldn’t’ve sent me there in the first place.
Bad move, Daddy
.

Gino doesn’t say anything for a moment. He picks up his tumbler of Jack and Coke and takes a hearty swig. ‘You remind me of someone,’ he says at last. ‘Yeah, I gotta say that you really do.’

‘Who?’ I ask.

‘Me,’ he says, accompanied by a throaty chuckle.

I give him a long bold look. ‘Surely that’s a good thing?’

‘If you were a boy – yeah. Only you’re not a boy, Lucky, you’re a girl an’ you gotta learn how to behave like one.’

‘Says who?’

‘Says me.’

We lock eyes. Matching eyes. Black and intense. I can feel myself becoming more like him every day, and it’s not a bad thing. I
want
to have the strength that my father has. I
want
to be the female Gino. I
want
him to accept me for who I am.

‘Girls can do anything a boy can do,’ I remind him. ‘Or at least this girl can.’

‘So stubborn,’ Gino says, with a heavy sigh.

‘And you’re not?’ I respond.

‘Jesus!’ Gino shakes his head. ‘You need protectin’ from yourself. You’re a wild one.’

‘No wilder than you were when you were my age,’ I throw back at him.

‘Once again, little lady, I’m gonna remind you that you’re a girl, an’ my job is t’see that you don’t go gettin’ into any more trouble.’

How are you planning on doing that?
I want to ask. Only I don’t, because I sense this conversation has gone far enough for now, and I know I shouldn’t push it. Cleverly I move on to another subject.

‘How’s Dario?’ I ask.

‘He’s doin’ fine,’ Gino answers. ‘He’ll be comin’ home this weekend, so you two can catch up, spend some time together.’

‘Is he liking his school?’

‘Better than you liked yours,’ Gino answers dryly. ‘At least he’s stayin’ there.’

‘Maybe we can all do something together,’ I venture. ‘Like as a family.’

‘No chance, kiddo,’ Gino says holding back a yawn. ‘Vegas calls.’

‘Can we come with you?’ I ask boldly, knowing the answer will be no.

My father doesn’t disappoint. ‘Sorry, kiddo,’ he says, like it’s no big deal. ‘Vegas is not a place for you kids to be hangin’ out.’

OK then
.
But one day it will be
,
’cause one day I am going to take over the family business
,
and build my own hotels
.
You can bet on it
,
Daddy
.
Because I
,
Lucky Santangelo
,
am eventually going to rule!

Chapter Thirty

I
hug Dario tightly when he arrives back from his school. He’s so freaking handsome and major tall. He could be a surfer with his longish blond hair and athletic build. It seems that while I haven’t been watching, my little brother has grown up, and although not exactly a man, he’s definitely on his way. It feels so amazing to see him. I keep on hugging him until he finally shoves me away.

‘Quit bein’ so clingy,’ he says gruffly.

What? Me clingy? Who’s he kidding?

‘Excuse
me
?’ I say with a haughty shrug. ‘You should
be
so fortunate.’

‘You look better than last time I saw you,’ Dario says, squinting at me, his eyes so clear and blue. ‘What’ve you been up to?’

‘Stuff you’re too young to know about,’ I answer mysteriously.

Dario snorts with laughter. ‘I know plenty,’ he says.

‘You’re still a kid,’ I respond.

He cocks his head on one side – ‘You think?’

‘I know.’

‘Bullcrap.’

‘Language!’

We both break into giggles, and for a moment I feel the unbreakable bond we’ve always had. It’s a warm and wonderful feeling. I have a brother and he loves me and I love him back. My one and only real family connection.

‘Uh . . . did Marco drive you here?’ I ask, attempting to keep it casual.

Dario throws me a knowing look. ‘You still got a big fat crush on him?’ he teases.

‘What?’ I say vaguely.

‘You heard.’

‘Of course not,’ I say with a fierce frown.

Dario grins. ‘Yeah,
sure
.’

‘Well,’ I continue, determined not to crack. ‘Did he drive you or not?’

‘He’s downstairs. Whyn’t you go catch up before he leaves for Vegas with Dad? You know you want to.’

‘Marco’s going to Vegas too?’

‘Yes,’ Dario sing-songs, mimicking me – ‘Marco’s going to Vegas too.’

Oh God, I forgot how annoying Dario can be.

‘Maybe I will,’ I say, making a dash for the mirror to make sure I am presenting my best self. After all, Marco hasn’t seen the new sophisticated me. It’ll probably be lust at first sight and I’ll have to fight him off.

‘He’s never gonna notice you as anything more than Gino’s kid,’ Dario remarks. ‘You realize that, don’t you?’

I favour him with a creative scowl. ‘You know nothing,’ I say.

‘I know plenty,’ Dario replies.

‘You’re still a kid and I’m
so
not,’ I inform him.

He narrows his blue eyes. ‘Wanna bet?’

We lock stares. I have to admit that he certainly doesn’t look like a kid any more.

‘You found yourself a girlfriend?’ I ask.

‘More like a boyfriend,’ Dario blurts.

There follows a long silence while I digest this piece of crazy information. Surely Dario isn’t telling me he’s gay?

Oh . . . my . . . God. It can’t possibly be true. If it is, Gino will kill him. Gino could
never
accept having a gay son.

Dario is busy giving me a look that screams –
well
,
aren’t you going to say something?

I am too shocked to open my mouth. It’s not as if I have anything against gays – the truth is I barely know any – but Dario, my own brother. How did
that
happen?

‘Have you told Dad?’ I gasp, torn between being horrified and supportive.

‘No freaking way,’ Dario replies. ‘And don’t you
dare
. ’

‘As if,’ I snort. ‘It’s your deal, not mine.’ I pause for a moment, then add – ‘Are you sure?’

‘Sure ’bout what?’

‘Uh . . . being gay?’

‘I hate that word.’

‘Well, what else would you call it?’

‘How the fuck would I know?’ Dario snaps, glaring at me balefully as if this is my fault.

It’s all becoming a bit surreal – when I first left for boarding school Dario was a lanky teenager into cars and comics. Now he’s telling me he’s into other boys. Wow!

‘So,’ I say, treading carefully. ‘How did this happen?’

Dario shrugs. ‘It didn’t just happen. I think I’ve always known, but I was too scared to face it.’

I nod understandingly. It’s quite obvious that Dario has been dying to tell someone, and here I am – his big sister – the person closest to him. I am touched that he feels safe enough to confide in me.

‘There’s this art teacher at school,’ Dario continues. ‘His name is Eric.’

I nod my head again, encouraging him to tell me everything, although I’m kind of shocked that it’s a teacher he’s hooking up with.

‘Well . . . Eric invited me to spend the weekend at his place, ’cause he noticed I never went home at weekends. And . . . uh . . . I went there, and stuff just kinda happened.’

I don’t press him for details, not my business. However, I do warn him that he’d be wise to keep this information to himself. Then I hug my not so little brother, and tell him that I love him and that eventually he’ll be able to come out and announce his gayness to the whole world – but not now, not while we’re living under Gino’s roof.

He agrees, and we hug some more, and somehow or other seeing Marco before he hotfoots it to Vegas with Gino does not seem so important.

Family first. That’s my new motto. And Dario is my only true family.

Chapter Thirty-One

S
ince Gino took off for Vegas, it’s been extremely quiet at the Bel Air house. This suits me and Dario fine, ’cause I’ve kind of enjoyed bonding with my brother again. Now that I know he’s not such a kid, I tell him about some of
my
adventures. He eats it up, and starts to tell
me
more about Eric – not the sex bits, more about what a nice guy Eric is, and how much he likes him. Hey – as long as my little brother is happy, I only want the best for him. Most nights we are able to dodge out of the house, escaping Miss Drew’s watchful eye. We hang out in Westwood taking in a movie and scoffing pizza.