Chapter 0021

BELLA

“I’m willing to die for Mama Helena’s lasagna and gnocchi any day,” Val said, licking her spoon.

Mamma gave patted her on the back, flattered by her comment, but then pinched her arm, making her squeal. Both Zia and I saw that coming from miles away. We laughed.

“No one talks about dying in and around this house,” Mamma scolded. “And for you girls, never utter those sinful words.”

As if we lived in a sinless world. I rolled my eyes. Val gave an apologetic smile and sipped from her glass of coke.

“We wouldn’t need to say it out loud because the amount of fat in these would literally kill us one day.” Zia scoffed, grabbing a bite of lasagna, and then pushed her palms out, seeing Mamma take a step in her direction. “Mamma, I’m just joking.”

“Why do you eat it when you have to complain?”

“It’s not like I can puke everything out now.”

“Then stop puking stupid words.”

Val and I could barely contain our laughter, the sounds, which according to my Mamma, were too unladylike, but