September 18

Dear Diary,

I've gotta tell him at one time or another. I know that someday our bond will grow stronger, showing that we are truly meant to be.

"Alberto, dinner's ready," Massimo called.

Alberto jumped, instantly dropping his pencil in his diary. He frantically closed his diary and ran inside to the kitchen.

"I knew I smelled pasta!" Alberto said, taking a few moments to breathe in the fresh smell of Giulia's father's trenette al pesto.

Then, he ran to the table.

"Piano piano, Alberto," Massimo said. "Something on your mind?"

"Nope. Just hungry," Alberto said.

"Is it something to do with Luca going off to school?"

Alberto blushed. "School is the least of my worries! He's probably fine," he said. "Except for that one time... I wanted to be the one to squeeze his nipples and his goddamn roommate beat me to it! Merda!"

"Alberto, such language!" Massimo said.

"Scusate, papa," Alberto said.

"Va bene," Massimo replied. "So what's this about touching Luca?"

"I'm jealous that someone got to it before me," Alberto said. "I mean, if it were me, I would ask him unlike what that other boy did. And if he consented, I'd gladly put my hands all over him."

"Alberto—," Massimo said.

"What's wrong with being gay?" Alberto asked. "Or is it just a problem with me?"

"It's none of those things, Alberto. It's just that as your father, adopted or not, I need to know that you're engaging in safe behaviours," said Massimo.

"I'm 17. I may not yet be an adult, but I think I like him," Alberto said. "They say l'amore e come una droga."

"You've tried drugs?" Massimo asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Si, una o due volte," Alberto replied. "I'll never try them again. Just a couple psychedelics get you high as frick, almost as much as high on a motherfrickin' Vespa dream. I mean, damn!"

Alberto looked at Massimo and then at his plate of trenette al pesto. "Too much?"

"Yes," Massimo said. "Teenagers should not have such a limited vocabulary, yet they all swear like sailors."

Alberto just nodded his head, diving right into the trenette al pesto. After wolfing it all down, he took the plate and placed it in the sink.

"I'mma go call Luca," he said. "Thanks again for the pasta! It's amazing as always!"

Alberto ran off with his phone, both excited and nervous to talk to Luca again.

"Alberto!" Massimo called. "Since when were the two of you more than friends?"

Alberto stopped in his tracks, blushing like a tomato. "Uh, wh-why do you say that?" he stammered. It suddenly occurred to him. "You must be misunderstanding our relationship. I mean, he's the hottest friend I've ever met."

"You say that now, but in your heart, you know you've always been a lot more," Massimo said.

He blushed again. "Y-yeah. I-I guess he is..." Alberto paused, unable to speak any more words. A gay mess, he ran away.

"Aye, that kid has a lot to learn," Massimo said to himself. "First, he must figure out on his own what love is."