ridiculous because there are so many people around us. Everyone is too busy watching and hollering at the players in the Gauntlet. My mouth opens in shock. I grab Troy’s arm and pull him along toward where Jake is arm wrestling, leaving Kurt sprawled out in the grass unconscious.
“Nice,” I applaud as we mix into the crowd. “Smooth follow-through, your opponent went down fluidly. Have you been taking lessons from Vito?”
“Funny,” he deadpans. “Chooch? Vito and Antonio have called me that, what does it mean?”
“Jackass.”
A genuine smile spreads across my face. Troy pulls me close so that we are practically chest to chest. My heart races in surprise. He stares into my eyes, and then raises his hand to my waist and tickles.
“You better not call me a chooch,” he threatens.
“Never.” I laugh and try to slip out of his arms, to get him to stop. I am laughing so hard, I am losing my breath. He lets me go and we part. My skin tingles from his touch and I am left wanting it back. Our gazes lock and I notice how deep blue his eyes are. It reminds me of the first time I saw him. The butterflies he awakens in me feel good and feelings that are two years old flood back in a tidal wave.
Chapter 7
Troy
Something passed between San and me back then. It was there; I felt it. I thrust it down, though, because I thought there was more to my relationship with Megan, something deeper than friendship. But it was one-sided. I’m mad at myself for being so blind. I’m happy for Megan. I definitely want her to be happy, but I’ve never let her know how deeply it cut me. I had plans: finish school and marry Megan. I had my whole life laid out and it spiraled out of control as soon as Antonio Delisi, Junior came into it. My brother hurt Erin, her sister, and Megan hurt me. It’s a weird cosmic paradox.
This evening, I am at a party with a mob daughter who is under my protection. Why did Vito pick me? I didn’t mean to get in bed with the mob, they got in bed with me, and it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to get out and do a walk of shame anytime soon. I was sitting on the fringe of the Mafia world unaware. I’m not mad or upset. It is a surreal experience and one I gladly accept if Alessandra is a part of it.
“What are you thinking about?” Alessandra jerks me from my thoughts.
“Nothing… You know, Vito kicked butt last year doing this.” I motion to the guys sloshing beers down their throats in the Gauntlet, bare-chested and wild.
“Why am I not surprised?”
“In fact, I don’t think he lost. Erin was having an issue, so they left.”
“Vito and Erin are so cute together, it’s actually disgusting to see him swooping her off her feet, dragging her around like a rag doll as she laughs and giggles. It’s pretty nauseating.”
Alessandra shifts her stance as people creep closer, straining to see the action. I can sense her body stiffen as she stands beside me.
“Do you want something to drink?”
She nods. “Yeah, it is getting kind of tight over here.”
I lead Alessandra inside the house. People stop us to say hi, and I introduce Alessandra around. She barely acknowledges anyone packed into the four walls of the house and heads straight for the beer kegs by the kitchen. She grabs a red cup and fills it to the top, carefully holding the cup on an angle for more beer and less foam. Alessandra drinks it down quickly and refills.
“Oh. Sorry.” She stops mid-gulp and asks, “Would you like some?”
“Sure.” I revel at the skill she possesses in filling and drinking with the tap on the top of the keg.
She takes another cup and fills one for me, then finishes off her second beer to refill it for the third time.
“Maybe you should…” I’m cut off by someone yelling.
“O’Connell!” Kurt! He’s awake and really pissed. “What the fuck was that?” He is sounding much more sober. “A sucker punch?”
I’m stunned momentarily as Kurt stalks toward
“Nice,” I applaud as we mix into the crowd. “Smooth follow-through, your opponent went down fluidly. Have you been taking lessons from Vito?”
“Funny,” he deadpans. “Chooch? Vito and Antonio have called me that, what does it mean?”
“Jackass.”
A genuine smile spreads across my face. Troy pulls me close so that we are practically chest to chest. My heart races in surprise. He stares into my eyes, and then raises his hand to my waist and tickles.
“You better not call me a chooch,” he threatens.
“Never.” I laugh and try to slip out of his arms, to get him to stop. I am laughing so hard, I am losing my breath. He lets me go and we part. My skin tingles from his touch and I am left wanting it back. Our gazes lock and I notice how deep blue his eyes are. It reminds me of the first time I saw him. The butterflies he awakens in me feel good and feelings that are two years old flood back in a tidal wave.
Chapter 7
Troy
Something passed between San and me back then. It was there; I felt it. I thrust it down, though, because I thought there was more to my relationship with Megan, something deeper than friendship. But it was one-sided. I’m mad at myself for being so blind. I’m happy for Megan. I definitely want her to be happy, but I’ve never let her know how deeply it cut me. I had plans: finish school and marry Megan. I had my whole life laid out and it spiraled out of control as soon as Antonio Delisi, Junior came into it. My brother hurt Erin, her sister, and Megan hurt me. It’s a weird cosmic paradox.
This evening, I am at a party with a mob daughter who is under my protection. Why did Vito pick me? I didn’t mean to get in bed with the mob, they got in bed with me, and it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to get out and do a walk of shame anytime soon. I was sitting on the fringe of the Mafia world unaware. I’m not mad or upset. It is a surreal experience and one I gladly accept if Alessandra is a part of it.
“What are you thinking about?” Alessandra jerks me from my thoughts.
“Nothing… You know, Vito kicked butt last year doing this.” I motion to the guys sloshing beers down their throats in the Gauntlet, bare-chested and wild.
“Why am I not surprised?”
“In fact, I don’t think he lost. Erin was having an issue, so they left.”
“Vito and Erin are so cute together, it’s actually disgusting to see him swooping her off her feet, dragging her around like a rag doll as she laughs and giggles. It’s pretty nauseating.”
Alessandra shifts her stance as people creep closer, straining to see the action. I can sense her body stiffen as she stands beside me.
“Do you want something to drink?”
She nods. “Yeah, it is getting kind of tight over here.”
I lead Alessandra inside the house. People stop us to say hi, and I introduce Alessandra around. She barely acknowledges anyone packed into the four walls of the house and heads straight for the beer kegs by the kitchen. She grabs a red cup and fills it to the top, carefully holding the cup on an angle for more beer and less foam. Alessandra drinks it down quickly and refills.
“Oh. Sorry.” She stops mid-gulp and asks, “Would you like some?”
“Sure.” I revel at the skill she possesses in filling and drinking with the tap on the top of the keg.
She takes another cup and fills one for me, then finishes off her second beer to refill it for the third time.
“Maybe you should…” I’m cut off by someone yelling.
“O’Connell!” Kurt! He’s awake and really pissed. “What the fuck was that?” He is sounding much more sober. “A sucker punch?”
I’m stunned momentarily as Kurt stalks toward
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