Part 6 (1/2)

My brother paced back and forth, clenching and unclenching his fingers into fists. No more, Mallory Rosella Ba.s.so. He used my middle name, my mothers name, trying to intimidate me, but it only added to my fury.

Screw you Giovanni, you arent Ma or Pops. You cant tell me what to do. Im not your ward anymore. Im twenty-one, and Ill d.a.m.n well see anyone I want, when I want, where I want, and when I want. My voice was on full volume, and my frustration frazzled my brain enough to make me repeat my words. My life is none of your G.o.dd.a.m.ned business anymore, and youve made no effort to be around or even let me know where you are. So dont you dare stand there and tell me what I need to do or who I can see, Giovanni.

Giovanni took a menacing step toward me, and I backed up to the opened door of my car. He gritted his teeth and spoke through his clenched jaw. Mallory, this is too deep even for you to understand. You need to stay out of it and stay away from Maxwell, he Giovanni pounded his fist on the hood of my car. He isnt any good for you. Do you hear me? You are not to see him again.

Hot tears were streaming down my face, and in that moment I hated my brother for making me cry, for taking away a moment with our parents, and for dictating to me what my life was supposed to be, but most of all, for taking away Adrian. I knew what Id said, that he couldnt tell me who or where or when, but I knew that wasnt true, even after I spewed the words out. Normally, Id try to press my luck, but the way he looked at me scared me this time.

I didnt know how far Giovanni was in this time around, and in the time it took for him to pound his fist into my hood, I saw Mr. Alika, Leslie, and Robbie. I knew full well what could and most likely would happen to Pus.h.i.+ng Daisies if I didnt watch my step. Giovanni would have no choice, and it would be my fault. Right now, my employer and his business were safe, unlike a lot of other shops and business in this part of Elizabeth. I couldnt risk it, and that fact hit my heart like a bulldozer. I drove home straining to see through my tears.

Chapter Ten.

Adrian Three small velvet boxes of different colors and ages laid in a row on my unmade bed. A forth was in my hand. I opened the lid and heard the squeaky bra.s.s hinge. It moaned at having been unmoved for years. In its belly, on a bed of silk, I found what I was searching for. I let the delicate, dainty silver chain dangle from my fingertips. A white sapphire pendant glittered in the dim light of my bedroom lamp.

I could remember my mother wearing the necklace when I was younger. She wore it to Alexs high school graduation. She wore it to my high school graduation and my first college football game. After Alex pa.s.sed away and before I moved out on my own, she pulled me aside and gave me the velvet box that held the necklace. She told me she had intended to give it to Alex in hopes that he would give it to a special girl, fall in love, and share it with her, but she was afraid he would sell it at a p.a.w.n shop for liquor, so she held on to it for the day he got better. I recalled wiping away her tears with my fingers.

I sat there with the necklace and rubbed my fingers together, remembering the sound of her sniffing. She wanted me to take it now. Maybe one day I would meet someone special enough to love it for as many years as she had. As I looked at it, I could think of no one more special to me right now than Mallory.

Our relations.h.i.+p was new and fragile, but my heart was certain about her, and I wanted to prove it to her with a visible symbol. One that meant a lot to me, one that would be witness to anyone looking at her that we were an item; we had a commitment to one another, no matter how new it was.

I cradled the necklace back in the silk lining of the box and snapped the lid shut, placing the box on my nightstand. The other three boxes, which contained pieces from my grandparents and my own high school ring, went back into the top drawer of my bureau.

The tension in my body was demanding a release. It had been a h.e.l.l of a day. I decided to take a hot shower to relax, and then I could call Mallory and let her voice lull me into a peaceful sleep.

The steam from the shower filled the bathroom that was right off my bedroom. I could hear the low tones of the music that were coming from the miniature speaker attached to my iPad. I stripped off my jeans and boxer briefs, slipping my t-s.h.i.+rt over my head and dropping it into the small pile at my feet. I could see the lines of my chest through the steamy film that was coating the bathroom mirror. Looking at my reflection, I watched my own hand running over my chest, but in my head, it was Mallorys fingers stroking my skin, bringing me a fresh rush of sensations. I felt the surge of blood rush downward.

Opaque plastic crinkled, and metal loops and hooks sc.r.a.ped against the shower rod as I drew back the curtain and stepped into the high-pressure beads of hot water from my showerhead. It was almost perfect. The only thing that could make this moment better would be to have Mallory naked in here with me.

I felt my muscles twitch at the thought. If she lived here, she could join me every day. That was a thought Id never entertained with another woman. I scrubbed my hair with a rich, tingling, invigorating shampoo. I could make her breakfast in the mornings. She would have dinner ready after practice. I would buy her a flower shop of her own so that she could always be creative, without any hindrance from other people. I knew she would be an amazing business woman.

A fresh-scented body wash coated my skin and left bubbles at my feet as I woke up the nerve endings in my skin with a rough cloth. Wed climb into bed and be in one anothers arms every night. Id hold her and feel her mouth on mine. I could touch her and draw out a mult.i.tude of pleasures from within her. Hearing her whimper and moan in my head had me rock-hard under the flow of the water.

I took up the bottle of conditioner and slicked it through my hair. It was silky smooth, like the insides of Mallorys thighs. My hands slipped down the ripples of my abdomen, and my fingers encircled the swollen trunk between my own legs. My hand slipped over the taut skin with ease. I imagined Mallorys lips making that same motion. My free hand lay flat on the tile of the shower wall, holding me up while I kept my eyes closed. I could feel my knees tremble as I envisioned her whispering from on her knees how she loved the way we fit together, how she needed me every day, and when we were apart, all she did was fantasize about us making love. The surge built fast, and I didnt hold it back. I called out her name at my release and stood there shaking until the water started to turn cold. I couldnt wait to get out and call her.

With a towel swathed about my hips and my hair toweled dry, my cell phone was in my hand and I stretched my lengthy form out over my bed, pus.h.i.+ng the tangle of blankets and sheets aside so that I could be comfortable on the mattress. I punched at and propped up a few pillows behind my back and head, and when I was fully situated, I lit up the screen of my phone and scrolled for Mallorys number.

It rang a few times and went to voice mail. I could feel the corners of my mouth turn down in disappointment as I hung up. I hadnt been prepared to leave a message. I wondered where she was. It was past ten. Did she go out? Maybe she was with her friend Leslie.

The thought reminded me that I wanted to ask her if Leslie would be interested in double dating with us as Emmets date. I dialed her again, ready to leave her a s.e.xy little message for when she got back and went to bed for the evening. In my fingers, I toyed with the necklace I had extracted from the velvet box again. It was soothing to know it would soon be fastened around her neck and sparkling in her lovely cleavage.

h.e.l.lo? The soft tone of her voice on the other end of the line caught me off-guard.

Oh hey, its Adrian. I thought you were out. You didnt answer the first time. I was going to leave a message, I babbled. Hi, I finally said with a laugh, sighing and smiling, even though she couldnt see me.

Hi. I could hear heaviness in her voice, and I wondered if she had been sleeping.

Did I wake you up?

No, she sniffled. Was she upset? My heart ached to think something was wrong. Should I broach the subject? Maybe she needed to talk to someone who answered back. She was at the cemetery, like myself, talking to people who couldnt answer anything for us in reality. That said, there had been something concerning in her face then. I wondered if it had escalated.

I went with, I miss you.

I miss you too. She whispered.

I really enjoyed being with you last night and this morning. I was hoping we could go out again, maybe tomorrow? I have something Id like to give you.

The line was silent.

Mallory?

Im here.

I wondered if she were reconsidering our time together.

Well, what do you think? Would you like to go out with me tomorrow?

I heard an audible swallow. Id love to.

My heart jumped in my chest.

But I cant.

I was silent for a few moments as that hit me. Oh. I felt the letdown like a rock in the pit of my stomach.

She sniffled again.

Its okay, kitten. I wanted to hold her desperately. You know you can tell me anything you need to. Listening is another one of my many talents, I joked. If not tomorrow, maybe the day after, we can get sus.h.i.+, no expectations. How does that sound?

Adrian, her voice was shaking. I dont think so.

I heard a sob, and then the line went dead. I sat there, staring at my screen, dumbstruck. What the h.e.l.l had just happened? Did we not have an amazing night and emotional morning together? Werent we just kissing in the cemetery sharing some very personal details? My mind was a haze. Did she or didnt she have feelings for me? I thought they were coming through loud and clear, nothing mixed. Had I read her completely wrong?

I let my fingers dial her back. The line went straight to voice mail, and I hung up. What could have happened?

Chapter Eleven.

Mallory My eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, not even a good base of concealer and makeup could hide the fact that I had not slept and had cried away most of the night. My hair was a fright of tangles and knots that I scooped into a bun at the top of my skull, and I think I might have put on the same clothes from yesterday. I was a mess, beyond death warmed over, surpa.s.sing the walking dead”I was my own special kind of zombie.

My fingers fumbled over my phone for the fifth time since I arrived at the flower shop, and it wasnt even noon yet. I was dialing Adrian, listening to his voicemail introduction and hanging up before it beeped. What could I say? Hey, I think Im falling for you, but my estranged older brother has forbidden me from ever seeing you? Hed think I was crazy, like I belonged to some weird cult of betrothed Vikings or something. I told myself he was at practice, and that was why he wasnt picking upor maybe he saw my number each time and decided I was too much work to deal with. I swiped at my puffy eyes with the back of my sweater sleeve.

Hey Mal. It was Leslie, perky, perfect, I can sleep with anyone and not be phased, have no brother to write out my lifes plan Leslie.

Hey. I turned away so she wouldnt be able to see the tears that were sliding down my cheeks again, smearing what makeup I managed slather over my haggard face. How many tears did I have left? I sniffled.

Hey, hey, she pressed, her voice became low and concerned as she instantly picked up on my vibe. Whats the matter? Did something happen with Adrian?