Chapter 18
Iofficially knew what a cow felt like. Not because of the archaic marriage contract I sold myself into–though one could argue that cattle were sold in the same fashion–but because I’d been branded.
That’s right, there was now a bright red Gio cut into my body. And I was pretty sure it was deep enough to scar. It felt deep enough anyway. So it probably wouldn’t be going away anytime soon.
Not some horrible flower or other image I decided to get tattooed when I was drunk, but a name. And not just any name, but Gio Mancini’s name.
Don’t get me wrong, it was entirely possible that when I decided to get said drunken tattoo, I would pick a name, but that was beside the point. I didn’t sign up to be property.
“What is he doing?”
Oh, and there was that.
I followed Memphis’s stare to the booth in the corner where Gio was seated.
“Watching me.”
Apparently Gio decided to completely forgo his horrible attempts at stalking and blatantly follow me around. At least that guy Tony sat out in the parking lot.
“What do you mean he’s watching you?”
How did he need more of an explanation? I thought that statement was obvious. “I mean he’s watching me.”
And chasing away any male customer that smiled at me. One guy he physically tossed out the door. I wasn’t complaining. Less customers meant less work, and usually we were busy in the morning. It was hard to fuck up eggs. Even for a cook like Daryl.
“How long has he been here?” Memphis asked.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “Like three hours.”
“Three hours? What’s he been doing?”
My eyes narrowed on the open laptop sitting on Gio’s table. “That’s a good question.”
He was awfully focused. What was he doing on that thing? I tried to get a peek a couple of times, but he snapped it shut before I could see anything. Needless to say, my curiosity was piqued.
“Maybe he’s doing homework.” Memphis suggested.
I shot him an are you kidding look. “What teenager does homework?”
“I do.”
“That’s only because your dad makes you.” He needed a better argument than that.
Memphis propped his elbow up on the counter and dropped his chin in his palm. “You do homework too.”
That argument wasn’t going to work either. “I have the Maw Maw factor.”
“Gio has a dad.”
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s a factor for him.”
Something told me that Gio’s dad didn’t take much interest in his son’s education. I was sure he took interest in his son at all. They were barely in the same room together. I know, I hadn’t spent a lot of time in the Mancini Mansion, but even I could sense the tension between them. Cesare didn’t hate his son. I got more disregard form him then hate. Gio however, he hated his dad.
“Okay,” Memphis once again turned his gaze back to Gio. “So, what do you think he’s doing then.”
Nothing good.
“Who knows? It shall remain an unsolved mystery.”
“Kind of like why Gio Mancini would spend his Saturday in this hole like this?”
Why would anyone spend their Saturday here? “Maybe he has a thing for horrible food?”
“Has he eaten anything?”
I shook my head. “Nope.”
He was just drinking coffee. Personally, I thought if he was going to waste his time here, then he should suffer like every other customer. But whatever.
“That doesn’t make any sense, Nova.” Memphis folded his arms over his chest and eyed me. “He must be here for a reason.”
Oh, there was a reason. Obviously Gio wanted to torment me, and chase away anyone who might leave a good tip. So much for my food truck snack. Bastard.
But I would suck it up because there was no way in hell I was giving Gio the satisfaction of acknowledging his motives. He got enough of a reaction out of me last night. I’d never been more frustrated in my life. It did make the shower I had this morning epic though. Did he really think I wouldn’t touch myself. Pfft.
“Why is here, Nova?”
“If you want me to explain the inner workings of Gio Mancini’s mind, then you’re going to be sorely disappointed, Memphis.”
Gio’s mind was one dark hole I was not willing to dive into.
“You must have some idea.”
“What do you want me to say?” I shrugged. “That he’s here to bend me over the counter and do me in front of everyone?’
Wait… That wasn’t why he was here, was it?
I eyed Gio’s navy shirt and dark jeans.
He wasn’t dressed like he was going to defile someone. Then again, was there an outfit for such a thing? Did they have get my dick out quick pants? I guess sweats would fit that role. I may have to do more research into this. There was nothing wrong with being prepared after all.
My brows knit when I noticed Memphis staring at me with a stupid grin on his face.
“What?”
Did I miss something?
“Oh nothing, I just find it interesting that the first place your mind went was sex.”
“It did not.” Did it?
“Yes it did. Is there something you want to tell me?”
There were plenty of things I wanted to tell him. Like how to get rid of that mischievous sparkle in his eye. Instead, I just said, “No.”
“Are you sure,” Memphis sang in a tone that made want to slap him. “Because you seem a little frustrated.”
He had no idea.
I was about to tell Memphis off when Gio’s voice chimed in.
“That’s because I wouldn’t let her come last night.”
Son of a bitch.
Memphis’s jaw dropped while shot Gio a death glare. I might actually kill him tonight.
“Do you mind? This is a private conversation.” Not to mention Memphis didn’t need to know anything about last night.
“A private conversation that you’re having in a public place.” Gio pointed out without so much as giving me a quick glance.
I was getting tired of his new ability to point out technicalities. “That doesn’t give you the right to eavesdrop.”
Rude much.
Gio clicked typed something into his laptop. “Well, maybe you should talk a little quieter then.”
“I was speaking at a normal volume.” What did he want me to do? Whisper everything?
“I heard you.” The guy in booth number two piped in.
To which Gio lifted his finger over his shoulder to give him a point. “See.”
“I’m going to spit in your next cup of coffee.” I said to Gio then swung my glare over to the tattooed guy in chewing on a piece of toast. “And you’re lucky you already have your food.”
His shoulder lifted in a small shrug. “Spit wouldn’t be the worst thing I ate.”
What was it, smart ass day? What was that guy doing in here anyway? He wasn’t exactly our typical customer. When he spoke there was no Louisiana drawl.
So he wasn’t from around here, which might explain why he picked this place to eat – no local would think pulled pork and gumbo was a good combination.
Being a tourist wasn’t out of the ordinary. It was his appearance that made him stand out. It wasn’t anything I single out. The guy was clean, yet rough, and not as big as Gio, but something told me he could easily take him in a fight. And there were the tattoos on his face. He just didn’t belong. Not here.
Whatever, I wasn’t going to put much thought in it. I had other things to worry about. Like the way my best friend was staring at me, which I decided to ignore and occupy myself by wiping the counter down.
I may as well do some work while I was here. I could make a new pot of coffee, but Gio was going to ask for a refill soon and that one had been sitting there for about an hour. It should be nice and stale.
I put Memphis out of my mind and focused on polishing the laminate counter top.
“Oh, so that’s your plan. You’re going to pretend I’m not here?”
Yeah, pretty much.
“I have work to do.”
“Work?” Memphis cocked a brow.
Admittedly, that probably wasn’t the best excuse to use, given how well he knew me, but it was all I had.
“Yes, work.” I said. “I have a paycheque to earn.”
The arch in his brow lifted. “Earn?”
Okay, again, that was probably not the best word to use.
“I know what you’re doing.”
No, he didn’t.
“When has ignoring me ever worked?”
Okay, maybe he did.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you. You’ll never guess whose yard I caught Billy and Kyle sneaking around in.”
Little pissants.
“Uh uh.” Memphis shook his head. “You do not get to change the subject on this one.”
I could if he would let me.
“Fine. If you won’t tell me, then I guess I’ll have to ask someone else.”
My eyes narrowed as Memphis leaned back and shifted his gaze to the corner booth.
“You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, but I would.”
God damnit. He would.
I could argue that Gio wouldn’t tell him anything, but I think we both knew better at this point. There were no other options. I had to give him something.
“Ugh, fine. Let’s just say he found a new way to torture me.”
Why I thought that would be enough, I had no idea.
“And this new form of torture involved not letting you come?”
Did I have to spell it out for him?
“Yes.” I hissed, hoping he would drop it.
He didn’t.
If anything, Memphis’s curiosity just rose. He looked over at Gio, then back at me. “Is he good?”
Really? That’s what he wanted to know?
“How should I know?” It wasn’t like I had a lot of experience to draw on.
“Did you like it?”
Did I like? Of course not… well, maybe… I mean no.
“What…” I stopped talking when I noticed Gio wasn’t staring at his laptop anymore.
He was looking right at me, waiting for my answer. And I had the perfect response to give him.
“I liked the shower I had this morning better.”
The corner of Gio’s mouth lifted, and I wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or not. There was a high possibility that I’d pay for my infraction later, but I didn’t have to worry about it now.
Memphis tipped his head at me. “Did you shower with him?”
“What? No!”
“Did you fuck him?”
Why did he need clarity? “No.”
He leaned across the counter and asked in a hushed tone, “Do you want to?”
“Of course not.” Why would he even ask that? Although, admittedly, I was curious. If Gio could make me feel that good with his fingers and tongue, what could he do with other parts?
“Uh, huh?”
Ugh, I knew that tone. “Uh huh what?”
“You do realize you’ve been avoiding him, right?”
So? “I always avoid him.”
“No,” Memphis sat up and shook his head. “You don’t avoid anyone.”
That wasn’t totally true. For instance, I was trying really hard to avoid Memphis’s questions right now.
“That doesn’t prove anything. And I’m too busy for this conversation.”
Memphis looked at the only two customers in the place then cocked a brow at me.
“The morning rush will be in here at any minute.”
He looked down at the watch around his wrist. “It’s past noon.”
“So, there a little late.” Or chased away by a crazy guy.
He eyed me for a second before leaning back and saying, “Hey Gio, why is Nova avoiding you?”
Traitor!
“She’s scared I’ll lick her pussy again.” Gio’s green eyes tore off the computer screen and locked on me. “I will, by the way.”
Asshole!
I wasn’t sure if the heat flooding my cheeks was from anger or embarrassment. Whatever happened to modesty and privacy? Did he have to announce this shit to the entire world?
“Um, you can’t talk like that.” Defiance lifted my chin. “We have customers.”
And what did Gio do? He went right back to whatever he was doing on that stupid laptop and waved over his shoulder. “He doesn’t care.”
I crossed my arms. “You don’t know that.”
“I really don’t care.” Booth number two said.
“Well, no one asked you.”
What was this, gang up on Nova day? Was it too much to ask for someone to work with me here? Did they want me to spit in their food. Well, booth number two already had his food, Memphis knew better than to eat here, and Gio was on a coffee diet, but I could still spit in that.
My entire body froze as the bell above the door ding and a familiar face strutted in.
“Oh my God, Nova!”
The shrill sound of that voice graded on my nerves worse than the smug smirk curling Gio’s lip.
Cindy Fassbender.
This day kept getting better and better.
She rushed forward, leaned over the counter and threw her arms around me. “It’s been so long.”
If there’s a god up there, he’ll smite me right now.
Memphis coughed back a snicker while I tapped her back.
“Hey, Cindy.”
Curse the day I told her where I worked.
She squeezed me tighter squishing my face into her abundant chest. “I missed you.”
I missed the second grade, when I was taller than her and not at risk of smothering to death between her breasts. Gio’s strangulations suddenly didn’t seem so bad. At least I didn’t gag on the overpowering stench of perfume. What the hell was that scent anyway. Au de slut?
It surrounded me like a noxious cloud of gas that stuck around even when she let go to sit down on one of the stools.
“It’s so good to see you.”
Why was she being nice? I didn’t trust that smile on her face.
“Cindy, we’re not friends. We have never been friends and we never will be friends.”
“You’re so funny.” She giggled and waved her hand. “Things just haven’t been the same at school without you.”
Did she run out of other girl’s boyfriends to steal? Oh wait… she only went for my boyfriends. And snacks, seat in class, position in the choir. Pretty much anything that was mine. She even hit on Kato once.
“How have you been?”
Like she cared. “Well–”
“They must be working you so hard.” Her long fingers reached out and cupped my face. “You look absolutely exhausted.”
I smacked my lips and sighed. “What do you want, Cindy?”
She wasn’t here to catch up, that much I knew.
“Ugh, don’t tell me you’re still mad about that Simon thing.” she sat back and waved her hand through the air. “It was just a blow job. No big deal.”
Just a blow job?
She reached out and placed her hand on mine. “You’re welcome by the way.”
“For what?”
“Satisfying your boyfriend when you couldn’t.” She said like it that was an obvious fact.
“Wow, Cindy,” Memphis rolled his eyes. “Classy as ever I see.”
Her pointed chin twisted towards Memphis. “What would you know about class?”
“Well, I didn’t have Simon Fisher’s dick in my mouth, so I’ve obviously got one up on you.”
Hey now, I dated Simon.
“You would be so lucky.” She shot back.
Memphis sighed and shook his head. “Clearly you and I have very different definitions for the word lucky.”
“Ugh,” she scoffed. “Nova understands, don’t you Nova?”
“That you have no class? Yeah.” I figured that out by third grade.
She rolled her eyes. “Memphis is a bad influence on you.”
“At least I won’t give her syphilis.” Memphis sang while flipping the page of a newspaper on the counter.
As amusing as this was – and it was always amusing when these two were in the same room – I didn’t want to spend any more time with Fires than I had to. So I interrupted before their verbal conflict could continue.
“What’s brings you in today, Cindy?”
“Actually. I’m here about Simon.” She shot Memphis a dirty look when he huffed out a snort.. “He’s in trouble.”
I rolled my eyes. “Why should I care?”
Simon wasn’t my problem anymore.
“He’s your boyfriend Nova.”
Did she not get the memo. “No he’s not.”
Her head tipped in skepticism. “Does he know that?”
“Yeah.” It wasn’t my fault if he couldn’t get that fact through his thick head.
“Is there someone else?”
Why did she care? Was she looking for new prey? “No.”
“Yes there is.” Memphis corrected. “And he’s a huge upgrade.”
Cindy returned his claim with an eyeroll. “I find that hard to believe.”
And I found that comment offensive.
“Look at her. She’s kind of a mess.” She ran her judgmental eyes down my form. “Simon Fisher is the best she’s going to get.”
This bitch.
“Really?” Memphis said before I had a chance to open my mouth. “You might want to tell that to her new man, who’s right over there.”
Cindy’s gaze followed Memphis to the corner booth. Gio was too engrossed in what he was doing to notice them watching him, and Cindy was watching alright. Her eyes poured over every inch, soaking it up like a starved beast. While Gio continued to type on the keyboard.
Sure, he chooses not to eavesdrop now.
“That’s Gio Mancini.”
Memphis nodded, way too cockily for my liking. My agreement with Gio wasn’t something to brag about. It was a personal hell. Although I did like the spark of jealousy in Cindy’s eyes.
“You’re telling me that Nova is dating Gio Mancini?”
“Oh, they’re practically engaged.”
I gave Memphis a dirty look. Asshole. I was going to put itching powder in his coat on Monday.
Unsurprisingly, Cindy’s entire demeanor changed. Her back straightened, pushing her boobs out, and she flicked her light hair over her shoulder. When it came to her, put the word boyfriend and me together and it was like a moth flittering to a flame.
“I should introduce myself.” Before I could take my next breath, Cindy was up and swaying her hips his way like the queen of seduction.
“Aren’t you going to stop her?” Memphis asked.
“Why?” I shrugged. “At the very least, it’ll be interesting.”
I guess he agreed, because Memphis didn’t say another word. He just joined me to watch the show.
Cindy stood beside Gio’s table for a good three minutes before he even bothered to arch a brow up at her.
“Can I help you?”
I shook my head at the sweet smile she pleasured on her face. “I’m Cindy.”
“And I care why?”
Cindy didn’t know what to do with that. She looked stunned for a second. I was impressed. Cindy didn’t get shocked often.
“I’m Nova’s friend.”
The words no, you’re not, were on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed them back when Gio lifted his head and gave her a once over.
“You’re Nova’s friend?”
Even he didn’t believe it.
Daft as ever, Cindy took that as a positive remark and perked up. “I am. We’ve known each other forever.”
That part was true.
“Well, say good bye because you’re never going to see her again.”
That didn’t sound very promising. Did he have plans to kill me later?
Cindy arched a brow and cocked her hip. “Pardon me?”
“You heard me. My girl doesn’t need friends like you.” He turned his attention back to the computer screen and added, “I don’t want your overused slut rubbing off on her.”
Memphis chuckled, Cindy’s jaw dropped, and my fists balled. I wasn’t mad that he was talking to her, I was mad that he insulted her. And better than he’d ever insulted me. What the hell?
A snarl lifted the corner of Cindy’s lip. “You can’t talk to me like that.”
That’s right he couldn’t. You tell that asshole.
Gio let out an exasperated sigh. “Why are you still here?”
This motherfucker. How dare he dismiss her.
That when evilness really took hold on Cindy’s face. Her brows pinched together while her lips pulled out in a tight scowl.
She leaned in closer to him and hissed. “I know what you did to Simon.”
Wait… what did he do to Simon?
Gio didn’t so much as look up at her. “And yet, you’re still here.”
Seriously, what did he do to Simon?
“I’m not scared of you.”
“Then you’re as stupid as you look.”
That’s it!
“You can’t talk to her like that.” He could only talk to me like that.
Gio, Memphis, and Cindy all turned my way. That’s when I realized how crazy I must look. My nails were digging into my palms and I could feel a vein of rage throbbing on my forehead.
Letting out a breath, I unfurled my fingers and calmly said, “This is a place of business. You can’t be rude to people.”
“That’s right.” Cindy sang. “You owe me an apology.”
She wouldn’t be getting that apology. Gio was too busy staring at me to pay attention to her. And he wasn’t just staring. He was searching. As if he saw something hidden in my expression. If he did see something, he didn’t say anything about it. Instead he looked up at Cindy.
“Does your father let you leave the house dressed like that, or is he using your holes too?”
My fists reballed as Cindy’s hand swung through the air. That slap should be mine, not hers. Not that Cindy managed to connect her hit.
Gio caught her wrist before that happened. Then he looked directly in my eyes and shoved her on the floor. It took everything I had not to grind my teeth in response.
A devious smirk spread across his face and that’s when I realized that last insult he threw Cindy’s way, was a test.
And I just failed.