Chapter 33
Gia
I’m starry-eyed from all the sex this afternoon. As I walk into Bingo Bangos full of life, I greet Stacey with almost as much energy as she does. Big Marty waits for me with his arms folded near the bar, because I’m a few minutes late, but heck, I’m doing him the favor. Technically I’m supposed to be watching mobsters bid on desperados in the next room in a few hours, with Castor. I threw him a bone though, so he can chill out.
“Oh my God, I can’t wait to tell you about the best date I had this week.” Stacey grabs my hands and swings them.
“Oo. Oo. Tell me.”
“I will, but not in front of err-err.” She thumbs to Marty grunting to himself. “How’s our favorite stalker doing?”
“Marco? Much Better.” I begin walking to the back room with her.
“He can’t hide as well with those crutches. I saw him just the other day posted up behind a pole. Those shimmering silver rods shine like diamonds.”
“I’ll be sure to poke fun at him if he shows tonight.” I stop dead in my tracks. “Wait a second. You’re asking an awful lot of questions about my brother.” I eye her. “You’re not…”
She bites her lip and covers her face.
I yank her into the back room to the point where her arm might dislocate if I pull any harder. “Stacey. You didn’t!”
She shies away from me like a little kid who just played in mud.
“Oh my God that double-standard limping piece of shit!”
“He’s kind of hot, Gia. Actually, he’s really hot. Just what I’ve been looking for.”
“He’s recovering!”
“Yeah, he is.” She winks, and I almost die of embarrassment.
“Oh man, I don’t want to hear this.” I cover my ears.
She makes a motion as to how big his dick is, and I turn away. We’re both giggling even though I’m disgusted. Maybe in a sick world kind of a way, it could work.
“Are you done?” I dare uncover my ears, and she jumps on me from the back.
“I love your brother’s dick,” she whispers, and I scream in torment.
“The hell is going on back here?” Marty stomps in and puts his hands on his hips. “Two tables are waiting for refills. We’re going to be slammed tonight, you two. C’mon. I need my best girls up and moving.”
I give Marty a look – a you’re fucking with Castor’s girlfriend look – and he immediately takes a step back. Not like I’d ever do anything, but it is kind of nice to know where I stand.
“We’ll be right out,” I say, and he turns around to give us a minute.
“You’re not mad, are you?” Stacey asks.
“Of course not. I’d be a pretty big hypocrite if I was.” I lean in and hug her. “You do whatever the heck you want. Just know, Marco Castellano is nuts.”
“Mmhm.” She looks up at the ceiling, as if recalling some sexcapades I want nothing to do with.
“Staff is light tonight. What gives?” I ask, noticing only Bella and Melissa working besides us.
Stacey shrugs. “A few of the busboys are setting up in the other room, but that’s about all I know. C’mon, let’s get out there.”
“Right.”
The next few hours are status quo. One of the large groups has a guy with a mohawk that’s actually hilarious. His friend keeps hitting on me, and mohawk guy keeps covering his mouth and apologizing to me. He even offers me a shot, which I decide to take.
As soon as I kick back the tequila, my eyes start playing tricks on me.
Is that…?
Castor walks into the restaurant ahead of schedule – blue suit to match his eyes, new golden ring on his index finger, and glare honed directly on me. He beckons me silently with two fingers, looking pissed.
I thank the mohawk guy and promise to be right back.
Uh oh. Is he jealous? He’s usually pretty cool about this stuff.
Jeez. He actually looks annoyed.
He’ll get over it. I’m beaming to see him again so soon. Does that make me a dork? Probably. But he’s so hot with such an overwhelming presence that I can’t help myself.
“Castor Oil.” I’m careful not to use my pet-name too loud, since his friends are starting to pile in.
“Hey, kid. Listen. I need to speak to you for a minute.”
Oh no… Something’s off. Now what?
“Um, is everything okay?” My brow furrows.
Before I can ask anything more, his hand is clasped in mine and he’s dragging me out the restaurant. I wave to Ratchet and Ace on the way, then blink in quick succession when a blast of hot air smacks me in the face.
“Walk with me,” he says, acting all funny.
“Is it about the shot? I have to play the part sometimes, Castor. You know—”
He grabs me by both shoulders and kisses me hard on the lips. We’re a quarter down the block from Bangos, out of sight behind a tree.
“That was… nice. Wait—You want to go a third time? Here?”
He laughs in my face. “I love you.”
It feels like a vat of morphine was just poured into my veins. “Love you too.” I smile up at him. “So, what’s the big idea?”
“On the way to the event, I was thinking… if I don’t make an honest woman out of you soon, somebody else might.”
My body short-circuits.
What did he just say?
Before I can register the words, he’s bending down on one knee. I’m wondering if that shot was filled with Absinthe or something. Am I hallucinating? Shit… here come the tears.
“Gia Maria Castellano, since the moment you became of age, I thought you were beautiful. In the old country, I would’ve put a deposit on you to be wed.”
We both laugh at the ludicrousness of that, but he holds it together.
“Then, some years later, I find you again at this restaurant, which apparently hires goddesses. You were off-limits for so long, it felt impossible to make a first move. But on that day five months ago, I’m glad I did. I took my licks and my punches, nearly got me killed even, but, I’m glad I fucking did.”
My hands are shaking as I struggle to keep him in focus. Is this really happening?
“You complete me, Gia. There’s no truer statement in the goddamn world. If you say yes, I’ll pamper you, I’ll love you, I’ll do anything and everything to keep you safe. And you best bet I’ll keep you satisfied.” He winks at me, which gives me some more jitters. “Gia, make me the happiest guy in the world. Will you… marry me?”
He opens a box to a gold-lamented emerald cut diamond that shines even in the dark. It’s gorgeous.
My head is so light I wonder if it will float away. I’m hypnotized by him, it, everything. After a few seconds of shock, I find the will to unfreeze and nod yes. “Of course, Castor. Of course I will.”
As soon as he slips the ring on my finger – whichperfectly fits – I jump on him and kiss him a hundred times.
“Best day of my life!” I’m staring at the ring as he picks me up. “Ugh, it’s gorgeous.”
He takes a few steps away from the tree. “Okay, koala bear, off. C’mon, let’s go back to Bangos. I want to show off my new fiancée to some friends before we get out of here to celebrate.”
“Can I call my mom? Oh God, Marco is going to flip, or maybe he’ll actually be happy for us.”
Castor snickers. “This’ll take five minutes, then we’ll call Missus C and Randy together, alright?”
“Okay.” My face hurts from smiling. Feels like I’m walking on a cloud. How is this possible? Castor DeMatteo and me? Engaged?
Our whole relationship flashes through my head. Not just the time we dated, but before then. Ogling him from my window, waiting for him to talk to me whenever he came over… Life can be surreal sometimes.
As I head back into Bangos, I don’t spot Stacey bustling around, which makes me sad. I want her to be the first to see. She hid with me like a couple of most wanted convicts when the Russians were after me. She needs to share this moment.
I frown as Castor drags me toward his private room. He’s all smiles, which makes me happy. It’s kind of weird though… Wait, why is Melissa covering Stacey’s table—
Castor opens the door and drags me through.
“Surprise!”
My heart nearly seizes when the lights burst on to all of my closest family and friends shouting at me with gigantic smiles on their faces. My mom bustles over with tears in her eyes and buries her head in my nook.
“Oh my baby!” She breaks the embrace to look at me – our eyes all glassy.
Stacey runs up from the other side of me and plants a big kiss on my cheek. “Did you know, did you know? It didn’t look like you knew.”
“I didn’t know.” I’m laughing through everything I say in disbelief. “You guys played it off great.”
Ace and Ratchet are congratulating the big man. Then the whole party stops when Marco hobbles over to us, doing his best to look tough with some obvious pain by his belly.
“Damn. I had the bet on you saying no. Thought I had good odds, too.” He cracks a smile and opens his arms for me to hug him.
I do. Probably a little too hard. Both to punish him and tell him I love him.
“Rgh,” he groans.
I give him a big kiss on the cheek, just so he knows I did it on purpose.
“Go ahead, Marco. Now that it’s official, tell her the news.” Castor nods at him.
“Oh fuck off with your sappy bullshit. You tell ’er.” He waves his hand in the air as he turns away. “I’ll be by the bar getting a drink.”
“Hey! You’re not supposed to be drinking!” Mom chases after him.
“What news? What other news can there be, Castor?” I motion around the beautifully decorated room.
‘She said YES!’ signs are everywhere, gold-trimmed tablecloths, full staff waiting hand and foot on everyone. And even Marty is smiling somewhere in the corner. My heart has never felt so warm.
Castor smirks at me. “Your brother agreed to be my best man.”
“Ahh!” I chase after the hobbling asshole. “Marco!”
“Ugh. I knew you’d be annoying about it.”
“What? This is so great. Yay!” I give him another kiss on the cheek.
“Oh, we’re on speaking terms now?” He takes a swig of a drink he snatched from somewhere when Mom wasn’t looking.
“What, did you hit your head too when you got shot?” I knock on it. “I balled my eyes out to you at the hospital.”
“I heard. Castor told me everything. You’re good jerk-offs, the two of you. Maybe I don’t regret saving his golden ass.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, she said yes!”a voice echoes through the speakers. He hired a DJ, too? Jeez. “Where’s our newly engaged couple? Come to the front please. Take a bow for the crowd!”
“Looks like you’re up.” Marco smirks.
Castor holds out his hand as he breaks away from his friends, and I slip both arms around his waist.
“You really are something.” I hold his eyes.
“Something good, I hope.”
I reach up and kiss him for a few seconds too long. “Something golden.”