Lost Until You (The Sorrentino Brothers Series Book 1) (6 page)

No fun and games were happening on this Saturday. My girl was pissed.

**

She won. Jazz always won. That wasn’t really a surprise. After giving in to my pouty face, Jazz got ready while I played with Savanah in the living room.

We went into Rehoboth Beach and caught a two-thirty matinee, seeing
The Fault in Our Stars
. I had gained some experience in my marriage and learned that with my wife, you either shut up or give up. And since I wasn’t one to give up anything, I guess I would have to continue suffering through those chick flicks as long as my beautiful wife made me. After all, she ruled the house, regardless of what I said. There was no use in fighting it.

I was one whipped sonuvabitch.

Chapter Seven

Brax

“It’s good to see you, man.” I stepped inside the door and gave Brody a hug. It had been a while since my brother was back in town.

“You too, B,” Brody returned the hug, slapping my back.

We were at my parents’ house for dinner. It was something we had done every Sunday for as far back as I could remember. With all of the kids grown and out of the house, our family gatherings gave Ma a reason to cook a big meal again without hearing Dad’s mouth complaining about making him fat. That man would bitch about the color of the sky if he were given the opportunity. I suppose that was what old age did to you because he had never been this grumpy before. My dad had always been a funny, laid-back kind of guy. But this man, I didn’t know who the hell he was sometimes.

 “There’s my sexy twin,” Jazz squealed, shoving me out of the way and jumping into Brody’s arms. “How are you?”

He pulled back and kissed Jazz’s cheek, looking her over. I stood to the side with my eyes glued to my brother’s hands. I was pretty sure you could hear my loud growl through the living room. Brody better watch it. I would set his ass straight in a heartbeat. That was my girl.

“I’ve been good but busy. Trying to stay ahead of the game,” Brody replied, glancing over at me, leering.

“Something funny?” I crossed my arms over my chest ready to pounce his ass. I meant it. Brody might have been in better shape from playing ball right now, but I wouldn’t hesitate to whoop his ass if he kept messing with my wife.

Like a dick, he leaned down and swooped Jazz off the ground, turning her in a circle. I knew he did that shit just to piss me off. He might have been my brother, but he was still an asshole.

Jazz laughed hysterically, thinking it was all fun and games. Just wait. She was in for it tonight if she kept that shit up.

“It’s you, B. You act like I want your girl or something. Jazz is family, man. Calm the fuck down.”

“Keep your hands to yourself. Then I’ll calm down,” I demanded in a God-fearing tone.

One day that fucker would learn. When you had a prized possession like my wife, you didn’t want anyone’s paws near your girl. Not even your twin brother. That was a fact.

I ignored the two of them mumbling to one another and picked up the car seat while Savanah stayed asleep, making my way into the kitchen.

“I thought I heard my boy.” Ma wiped her hands on her apron then pulled it over her head. “Come here.”

I set the car seat on the table and walked around the island, pulling her into my arms.            

“It’s good to see you, sweetie. How was the drive?”

“Not too bad,” I kissed her cheek and then grabbed a chip out of the bowl, popping it in my mouth. “The fog was the worst part, but the roads aren’t slick yet. I don’t think it’s icy. Just wet snow.”

“That’s good. I hope the ground stays warm so it doesn’t freeze over before you kids head home. If not, it looks like it’ll be a sleepover at grandmas.” She lifted her hands and did some kind of dance or whatever the hell you wanted to call it. Leave it to Amelia to try to sucker us into staying the night. Ma would do anything she could to have all of us kids home again.

The front door opened and everyone hollered vociferously. “Brix is here,” Ma and I said at the same time.

My cousin never knew when to shut the hell up. I swore he needed hearing aids. Since we were little, Brix had always been outspoken, no matter where we were. And if you tried to tell him to be quiet, he would talk louder. I didn’t know if he did that shit on purpose, but God help him when he decided to have kids. They would never be able to sleep with his big mouth in the same house.

Almost on cue, Savanah started fussing in her seat. I walked over to the table and unbuckled her seatbelt, pulling her out. “Did my angel have a good nap?” I slid her jacket off and held her in my arms.

Ma followed me over to the baby and waited until I was done before taking Savanah out of my arms and showering her face full of kisses.

“Come to Nana, sweetie. Let Daddy get settled and relax.”

Just like grandma’s touch, Savanah calmed down as Ma walked her into the living room. I grabbed her bottle and sippy cup out of the diaper bag, and placed them in the fridge before following behind them.

“What’s going on, brother?” Brix reached out his hand.

 “Nothing much.”

“Ma, when’s dinner done?” Brayden shocked us all when he peeked his head around the corner.

 Well, shit. I didn’t think he would get to come home today. Dad said he was stuck in New Jersey due to the weather.

“Oh my, God! Brayyyyyy,” Jazz pushed past everyone and jumped in my little brother’s arms.

Damn…if she only got excited like that when I walked through the door.

“All, hell. Look who it is,” Brayden kept his hold around Jazz and grabbed my ass.

I turned around and punched his shoulder. “Fucker,” I joked and gave my brother a hug.

He kissed the side of my girl's head and then stepped in toward me.

“It’s good to see you, dude. It’s been a hot minute.”

“Yeah, man. It’s been a while. How’s everything been?”

“Not too bad. Busy with work and the baby,” I smiled, glancing over at Jazz. “How does it feel playing ball for a living?”

The glow on Bray’s face told me his answer. My little brother got lucky as shit. He was drafted into the NFL his junior year at the University of Delaware, signing with the Washington Redskins. We all knew it would happen, but we weren’t expecting it until his senior year.  When he picked up an agent, it was only a short time before he ranked in the top one hundred. The rest was history.

For the last four years, Brayden had been going strong, working his ass off, and making a career for himself. I couldn’t be more proud of my little brother.  

“Crazy, dude. It’s a dream come true. I just wish you were out there with me, you know.”

“I know. I guess the big man had different plans.” I wrapped my arm around Jazz’s shoulder. “It was meant to be.”

Brayden’s cell phone rang in his hand. He lifted his finger indicating for me to hold on and then walked outside.

Jazz gave me a kiss and sat down on the floor with Ma and the baby. I made my way through the living room and sat on the couch, propping my legs up on the coffee table, watching everyone mingle amongst one another, happy to be together. With four guys going in different directions, my parents were left by themselves more than they liked. I knew for certain Ma hated it. If she could have us all home, under one roof, her life would feel more complete. She loved us boys fiercely.

Family had always been important to us, especially to Jazz. Not having her parents growing up, she had always been the first to help Mom pull us all together. I was content, living the dream with my two girls, but my brothers and cousin needed to hurry up in the baby department. Lately, with the way things were going, Savanah would be the only grandchild in the foreseeable future, unless I could talk my wife into having another baby. Jazz swore she needed to wait a year or two before getting pregnant again, but we would have to see about that. If I had my way, we would have our own damn football team running around.

**

“You mean to tell me, Brax went with you to see
The Fault in Our Stars?
” Tanya whipped her head toward Brix. “That’s so not fair. He can take his wife, and yet you refuse to take me, but we’ve been together longer than they have.”

Brix rolled his eyes as if he had been waiting for this to come up. “Baby, B’s just a little bitch. He enjoys watching chick flicks. It’s sort of his thing.”

I picked an ice cube out of my cup and shoved it in Brix's ear. “I got your bitch.”

He leaned back in his chair and tripped over his boots, landing on his ass. “See. Little bitch. My point exactly.”

Everyone around the table laughed, ignoring Brix’s whining from the floor. Jazz squeezed my thigh, giving me that “fuck me” look.

Shit, I growled again. She better watch it. I was ready to pull her tight little ass up in that bathroom and take her against the counter, letting everyone hear her sweet fucking moans. Family or not, my girl knew better than to tempt me.

I sat back in my chair and wrapped my arm around her neck, pulling her head toward my shoulder. Leaning my head in, I whispered in her ear, “Be careful, baby. You’re barking up the wrong tree.”

Jazz sat up straight and looked at me, batting her eyelashes. “Is that so?” she murmured, testing my patience. She was asking for it.

I moved my chair back, acting like I was picking something up off the floor, and placed my mouth on her thigh. Blowing hot air through those sexy-ass leggings that shaped her ass to perfection, I bit the shit out of her inner thigh. If she thought I was playing, I was just going to have to show her.

Jazz shrieked, grabbing a hold of my hair, pushing my head away from her leg, laughing hysterically.

“Man. Take that shit somewhere else. Nobody wants to see you fuck your girl at the dinner table. There are kid—”

“Brayden James,” Ma fumed, “watch your mouth, son. You don’t speak like that to your brother, especially at the dinner table.”

Brayden threw up his hands. “Well, tell your son to stop trying to face fuck his girl and I’ll shut up.”

“That’s enough, Bray. No one wants to hear that shit. Now shut the fu—”

“Anthony—” Ma threw her hand over Savanah’s ears, “my Heavens. What is wrong with you boys tonight?”

She pushed her chair back, unbuckling the baby from the highchair. “When the three of you have some cotton pickin’ sense, my grandbaby and I will be in the living room. For the rest of you, help yourself to the food.” Ma took Savanah and left the dining room.

“See what you two pricks did?” Dad shouted, slamming his hands down on the table. “I swear, the older you get, the worse you act. Grow the fuck up.” He stormed out of the room.

What in the hell just happened? First of all, Ma almost never curses. And Dad? He had never talked to Bray or me in such a hateful tone.

Jazz grabbed my neck, pulling me in for a kiss. “Sounds like something’s going on with your parents.”

I hated to say it but I think she was right. I didn’t know what it could be, but I was sure we would find out sooner or later. However, right now I wasn’t going to push their buttons. They were both too pissed to bother with my curiosity.

The rest of the night was uneventful. The tension in the house floated around entirely too thick. Jazz and I waited until eight-thirty and then said our goodbyes, leaving everyone else there to pick up the slack.

We got the baby settled in her jacket and put her in her car seat before giving everyone a hug and kiss goodbye. Ma cried, as usual, not wanting us to leave, and Dad seemed like he was happy to finally watch us go.

Something was definitely up; I just wish I had some sort of an idea of what it was. I hated seeing my parents not getting along. They had been the main constant my entire life.

“Hey, cuz. You got a minute?” Brix jogged out to my truck.

Jazz took the car seat out of my hands and put the baby inside where it was warm, so I could talk to Brix.

“Yeah. What’s up?”

“Has Stone called you?”

“Not in a few days. Why?”

“He has some new information. He said he was going to call you sometime next week before getting with Jazz.”

I looked at my cousin, hoping he had more information than what we had discussed before. “What do you know?”

Brix shoved his hands in his front pockets. “I think he found the grandparents. I don’t know the details of it, but from my understanding, everything he searched for came back. Just be on standby. Jazz is going to need you through all of this.”

I turned and opened the door. “Thanks, Brix. I’ll wait for his call. As for taking care of Jazz, I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

“Cool. Cool. Be careful driving. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“You too, man.”

We shook hands and then I hopped in the truck, cranking up the heat. Brix ran back up to the house and walked inside, shutting the door behind him.

There were so many things happening in our lives lately, I felt like I was starting to suffocate. I didn’t know how Jazz was going to feel once she found out about her birth family, but she would never be alone. What my wife wanted, she got. No questions asked.

**

“Well, that was interesting.” Jazz laid her head back on the seat.

 “I’d say.”

“Do you think your mom was mad because of the way Bray was cursing? Or do you really think her and your dad are fighting? I’ve just never seen her that pissed before. Wait, before you answer,” she held up her hand, “your mom’s heard you boys curse at each other for years. Yeah, she’s always told you guys to stop but nothing this extreme. I mean, come on, B. She was livid.”

I grabbed her hand, bringing it to my lips. “I know, baby. I have no idea what’s going on. It was definitely strange.”

With Brody and Brayden basically living on the road, I had intended to hang out with them a little longer. But after everything was said and done, Jazz and I agreed it was best if we skipped out and headed home. There was no use in making things worse. Obviously, my parents needed space, and we needed to respect their privacy.