The Right Kind of Love (12 page)

We walked into the kitchen and everyone immediately went to their places. Damien sat me next to him and Justice. Somehow, Shaina was seated next to Sebastian. Neither of them spoke, but she kept looking at him when he wasn’t looking.

My eyes grew the size of saucers when I took in how much food there was on the table. Each of us had a plate of macaroni with marinara sauce. There was a platter full of meatballs, Italian sausage, and what I assumed was pork. There was a platter filled with mouthwatering fried chicken and next to it, a huge garden salad, and finishing with a basket that I imagined was filled with some sort of bread. I could eat a lot, but I honestly didn’t know where I was going to put all of this food.

“Okay, everyone. Let’s say the blessing,” said his mother, who was sitting at one of the ends of the table.

I bowed my head and said the Lord’s blessing with them. Being Catholic, I instantly recognized the prayer. I hadn’t said the blessing since before my mother had died.

Once we were finished, everyone dug in with gusto. “Mmm, this is delicious, Luciana. I can’t thank you enough for having me.”

“Well, eat up, dear. There is plenty more from where that came from.” She picked up her glass and took a sip of her red wine. We all had red wine set in front of us along with a glass filled with ice water.

“Oh, don’t worry, mom. This girl doesn’t mess around when it comes to food.”

I nudged Damien on the arm. “Geez, Damien. Don’t make me out to be a cow or something.”

“Oh, trust me. You’re far from a cow.” He tapped me on the nose with his finger.

I wonder what that was supposed to mean. I think he was telling me that he liked me.

My lips turned up into a smile. This was a good feeling, a very good feeling.

Damien

We were rolling typical Italian style tonight. The ladies were in the kitchen doing the dishes while we guys were on the back deck having a beer and shooting the shit. I always wanted to help, but my ma had insisted that we boys needed to have some guy time. She was good to us.

I walked over to Reeve and took the vacant seat by him.

“Reeve, where have you been lately? I’ve been calling you on your nights off and you’re never around,” I asked. To go from living together and then not seeing one another at all was weird.

“That’s because I’ve been doing something rewarding with my time. I’ve been volunteering at a homeless shelter. I’ve been giving those in need medical care.” He grinned. You could tell he obviously loved what he was doing.

“That’s cool, man. How often are you there?”

“I volunteer two nights a week and then all day Saturday. You would be surprised at the amount of homeless people that are in this town. It’s really pretty fucking sad.” I had no doubt it was.

“I bet. I’ve always wanted to give back to the community. Maybe I’ll have to join you sometime.” And really, I needed to get off my ass and do it. There were so many people who were in need. While I lived in a plush apartment, they were sleeping on a park bench with a newspaper covering, not like the warm, soft blanket I had covering me.

“So what do you think of that chick Justice brought here last week?”

“Actually, I don’t. She drove me crazy with her laugh that sounded more like a Hyena than a human. Fortunately for us, he didn’t bring her this week.” He ran his hands through his hair, and then took a drink of his beer.

“Yeah, I don’t get him. He has the worst luck in woman. Look at what Camden’s mom did to him. Took him through the fucking ringer.” And she was a total bitch. The day they broke up was a happy day.

“I think he’s looking for ‘the one.’ At least that’s what he told me. He thinks he’s going to meet her one-day and marry her the next day. If a chick can put up with his bossiness for more than twenty-four hours, then I’d say she’s a keeper.” He paused. “He has more testosterone than all of us. And boy, he’s a determined son of a bitch. When he wants something, he doesn’t let anyone or anything stand in his way. I wonder sometimes if he thinks that just because he’s a cop, he should have the authority over everything else. I feel sorry for the woman that ends up with him. ”

“Yeah, I know what you mean. It’s weird how we’re all so different. I just hope Destiny never comes across a guy like me. Sydney thinks I’m a total pig. We get into fights about it all the time.” Thinking about her brought an unknown smile to my face.

“You two seem to get along well.” He raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, she’s pretty fucking great. Hey, I’m gonna go get another beer. You want one?” I rose from my chair.

“Nah, I’m good. I have an early shift at the hospital tomorrow.”

Walking back into the house, I went into the kitchen to check on the girls. I reached Sydney first, put my hands around her eyes, and whispered in her ear. “Guess who?”

She turned around and swatted me with the towel she was using to dry dishes. “Don’t sneak up on me again.” Then she laughed, and I knew everything was all right.

“Shaina, you doing okay?”

“Oh, yeah. I actually love to do dishes, so this is a lot of fun for me.”

“You’re crazy, woman.” And she was. Who loved to do dishes?

“All right, girls. I’m headed to the garage to get some more beer. You two want one?”

“Nah, I’m getting kind of tired, Damien,” Sydney said and then yawned.

“I’m good,” said Shaina.

Heading for the garage, I noticed the light was on. I thought I was the only one going for a beer. I swung open the door and found Sebastian in there sitting by himself on a stool drinking a beer. “What’s up, little man, you know the conversation is outside.”

“I know, I’m just thinking.”
“Well, don’t strain yourself.” I laughed and went to grab a beer out of the fridge.

“So I’ve been watching the way Shaina looks at you. When are you going to tap that ass?”

He turned the color of a rare piece of meat. Jesus, this is what guys talked about—getting laid, sports, and food. “Um…”

“Really, Sebastian. It’s me, your brother you’re talking to. Get the fuck over your shy shit and talk to me.” I sat down on the stool next to him and stretched my legs.

“Well, it’s just…” He looked down at the ground.

“Yes, spill!” But the fucker still wouldn’t look at me.

“I’ve never, you know—”

Holy fucking shit. He’s got to be kidding me. The first time I got laid was when I was fourteen, and I know Reeve and Justice were young as well. “You’re shitting me. You mean, you’re twenty-two years old and you’re still a fucking virgin. This shit is priceless. How the hell did this happen?” I paused for a moment and gave it some thought. I had plenty of girls in my little black book I could hook him up. “Dude, I’ll hook you up with a sure thing.”

“Here’s the thing. I don’t want a sure thing. I want to be in love with a woman before I have sex. I want to be able to make love and feel the passion that’s between us. I don’t want ordinary. I want fucking extraordinary. I’ve seen the way you guys go through women and I don’t want that. My goal is to be so fucking in love that I worship the ground this chick walks on.”

“I admire that, but doesn’t your dick get hard and you need a good release? I’m sure old rosy palm is getting to be pretty routine.”

“Well, uh, I do what I have to do to release the demons.” And he turned red again. This boy needed to get out more and get over his shy nature.

“I can’t believe this shit. My little bro is going all Polly Anna on me.” I placed my free arm around his shoulder as we walked back into the house. “If you ever change your mind, I can hook a brother up. It’s noble and all but totally unrealistic.”

“Yeah, I know. Don’t say anything.”

“Your secret is safe with me.”

We walked through the kitchen and I caught sight of Sydney sitting at the kitchen table with her head resting in her hands. I’m sure she hadn’t been getting much sleep with my play. I needed to slow it down in the bedroom, but there were times I couldn’t help myself. I loved women.

When we got home, I took Sydney’s soft warm hand and started dragging her toward my room.

“What the hell, Damien?” She tried to firmly plant her feet, but I was still able to move her.

“You, my dear, are going to sing with me.”

We got to my room, and she quickly tried to retreat. “Not going to happen. Besides, I’m beat. I haven’t been getting much sleep lately.”

She started toward her room, and I grabbed her by the shoulders and redirected her to sit on my bed. “Oh, no you don’t.”

She gave a deep sigh and then rolled her eyes. “Fine, but let’s make this quick.”

I went to the corner of my room and grabbed my acoustic off its stand and headed back to the bed. “I have a song in mind, but I’m not sure if you know it.”

“Hit me with it.” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and my dick stirred in my pants. Boy, wouldn’t I like to be munching on that bottom lip.

“Have you heard of Shameless by Billy Joel?”

“You mean by Garth Brooks. Yeah, I love that song.”

“Then let’s do this.” I let my dexterous fingers slide over the strands of my guitar and we then begin to sing. She was looking down at the ground so I stopped playing, took her chin in my hand, lifted her face so that our eyes were level, and started playing again.

What moved between us was fucking beautiful and epic. We sang the lyrics together and were locked in a trance as we stared at one another. Her face showed such purity that it made my heart skip a beat. Her voice was like the finest silk and the way her mouth formed each word stole my breath. I couldn’t stop looking at her. I was like a moth to a flame. I was enraptured by her. I felt like I was completely exposed to this woman, and she was baring all of herself to me. I was utterly bewitched by her and the moment we shared with one another.

I finished the last part of the song, our singing seized, and we just sat there holding one another’s eyes. It was a moment, one that you read about or hear people talk about how it changed their lives.

She looked away and our moment was gone.

Jesus, Damien, you sound like a fucking pussy again. Get it together. You just need to go find a chick and fuck her out of your system. Remember—you don’t do attachments.

Sydne
y

Later that night, I was awakened by the sounds of a girl who sounded more like a cat in heat. The headboard was banging, and then that stopped and there was banging on the wall. I’d had enough of this shit. I’d honestly thought that after spending a day with his family and our special moment when we sang together and locking eyes and peering at one another’s soul that maybe he would have a little holiness in him and not have a need to fill his bed with a skank. After we stopped singing, he had headed out for a late night drink. I guess that drink turned more into a late night hook-up.

I just didn’t understand how he could go out and pick up a stranger when what I thought we shared was a life altering moment. We had basically made love to one another through song. It was like the entire world had gone black and we were the only two people. I had bared myself to him, and I felt like he did the same thing. His activities really hurt. But I wouldn’t let him know. After all, I had pride.

Bang, bang, bang. I could hear the headboard of the bed hitting the wall and it was annoying. I took my pillow and placed it over my head to try to muffle out the noise. I thought they were going to come through the wall they were so loud.

Then it stopped and it was dead silent.

Not fifteen minutes later, there was a round of giggles. Then the hall shower started. I had no earthly idea why they were using the hall shower as opposed to the one in his suite, but the shit had to stop.

I rolled over, threw my legs over the side of the bed, and made my way to the bathroom door. Zeus was on my heels and had started to whine. I’m sure he was just as disturbed as I was. My poor little baby. I looked down at him. “Don’t worry, Zeus. Mommy’s going to fix this.”

Knocking on the door, the giggles ceased and it was immediately swung open. But it wasn’t Damien standing there—it was his skank. “Excuse me but who the hell are you.”

I glanced toward the shower and saw Damien under the spray. Let me tell you—he looked fine. As in fine, fine. He was so hot that I’m sure he was illegal in several states.

“Well, for your information, I’m Sydney, Damien’s roommate. Can you two please keep your sex fest down?” They had to have some sort of decency.

“Excuse me?” Whatever her name was glared at me.

“You heard me. Some of us are trying to sleep. With the way you two are going at it, you are keeping up the entire city. Have some respect.” If she could dish it, I could throw shit right back at her.

“Oh, you’re just jealous. I can see the green a mile away. Your pajamas are even green. How fitting.” I looked down at my pajamas and sure enough, they were green. I just rolled my eyes.

At that time, Damien became aware of the little situation happening. “Baby, come back to the shower.”

She looked over her shoulder. “I would if this little twit wasn’t out here giving me shit.”

“What did you just say?” I put my hand on my hip and popped out my leg. No way was this bitch gonna get away with calling me a little twit.