Wondering who the hell told Annetta about Valentina, I said, “Nope. Just a family friend.”
“Really? Because she’s already picking out wedding colors.”
I didn’t want to lie to Annetta, but I didn’t want to push her away with the truth, either. How could I make her understand without telling her about my fucked-up family? I sighed, hoping she’d be able to hear and see my honesty. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”
Annetta studied me, keeping her arms crossed in front of her. I halfway expected her to slam the door in my face, but she didn’t. “I missed you too,” she finally whispered.
She did? And she wasn’t gonna be all bitchy about Valentina? Thinking I’d hit the lottery, I decided to push my luck. “Been a rough couple of days and I just wanted to… to hang out. You feel like goin’ somewhere? Maybe grab a bite to eat?”
She chewed on her lip and looked over her shoulder back in the house.
“If you’re busy, we can do it another time.” I wanted to be with her right then, but would settle for a rain check over an outright rejection.
“I was supposed to go out with a friend, but she ditched me for a date with your friend.”
“Huh?”
“Mario. He stole my friend Adona today.”
Surprised because Mario tended to be a bit shy around the ladies, I grinned. “She must have asked him.”
“Knowing her, it was more like a clobbering over the head. I don’t know if he’s ready for a girl like Adona. Poor guy. I tried to warn him.”
The idea of Mario being accosted by some overly-zealous girl only widened my grin. “It’ll be good for him. And funny. I wish I could be a fly on the wall for that date.”
The sound of Annetta’s laughter made me feel better than I had in days. “Yeah, not me. She’ll tell me all about it later. Unfortunately.”
“So, what do you say? Let’s get out of here and go do something.”
“I just… let me turn off the television and leave Papa a note.” She headed into the house, and then paused. “You wanna come in?”
“Sure.”
I followed Annetta into the small, single-level house. A brown recliner sat beside a blue floral sofa in the modest living room. Everything looked clean, but worn. Residual food smells lingered, and books and magazines were stacked on the coffee table, giving a comfortable feel to the place. I tried to imagine what it would be like to grow up here, but couldn’t. It was way too different from my parents’ house.
Annetta turned off the small television and invited me to have a seat. “Is what I’m wearing okay?” she asked, eyeing my suit.
I definitely didn’t want her to change. “Perfect. You look great.”
“Thanks.” The slightest hint of pink colored her cheeks as she headed for the adjoining dining room, returning with a pad of paper and a pen. “Can I get you anything to drink? Water? A coke?”
“No thanks. I’m good.”
She sat beside me on the sofa and used the coffee table to scribble out a note. I don’t know what kind of perfume she was wearing, but I wanted to roll around in it. To roll around in her. I leaned closer and breathed her in.
She turned and eyed me. “You said you’re not engaged, but the girl in the pink dress… is she your girlfriend?”
“Nope.” And it was encouraging that Annetta cared. Maybe I’d be getting lucky tonight after all. I held up my right hand. “I, Dominico, do solemnly swear I am unattached.” And I silently vowed to stay that way for as long as possible.
She giggled. “Good to know. It’s not like I’m assumingthis is a date oranything, but I’m not that girl… the one who dates guys with girlfriends.” Her cheeks turned bright red. “Again, not dating, but I mean… never mind.”
You bet your sweet ass it’s a date.
I rubbed her back. “Annetta, you wanna go out on a date with me?”
Instead of replying, she signed her name to the note and set it on the coffee table. Her cheeks were still red, and I got the feeling she was trying to figure out how to respond. I didn’t want to give her a chance to reject the idea, so I leaned against her and gently took her chin in my hand. Her skin felt smooth and soft as I turned her face to look at me. Eyes wide and breath quickened, she watched me. I pressed my lips to hers. Soft, plump, inviting, they swept me into her. Deepening the kiss, before I knew it, my arms were around her. She sighed, and I almost lost my shit and attacked her. My hands drifted up her sweater, but she stopped me. I pulled back and watched her, hoping I hadn’t completely blown it by trying to feel her up.
“You taking me out on a date or what?” she asked, bolting to her feet and grabbing a jacket from the coat tree by the front door. Her lips were even plumper and her eyes looked wild. I wanted to scoop her up and go find her bedroom, but knew she wouldn’t appreciate that. Not yet at least.
