26
Angelo
“It’s Vegas, baby.” Vinnie moves forward in his chair, unable to sit still. “I never thought this day would come.”
It’s football draft day, something I’ve watched on television every year since I was a kid. Never in a million years did I think I’d be here waiting to hear my little brother’s name being called to play pro ball.
Tilly wraps her hand around my bicep. “There’re so many people here.”
I glance around the large room at the thousand or more people packed inside like sardines, and I pull Tilly closer to my side. “This is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Vegas is a different world.” She shakes her head.
“So is football,” I tell her.
There’s nothing like draft day, and with it being in Vegas this year, it’s bigger and crazier than ever.
“God, please let Chicago call my name.” Vinnie rubs his hands together and closes his eyes. “Please.”
“It would be nice to have you home, kid,” Daphne tells him as she strokes his arm, trying to calm him.
“Will you still love me if Green Bay drafts me?”
Lucio gags. “It’ll be hard. Honestly, bro, I can’t wear the green and gold even if it has our name on the back.”
“I thought Chicago had that crazy chick you were trying to avoid,” I say.
“She’s the team owner’s daughter.”
“I thought you said she was hot?” Lucio looks confused, but he wasn’t there when Vinnie told us what really happened.
Somehow, the chick got into Vinnie’s dorm room and was waiting for him one night. Completely naked. She basically threw herself at him, professing her love, and saying they were meant to be together. Thankfully, and surprisingly, Vinnie called campus security instead of banging the chick. Which is surprising because, let’s face it, Vinnie has never been one to say no to pussy.
But security didn’t stop her from showing up on campus again, nor did his repeated attempts to explain that he wanted nothing to do with her. The chick was relentless and seemed to have eyes only for Vinnie.
Vinnie rubs his forehead and grimaces. “If hot means crazy as fuck, then yeah.”
“You do attract a different breed,” I tell him, trying to bite back my laughter.
“You’ll never believe who we just saw,” Pop says as he pulls out the chair next to Vinnie for my mother.
“Who?” Leo looks up from his phone, finally joining the conversation.
“Ditka.” Pop’s beams. “I never thought I’d see him again after what happened.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What happened?”
“You don’t want to know.” Pop slides into the chair next to my ma and takes a sip of his beer, avoiding looking me in the eye.
With my father’s past business dealings, anything is possible. The man knows half the city in one way or another. He’s never been completely open about shit, but I’m happy I don’t know everything. Some things aren’t meant to be public knowledge or even shared among family.
“I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.” Ma touches Vinnie’s cheek.
“Ma, there’s cameras.” He moves his head to the side and away from her hand. “Not here. You’re killin’ my cred.”
She narrows her eyes as she holds her hand in the air. “I don’t care about your cred. I’ll kiss your face if I want to.”
Vinnie grunts as the camera that was at the next table turns toward him.
