4
Vinnie
“What’s with the face?”Angelo sets down a beer in front of Carlos, but his eyes are on me.
I haven’t even made it more than two steps inside the bar, and my brother’s already calling me out.“It’s pretty, isn’t it?You’re jealous, aren’t you?”
He shakes his head before leaning over the bar, chewing on the toothpick which has become a new habit of his.“You look like someone killed your puppy.”
Carlos turns on his stool, glancing at me.“You look like shit, kid.”He’s never one to hold back his opinions.“Girl problems?”
I groan as I straddle the stool next to Carlos and somehow avoid smashing my head into the wood below my hands.“It’s Tracie.”
“That bitch is wackadoo.”Carlos shakes his head.“Sometimes nutty can be good in the sack.You know?”
I do know.There isn’t a person on the planet who hasn’t had a half-insane person rocking the sheets of their bed at one time or another.For a moment, it’s easy to think you can deal with the lunatic because the fucking is so good, but once the orgasm strikes and the nut comes out, it’s time to ditch the shell and choose being alone over the roller coaster ride.
Angelo pulls the toothpick from between his teeth and glares at Carlos for a second.“You’re really fucked up sometimes.”Then he turns to me, and his face softens.“She still pulling shit?”
“She never stopped.I have one final Hail Mary.”Carlos snorts at the football reference, but I keep talking and ignore him.“I have a date for the team party.Coach said I need to be seen in public with someone because Tracie’s been spouting off at the mouth about how we’re a couple.”
“Pushing crazy’s buttons is never a good thing,” Carlo warns before taking a sip of his beer.“You’re poking the bear, kid.Gonna get bit.”
“Is that smart?”Angelo asks, ignoring Carlos too because we both know he’s almost as nuts as Tracie.
I rest my elbow against the bar and drag my hand down my face.“Coach said I needed to do it, so I did it.”
Angelo points at me.“Try not to take one of your bimbos.”
“Give me some credit, will ya?”
He lifts an eyebrow, knowing me better than I probably know myself.
“I found someone respectable to take with me.Someone I haven’t even slept with yet.”
“Oh, this is about to get good.”Carlos smacks his lips together.“Real good.”
“You have anything to add besides commentary?”I give Carlos the side-eye.
He shakes his head, going back to his beer but mumbling something I can’t quite make out against the glass.
Angelo reaches under the counter and grabs a glass, holding it out to me, but I shake my head.“Who’s the woman?”he asks.
“My neighbor.”
“What’s she do?”
“Fuck if I know.”I shrug.
I haven’t even bothered to ask, nor do I care because it doesn’t matter.I needed a rescue, and her name was the first thing that slipped through my lips.
I can feel the weight of Angelo’s eyes as he fills his glass with soda.“I don’t know, kid.I hope Carlos is wrong about this, but you could be opening a whole new can of worms.”
“The coach has assured me Tracie’ll be dealt with.”
Angelo’s about to take a sip, but he pauses with the glass just in front of his mouth.“She’s the owner’s granddaughter, dumbass.How’s he going to deal with her?Family’s family.”
“Yeah, but money’s money, and Mr.Turner is all about bringing a championship to the city.”
