“That’s enough, Art,” Ricky says.
“It’s not nearly enough,” Art replies.
I pick up my glass and throw the remainder of the water in his face.
“Cin,” Mom admonishes.
“He deserved it,” I say.
I’m surprised when I feel cold water hit my face. Even though I threw my drink at him first, I wasn’t expecting him to retaliate. I grab a handful of chicken Marsala and throw it at him, but he dodges out of the way and it splatters on the wall behind him. He snatches the bowl from the table and collects a handful of his own before launching it at me. I’m not as quick as him, so my face ends up covered with tonight’s dinner.
“Seu filho da puta!” I shout.
“An eye for an eye.” He smirks.
“Art, go to your room,” Ricky tells him.
“Go to my room? That’s rich.” He laughs.
“I mean it.” Ricky puts on his best stern face.
“Where I’m going is to get a decent meal,” he replies.
“Wait, I can go with you and show you where all the good spots are,” Lilah offers, standing.
He doesn’t acknowledge her as he leaves the dining room. She sits back down, dejected.
“Nice going, Dad. You brought that asshole into our house, though he isn’t lying about the chicken Marsala. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, Missy, but it’s awful.”
“Sorry, I’ll order some pizza,” she says in a defeated voice.
“I’m going to go clean myself up,” I mutter, feeling foolish.
Well, that was a great introduction. One point for Art, zero for Cin.
I travel down the road at eighty miles per hour. They must fucking hate me now, which means this living arrangement won’t last too long. I wouldn’t be surprised if my uncle sent me packing when I get back. I didn’t go in there with the intention to royally fuck this up, but I couldn’t control myself. Lilah is going to be an issue. She basically gave me an invitation tonight, but sex hasn’t been a part of my existence for a long time. I’m a teenage boy, so of course it crosses my mind, but I haven’t had the urge to follow through. I lost my virginity at age thirteen to a twenty-seven-year-old who frequents the same social circles as my mother. I may be young, but I’m no stranger in the art of pleasing the female body.
Though I have no interest in Lilah,Cinis a different matter. When I entered the dining room, I saw her as another forgettable teenage girl. There was nothing special about her. Though she’s not ugly, she’s no beauty queen. When she threw her glass of water in my face, my attention shifted to really take in her appearance. The fire in her eyes along with the rapid rise and fall of her chest in anger was sexy as fuck. The icing on the cake is her shiny dark hip-length hair with pink highlights, inviting pouty lips, clear creamy skin, and mesmerizing russet-colored eyes. She wore no bra, so I could see the outline of her nipples through her thin T-shirt. Her name suits her…Cin. I felt a spark, and as insignificant as it was, it caused life to breathe into my heart. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, increasing the flow of blood. The feeling is welcome, but unwelcome at the same time. I want to continue the battle of wills with her. She’s going to be an issue, but for a different reason.
I hear police sirens behind me.
Shit, just what I fucking need.
I do not need to be on the cops’ radar my first day in town. I pull my motorcycle to a stop on the side of the road. I turn off the engine and release the kickstand. I peer back, watching the cop leave his cruiser to make his way towards me.
“Get off the motorcycle, son.”
“I’m not your son,” I reply, doing as he says.
“You were going eighty in a fifty. That’s foolish and reckless. Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Yes.
“I didn’t notice the speed limit.”
“Are you new in town?”
“Yep. It’s my first day, to be exact.”
