Sexy Stud
Still undefeated, I hope lil didn’t pick another fucking pony sticker
I knew you would be, but I’m still proud of you, Beefcake!
And you’re gonna wish it was a pony.
You heading home now?
I check my phone again, but he still hasn’t replied. Dragging the locket back and forth along its chain, I fight the urge to keep texting him. My brain is so conflicted.
It’s only been five minutes.
But Luca always responds to me right away.
He’s probably just watching another fight or something.
But that nagging fear has been creeping in all day long.
“Stop checking your messages, I’m sure he’s fine,” Lil saysconfidently.
Sighing, I look at the new sticker on the back of my phone. It’s the words, ‘The Grim Goliath,’ with a cute, grumpy frog above them. Like the DeVille eggplant, we plan to slap them on everything eventually. I can’t wait to see Luca scowl at it.
I slide my phone in my pocket. Yoga pants with pockets on the sides are genius. I’m not sure if I love them or dresses with pockets more, but I’ve been a little obsessed with both lately.
Lil’s humming the theme song toSpongeBoband grinning at the Squidward sticker she added to the chart on the wall.
“I love you, you goober,” I say.
“Just wait until your first kid has a chore chart or something. I already have ideas.”
I roll my eyes at her and give her a weak smile.
She frowns. “You okay?”
Crossing my arms, I walk to the window. “I’m fine. But I’m spoiled. And needy. I’m just used to him texting me back like instantly, so it’s weird that he hasn’t yet.” I take my phone out again. He hasn’t even read my last text. It’s not like him. I press the call button, and it rings a bunch of times before his voicemail picks up. I hang up without leaving a message.
Lil shrugs. “Call Dad. Or Anthony.”
“I don’t want to be the overbearing wife who starts calling everyone after ten minutes, Lil.”
She pulls her phone out of her pocket and hits Dad’s contact info. “I’m not afraid to be the overbearing cousin once in a while.” After a few seconds, she hangs up with a confused look on her face. “Weird. Dad’s not answering, either. It’s probably really loud in there, Ari. Try not to stress already. Should we go take a few shots? Liquid or bullets, either way, I’m down.”
“No. Not yet, at least. Maybe we can just watch something. I’m going to go make some popcorn.”
I head down to the kitchen and throw a bag in the microwave.
An hour later, I’m not even pretending to pay attention towhat’s on TV anymore. I’ve texted and called Luca, Dad, and Anthony. Lil’s done the same. We’ve gotten nothing.
“Alright, time to bring in the big guns,” Lil says, getting up off the couch. I jump to follow.
We find Mom reading a book in their bedroom. She smiles when we walk in.
“Mom, have you heard anything from Dad?” Lil asks her.
“I did a while ago. He told me Luca won his fight. We’re so proud of him!” Her smile warms my heart. I love that she loves him so much. She picks up her phone. “That was over an hour ago, though.”
“None of them are answering us,” I say quietly.
