Fuck! Damn, Luca!
“You've seen your mother?”
Not ready to have that conversation, Tammy angrily wiped her face and took off running down the beach.
“Tamara!” she heard Luca shout from behind as she picked up speed.
Tammy ran until she could no longer hear the voices of her friends and family. She collapsed in the sand and took slow, deep breaths. An athlete she was not. Dancing and running were two totally different things.
Tammy stared up at the stars, thinking about how she’d just embarrassed herself in front of a beach full of people.
“I should drown yo’ ass for making me chase you down this damn beach.”
Natasha’s voice in the darkness was startling. Tammy jumped and turned around.
“Nobody told you to follow me,” Tammy muttered.
“I had to. I was scared that if I didn't, Luca was gonna come down here and throw yo’ ass in the sea,” Natasha joked.
Without an invitation, she sat in the sand next to Tammy. “Well, you definitely know how to put on a show.”
“Girl, Luca be driving me crazy with his controlling ass. He don't even bother to include me in decisions that concern me.”
“Tammy, that ain't new. That’s day one Luca.”
“So that makes it okay?” Tammy exclaimed.
“Nope. That makes it Luca. Stop acting brand new and tell me what’s really going on.”
Tammy closed her eyes tight and released a frustrated grunt. “When Luca does stuff like that, it makes me feel like he doesn't respect me.”
“Umm-mm, Tammy, I ain't buying that. You know that Luca loves and respects you. That’s just his way. But, again, you knew that already. What’s really bothering you?”
“Tasha, why would he respect me? He gave me everything I have. I was just a struggling pole dancer.”
Tammy’s tone sounded pathetic, even to her.
“And he’s just a gangster,” Natasha pointed out. “He got his money funny and made it grow. You got your money from him and made it grow. Luca didn't design not one damn dress. He didn’t put together not one damn runway show. And he didn’t make your business successful. You did that. Tammy, I didn't earn my money. I inherited it. The only self-made money floatin’ around these parts is Jack’s. Oh, and maybe Emily. Oh, wait…and Jonathan and Joseph. Oh, damn. I forgot about Annabella. Naw, not her. That was mob money too,” Natasha giggled.
Tammy laughed at Natasha’s silliness. The more she listened, the better she felt. She was right. Luca hadn’t changed. Inviting Alejandro to their wedding without discussing it with her first was wrong, but it wasn't surprising. And he definitely didn't deserve to be embarrassed the night before his wedding.
“Where’s Luca?” Tammy asked.
“Oh, Jack and Gianni had to tie him to a chair to keep him from beatin’ your ass,” Natasha snickered.
“Ughhh!”
Natasha stood pulling Tammy up with her.
“Come on. You need to talk to your dad and apologize to your fiancé.”
“Do I have toooo?” Tammy whined.
“Um…yeah. You showed your whole ass tonight.”
Tammy reluctantly walked with Natasha down the beach. She wasn't looking forward to facing Luca or her family, but she knew she had to. As they returned to the resort, Tammy felt as if she was walking the green mile to the electric chair.
When they made it back to the resort, the staff was clearing the remnants of their party from the beach. Everyone had moved to the pool deck.
“Come on,” Natasha urged, tugging at Tammy’s arm.
They walked the short boardwalk and up the stairs to the deck. Tammy spotted Luca by the pool. He was having a conversation with Francis and Gianni. Branding his signature scowl, Luca was not happy. Tammy reluctantly walked over to the trio.
“Can I have a word with Luca?”
Francis nodded, and he and Gianni walked away. Tammy looked up at Luca. He looked down at her and crossed his arms. On the walk back to the resort, she had rehearsed in her mind what she’d plan to say.
“Luca, I—” was all she got out before she was shoved into the pool.
