Several hours later and we’re leaning back in our chairs, feeling contented in a way that only good food can make you.
Brian sighs. “That was delicious.”
“Mmm,” I glance over at the big family. “I guess that’s why they come here every night.”
“I wanna marry into that family!” Brian chuckles.
“I just keep thinking I’m in a scene in the Godfather.”
He looks at the family and laughs. “I thought I was the only one.”
“The guy at the head looks just like Al Pacino in The Godfatherrr,” I put on a terrible Italian accent and Brian chuckles.
“Godfatherrr,” he tries to get it right but fails miserably and we crack up laughing. We stop laughing when we realise that the men at the family table are staring at us. “Oh boy, we’ve offended them,” Brian mutters.
The biggest Italian stands up, in his dark clothing and gestures towards us. “The Godfatherrr,” he says, in a perfect imitation of Al Pacino. The rest of the men join in and we start laughing again.
An hour later and we’re sat in Brian’s car outside my apartment. He cuts the engine and turns to face me.
“I had a great time with you Jade.”
I smile at him. “So did I. And I’ll never forget that dinner.”
“The Godfatherrr,” he says in the Al Pacino accent that the big Italian guy had insisted on teaching us and I laugh.
I glance up at the dark windows and guess that Ali is either not home or asleep. “You could come in if you wanted… For a drink?”
He nods. “That’d be good.” We head inside the apartment and I turn on the lights. Brian does a double-take when he sees our couch. “Sorry, I can’t get used to that.”
I laugh. “And you think I can?”
He grins and sits down. “I was hopin’ it was a figment of my drunk imagination.”
“AJ IS Ali’s cousin y’know. You should see her room – all zebra striped and furry.”
He shakes his head. “And she looks so normal…”
“Don’t believe it.” I head into the kitchen. “Drink?”
“Yeah, I guess coffee would be nice.”
“Sure.” I busy myself with the percolator and then carry two cups into the lounge. I sit next to Brian on the couch and notice that he’s worked out how to dim the lights. I smother a smile.
“Thanks,” he takes his coffee and puts it on the table in front of him. He reaches for mine and does the same. Our eyes lock and he reaches for my hands. “I really like you Jade.”
“Right back at ya, Brian,” I smile into his eyes and realise that I really do.
I reach up to touch his hair and then wrap my arms around his body as his lips touch mine. Gently at first but then becoming more passionate and deeper. I feel my entire body arch up to meet his and he groans in the back of his throat. He pushes me further down against the sofa and my hands move down his back. I’ve never been kissed in this way before. All my senses are on fire. He stops kissing me and looks into my eyes. His eyes are dark and he runs his fingers through my hair.
“God Jade, what you do to me…”
I reach up to claim his lips once more and his hand moves down to caress my breast. The light snaps on to full power and we both freeze, stunned by the brightness. When my eyes adjust, I see Ali and Nick standing in front of us. Brian scrambles up and gives me his hand to pull me up. We sit side by side in front of them, like two naughty schoolchildren.
Nick puts his hands on his hips. “Well, well, well,” he says.
Ali smothers a giggle. “Kids, kids, kids.”
Brian blushes and wraps an arm around me. I notice that Ali’s in her nightshirt and that Nick down to his boxers and T-shirt.
“You can talk,” I look at their state of undress pointedly and it’s Ali’s turn to blush.
Nick shrugs. “Hey, what can I say?” He pulls Ali to him, “It’s all legal.”
Brian glances at me. “I guess I should be goin’.” But he doesn’t move, making it obvious that he just wants me to give him an excuse to stay.
I rest my head on his shoulder. “Stay a while. I’m not tired.”
Nick sits down, pulling Ali onto his lap. “Y’know, me neither. Maybe we should play a game?”
Brian pulls me closer and sighs. “A game?”
Nick nods. “You girls have Nintendo?”
Ali and I roll our eyes simultaneously. “Nup.”
His eyes widen. “No Nintendo?!”
Brian grins. “Thank God.”
Nick pulls a face. “Man, I gotta change that.” He looks at Ali, “What games DO you have?”
She shrugs. “Cards, board games… The usual.”
“Cards it is then.”
Ali shrugs. “I’ll go find them.”
She heads off and I follow her, leaving the two men alone.
“It’s all legal?” Brian repeats. “Damn, Nick. Y’all had sex, didn’t you?”
“Like you wouldn’t have if me and Ali hadn’t interrupted you!” he defends.
“That’s not answering my question. Did you or did you not sleep with her?”
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business. You would have wouldn’t you?” Nick asks.
“Would have what? Slept with Jade?” Nick nods. “I honestly don’t know. She sure does something to me,” he sighs. “I can’t describe it.” He shakes his head, pulling himself together. “So, what did you guys do on your date?”
“First, we went to her photo thing, then I took her out to dinner. We danced a couple of times, and then I took her to the beach. We sort of…got a little wet, so we came back here to warm up a bit. Then we…well, you know,” Nick winks.
Brian glares at him, determined to make it tougher. “No, I don’t know.”
Nick smiles triumphantly. “Use your imagination.”
Brian groans. “Oh man. Do you really like Ali?”
“Sure,” Nick looks defensive. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Brian shrugs. “I just kinda believe in waiting… If you really like a woman.”
Nick rolls his eyes. “Ok, Baptist boy.”
“Shut up.”
We end up in Ali’s bedroom and she starts rummaging through the drawers for the pack of cards. I sit down on her bed.
“So, Ali… You and Nick, huh?”
“You and Brian, huh?” she replies, sitting next to me.
“Hey, I asked first. Besides I’m not the one wearing almost no clothes here.”
“Nothin’ happened,” she shrugs. “Not the way you think anyway. We had a great time together and he came back here. We kissed and talked and stuff. Then fell asleep. I don’t know why he’s actin’ like he got some.”
“Guys,” I shrug, as if that word explained everything.
She nods. “So?”
“It was great. We went to this cute Italian place, learnt how to do Al Pacino impressions and then came back here. The rest you interrupted.”
She grins. “Yeah, sorry.”
“And why does Nick want to play CARDS?”
“No clue.” She finds a pack, “Here they are.”
I take them off her. “I think these should go missing.”
“Good idea,” she laughs as I palm them and we head back into the lounge. “Sorry, couldn’t find any.”
Nick pouts. “Not even in your room?”
“Nup.”
He stands up. “I’ll go look.”
“Feel free,” she follows him with a wink to us.
I reach for Brian’s hands and pull him up. “C’mon, let’s escape before Nick comes back.”
He grins and follows me into my room. I throw the pack of cards down on the table and he laughs, “Good one.”
I smile and sit on my bed as he takes in my room. The white walls set off the dark wooden floor perfectly. There’s a big red rug in the middle of the room and the blinds are deep red as well. My bed is huge and sits in the middle of the room, against a wall. I seriously love my bed. I love having to jump up onto it cos it’s quite raised, and it is just so comfortable.
“Well, I wasn’t gonna get sucked into a card game with Nick.”
“He’s a bad loser,” he grins and sits next to me. “I like your room.”
“Thanks.”
He smiles and reaches out to touch my hair. “Now, where were we?”
I giggle as he lays me down and snuggles up next to me, kissing my neck and then my lips.