“Sister, I’m here.” Rianna came bustling out of the sliding glass doors. She tapped a dramatic cadence on the floor with her feet while waiting for acknowledgement.
“Come on over.” She closed her text screen and ran her thumb over the condensation on her glass.
“Oh starting early are we? I put the new bottle on the counter.”
“Only one glass. Eva will be home later, don’t want to be too chill or who knows what she’ll con out of me.”
Rianna dropped down next to her, reached over and grabbed the wine bottle from the table. After pouring herself a glass, she tucked her feet up under her. “So what gives?”
“Well, I thought I was going to lose my life today. Road rage drivers will be the death of me.”
“You do drive like you’re driving Miss Daisy.”
“Hey. I do not, I am not that bad.”Ailyn laughed and drained her glass. “Top me off.” She waited while her sister did the honors. “So how was your day?”
“Oh, sister, you are not getting off that easy. Let the wine overfloweth.”
“You’re going to get struck down. So…” She bit her lip not sure she wanted to tell her sister what Seth sent her.
“And? I figure with others out there doing worse, I’m a saint in comparison. Dish.”
“What makes you think there’s something to tell?” She stretched and licked her bottom lip. “He’s getting under my skin and it’s driving me muy loco.”
“Hmm. Speaking as a third party here, not a therapist. Scratch the itch and get it over with so to speak. Once you purge him from your system, maybe you can move forward finally. Purge him. Fuck him six ways from Sunday but purge him. Especially if you’re bound and determined not to tell him about Eva.”
“If he wouldn’t send me inappropriate things, I wouldn’t feel like this. All ansty and wondering what will happen next. I’ve pretty much—” Her sister pinched her to interrupt.
“Sexting already. He moves fast.”
“Picture and all.”
“Oh. He’s fast and dirty. God the man hasn’t changed.”
“How can you possibly remember anything from ten years ago?” Her sister plucked her phone from her lap, shushed her and scrolled. Ailyn sucked down a few swallows and tried to steal her phone back to no avail.
“Holy mother and Mary of. He sent you a picture of his dick. She turned the phone sideways and looked her fill.
“Yeah, hence road rage. I sort of was preoccupied with all that.” Ailyn gestured to her phone screen.
“Well, now that I’ve seen his goods. I can’t pretend like I never have. Did you send anything back?”
“Uh, no. Why would I get his hopes up?” Her loco sister had lost her ever-loving mind. In no way was she sending a partial or nudie picture of herself.
“For fun.”
“Yeah, not. You know, I preach to my teens to make responsible choices and to have respect for their bodies in not doing what you’re suggesting or what Seth sent me.”
“Except you. Are. An. Adult. Let loose, have a bit of fun. You don’t have to send him anything that makes you uncomfortable. You have a sexy top on and I know you’re wearing your sexy demi push up bra, and your fabulous ruffled thigh highs. You always do. Hand me the phone, lean forward and give me a bit of cleavage.”
“Haha. I’m like a B cup, I don’t have cleavage. Eva stole my extra bit of boobs after I had her.”
“You have got to learn to lighten up and have some fun. I’m writing you a prescription for this as your friendly psychologist who also happens to be your sister—an expert advice giver.”
Ailyn was saved by an incoming video chat dancing to Thrift Shop. She and Rianna both cracked up at their brother Cordero dancing.
“You’re a ham.” She snorted in laughter and turned on her tablet. After opening up their face to face app, she pressed her phone screen to the screen of the tablet to connect them.
“Where is my beautiful niece? We had a date today, and that’s our song to dance to.” He flashed his perfect teeth making her want to vomit. While she and her sister suffered through braces, he who never brushed daily as a pre-teen ended up with maybe a cavity at regular checkups, and had pearly white straight teeth.
“Cord, when are you coming to visit? Ailyn found her baby daddy.”
“Ri, are you drunk?” He looked down at his watch and then rubbed his nape. “It’s a bit too early to be tying one on, huh?”
“We are not drunk, only had a few glasses of wine.”
“Hmm. So what’s this about Eva’s father?”
Ailyn slapped her sister in the arm. “Way to tattle. He’ll tell Ma, and she’ll start planning a great big Catholic wedding and blessing the saints.” She faced her brother. “It’s nothing.”
“I have some training to do. I can do that anywhere. Give me a week to clear my calendar and set up a trainer at a gym there. I’ll crash with you and Eva, Ailyn.”
“Ha. You can stay with me, playboy. We’re attempting to reconnect two lost lovers together. Somehow I think having baby brother in-house will be a deterrent.”
“I’ll just stay at the hotel then. Don’t want you messing with my mind. You two are scandalous though. I gotta run. Give my favorite girl a hug and let her know I’ll be here if she needs to ring me.”
“Even if you have a new girl at your place?”
“I run my house, Ri, come on. Of course, Eva comes first. I’m the only male role figure she has. Plus with the trio of my ladies so far away, I have to check in weekly to make sure no one needs an ass kicking.”
“Mama, I’m home.”
Ailyn turned to see her daughter pirouetting across the floor to the balcony doors. “Wait! Don’t disconnect, your niece arrives in three more pirouettes. I will leave you two to duel it out dance style.”
She watched as Eva ended in fifth position just as the song Thrift Store blared from Cordero’s end. “Tio Cord you’re so funny.”
Her daughter busted out in the Harlem Shake and some street dance moves, mirroring Cord on the other side of the tablet screen. They looked hilarious. Her brother’s face broke out in a serious game face. One day he’d make a fabulous father, after he gave up the life of professional fighting. How he found happiness in the world of mixed martial arts, she’d never know. Right now she didn’t see a fighter but a man bonding with the little girl he adored. In the absence of a father, Cordero stepped up to the plate being what she needed most.
“They are so cute together.” Rianna looped an arm around her. “Let’s go inside so they can get to their whispering.”
Ailyn gathered up the two empty wine glasses and the bottle and pulled her sister with her through the door.
“You know why he’s coming right?”
“He has a fight coming up. He comes out here to train sometimes just to be close to us.”
“Come on. He’s coming home to make sure you’re okay and to help Eva transition to suddenly having a father.”
“I’m a big idiot. God, I didn’t stop to think about Cordero or how he’d feel threatened with being replaced.”
“Nah. Well maybe deep down, he’ll think Eva will stop coming to him with her insatiable questions. His priority will be insuring Seth is a good guy. We can say it until the cows come home but until he shows up and forms his own opinion he won’t believe either of us.”
“Good, he can be the buffer between Seth and I.”
“If you say so,” her sister stated, swiping the glasses from her hand as she walked over to the sink.
Ailyn leaned with her side against the slate grey marble counter and crossed her arms. “What? You know we had insane chemistry before. Now that I’ve seen him again, you could say it’s more intense than ever. I for sure need to keep my head on straight. There’s no room to falter here.”
“So what, do you plan on inviting Seth to meet you for dinner or something and dragging Cordero with?”
“No. But, I like knowing that if I’m feeling in a bad plac
e, I can call our brother to come and bail me out, while you watch over Eva.” She walked the short distance to the fridge, grabbed the covered plate of baked chicken and steamed vegetables, prepared a plate for her daughter and nuked it. When the microwave beeped, she quirked a brow at her now silent sibling, who handed her a glass of milk. Ailyn opened the deck door and walked the plate over to her daughter.
“Eat while you listen. Then it’s bath time and you’ll have a half hour to read before bed.”
“Mama, it’s rude to eat in front of people.”
“Cord, go grab a protein shake so she doesn’t feel like she’s breaking etiquette.”
“Are you really coming to visit us?” her daughter asked as she shoveled a forkful of broccoli in her mouth.
“Yep. Your mama and tia miss me. Besides, I haven’t tucked you into bed in over two months, and that is entirely too long to wait. Not to mention, that boy you have a crush on needs to know boundaries.”
“Tio Cord, stop it. I don’t have a crush on any boy. My friend Ash does though, she’s a lot older than me. All she talks about during dance class is her boyfriend. He’s kinda cute though in a gross way. I just want to dance and dance and dance, maybe make the Olympic gymnastics team.”
“I have missed watching you, peanut. I bet you are doing great at your new school.”
Ailyn, blew her brother a kiss, watched him catch it and tuck it to his heart, then left the two to conspire behind her back.
“Ailyn.” Her sister pounced.
“What?”
“You have a missed text from Seth. Wanna know what it says?”
“Not particularly,” she lied through her teeth and shrugged.
“Okay then. I’ll just hit delete.” Rianna held the phone out of reach.
Ailyn reached over to grab it and received a slap on her hand. “Quit playing.”
“Thought you didn’t care if Seth wants to hookup or not? He sent another picture. That is one impressive piece of eye candy there. I can totally see why you became a cougarette at such a young age.”
“Shhh. I don’t want Eva to hear you.” Ailyn wrestled with her sister for her phone and scanned the message. She had turned beet red, she was sure of it.
“’Saran Wrap Hottie? I can’t wait to taste you again?’ You didn’t tell me everything, lil sis. What are you holding back?”
“I…uh. Well…” Ailyn sputtered for an explanation.
“One day you’ll have to give me the scoop on that, but my presence has been requested and after seeing that major hard-on, I’m gonna go get my kicks.” Rianna kissed her on the cheek and left.
Ailyn followed, locking the door behind her, wondering who her sister’s current friend with benefits was. For someone who demanded to know about everyone else, she was tightlipped with her own personal life.
Eva came hurtling through the kitchen and up the stairs to get ready for bed. “I take it that your tio had to go?”
“Yeah. Plus I want to read the next chapter in my book,” she yelled down the stairs.
“So what did you two talk about?” Ailyn pulled out a glass pan and the ingredients for vegetable and chicken lasagna for the next night’s supper and layered the pan until it was three sections deep.
Her phone dinged.
No answer earlier? I want to see you soon. I’ll be teaching a few seminars the next couple of days.
After washing her hands, she clicked her phone off and headed to bed. He could wait for an answer. She refused to reply on his time.
Chapter Four
A week lagged on forever while Ailyn waited for Cordero’s arrival. After he arrived at the hotel, he texted her to say he was at the Foundry and had grabbed a few seats for them. She enjoyed her brother’s favorite in-town spot. The bar’s relaxed atmosphere was welcoming and they sold her favorite appetizer—beer battered pickles and atomic chili fries.
As she edged her way through the thick crowd to the bar, Cordero’s face broke out in a wide grin. He winked at the pretty young thing on his lap and whispered something in her ear. Ailyn couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Cord could be exhausting at times, but always entertaining. The young woman slid off his lap, and waved goodbye as she approached.
“Playboy.”
“She wanted an autograph for her boyfriend.” He enveloped her in a bear hug and kissed her cheek.
“More like she wanted a snack. You’re crushing my lungs.” He loosened his hold and rocked with her.
“Missed you, sis.”
“Not as much as I’ve missed your hugs. Move here. Please,” she begged for the hundredth time. Her brother dropped his arms from her and helped her settle onto her barstool.
“I can’t leave Ma. Besides, you’d get sick of me around the clock.” The bartender dropped off a platter of loaded potato skins and a basket of beer battered pickles along with their tall draft beers.”
“Ordering for me?” She took a fried pickle out of the basket and popped it into her mouth.
“I knew you’d want a basket of those.” He smiled warmly, diving into his potato skins. They ate in silence. Now and then he’d nudge her knee with his, like old times growing up.
Ailyn drained her beer and ordered a second one. “I’m excited to hear about your next fight. Is it far away?”
Cordero wiped his mouth. “Yeah, a few months. I have time to watch tapes of my opponent and get some training done. Fight’s scheduled here. Haven’t been back in ages.”
“I can’t believe you’re consuming junk food along with having a beer. Cheat night?”
“Yup. After tonight no more junk. This is a tradition. Beer and skins when I visit.”
“This is true.” She sat and ate her pickles, enjoying the light music playing in the background.
“Someone’s having a good night.” Her brother pointed to a table on the far side. A group of laughing females slammed shot after shot.
“Obnoxious. They should know they’re causing a scene.” One woman of topic left her spot at the table, and approached the bar. Her brother whistled while her heart slammed against her ribcage. The back of the woman’s T-shirt sported her name and the Firehouse 17 insignia on the front. What were the odds? She dropped her gaze before Whitier caught her ogling her. Although her brain screamed at her to scan the crowd for Seth, she ignored the urge.
“You are scary quiet. Lookin’ a bit rattled.”
“I’m fine.” The bartender dropped off a fresh beer. She gulped down the contents and flagged him down for another.
Her brother craned his head around, looking for the threat before turning back to her. “You’re freaking me out, babe. Come on,” he coaxed.
Ailyn inhaled deeply, and then face her brother. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Really, eat your appetizer. I’m okay.”
“Whatever. You know you looked like you saw a ghost,” he said, in between bites.
“Ripcord Dominguez, is that you?”
Her brother sighed and wiped his hands on a napkin. Cordero turned to his new audience and smiled. “You caught me, in the flesh.”
“Dude we caught your last fight on pay-per-view. Man, we’re so stoked to hear you’re fighting here so we can catch you live. Big fans, man, big fans.”
“Thanks, but I’m here with—”
“We’re on a date.” Ailyn laid her hand on her brother’s, willing him to remain silent. He shook his head no. She narrowed her gaze into slits and squeezed.
“You heard the lady. Do you have anything I can sign real quick?” Her brother gave her a you owe me an explanation now look.
“Nah, we didn’t realize you were hanging with your girl. Just wanted to let you know you got some big fans out here in the Midwest.” The males left, beers in hand to their table.
A shadow fell over them. She turned to face Seth and dropped her gaze.
“S’up man. As you can see we’re busy here. I’ll get something signed for you later.” Her brother grew tense beside her.
“Still the same cocky bastard,
always thinking the women are all for you.”
Ailyn didn’t miss the innuendo. She cast a confusing look toward her brother. “Do you know him?”
Cordero stood and cocked his head to the side. “Sorry, bro, but I don’t place you. Where do you know me from?”
“Sports. I see you finally learned how to make someone tap out.”
“Your face is familiar. You were a Spartan right, on my rival team. ”
“Yeah. Name’s Seth. Just wanted to step over and get reacquainted. I won’t intrude on your date.”
“Oh, you’re not intruding,” her brother joked. “My sister and I were just having a bite to eat and catching up. Why don’t you join us?”
Ailyn kicked him under the table.
“What? Dude is cool. Played sports with him all through high school.”
In what world did she land in where her brother knew her ex. The beginning of a headache took root. She sat back and nursed her beer as the two got reacquainted with each other.
“Game of pool?” Seth asked Cordero.
“Sounds good. Ailyn, I’ll be back in a few, gonna go shoot a game of pool with the guys. Man, it’s cool to meet someone who protects and serves.” As the guys headed off, she didn’t miss the bevy of women who followed their steps with ravenous gazes.
“Bartender, can I get two Snake Bites.”
“You sure you want more than one of those? That’s Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey, Jose Quervo tequila and six drops of Tabasco sauce. You’re a tiny thang, you’ll be on your ass—and call me Sara.”
Ailyn gifted the bartender with a hollow smile. “Right now on my ass is exactly where I want to be.”
“Anything for the customer, but please don’t vomit on my bar top.”
“I can handle my liquor.” She stood and leaned her back against the counter. Eying the enemy, she tossed back the first dose of venom. The delicious burn consumed her, seared her, clouding her brain with a welcoming solace.
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