“You guys are really good, Mr. Ric—I mean, Joe. I gotta come see you play one night,” Blake said, sounding genuinely impressed.
My dad beamed. “That’d be great. Evangelina used to come, and now I can never get her there anymore. These two are there all the time, though.” He thumbed toward Abby and Damon. “Maybe you guys could double date sometime.”
I choked on my wine.
Blake patted my back. “You all right?”
My nose stung with the burn of the liquid trapped in my nostrils. “Fine,” I said through the fire and teary eyes.
Damon wrapped his arm around Abby’s hip. “You didn’t make my dish yet?”
“No, I didn’t get to. What do you want?” She grabbed his plate and a fork.
“Tsk, tsk, what kind of service is this?” He was pretending to joke but I could hear the menace in his tone.
I ground my teeth together and stared, waiting for her to put him in his place. I did this every time he spoke to her that way. But, like always, it never came. She continued to load up his dish, and Blake looked at me from the corner of his eye with his eyebrows raised. I merely shrugged and asked him what he’d like.
“I’ve got two hands, I can make it.” Blake scooped large helpings into his dish and took his seat beside me.
Damon’s cocky face seated across from me was enough to make me lose my appetite, but I was used to it. I’d spent many holidays this way—him licking his fork suggestively at me while his hand was on my sister’s knee. Fucking disgusting.
“So how’d you guys meet?” Damon directed his question at Blake, his fork motioning between the two of us.
“I harassed her life until she said yes. This little girl’s a tough cookie to tie down.” Blake patted my hand, a roguish smile playing on his lips.
“She is a tease, isn’t she?” And there was the menace again, seeping through his grin.
The hair on my arm prickled. Blake’s smile dipped at the corners and my mouth went dry as my eyes darted across the table.
“Damon! That’s not funny.” Abby backhanded his chest.
He laughed, recoiling from the blow. “What? She is.”
“I don’t find it funny either, Damon.” My usually unaffected father raised a brow.
Suddenly anxious, my knee began to bob up and down feverishly. Blake’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t lose his gentlemanly stature. He curled his fingers over the top of mine and squeezed, quelling my jitters.
“I’d hardly call her a tease.” He shrugged. “She just has high standards.” Then he lowered his voice and added, “You’re also lucky we’re at a dinner table, and that I’m meeting her parents for the first time.”
Wow. My cheeks grew warm hearing someone finally stick up for me to him. My dad’s gaze flicked to Blake and he opened and closed his mouth, seeming unsure of how he wanted to react to that statement.
Like a dog salivating over a bone, Damon was undeterred. His smile turned cocky at the challenge. “Bro, you have no idea how many guys she’s led on, making them think they had a shot with her. And she went out with not-a-one. Trust me. She’s a tease.” He popped a forkful in his mouth, chewing with a smirk.
At that my mother’s head snapped up.
I could tell Blake’s patience was waning but he was trying hard to keep it together in the presence of my family. He leaned forward as if to assert but also restrain himself. “You have no idea how well I know her, bro. I’m not intimidated by a girl who knows what she wants.” He brought my knuckles to his lips and kissed them. His expression softening as his eyes found mine. “I would’ve waited till I was old and gray if she wasn’t ready.”
My mom dabbed the corner of her mouth with a napkin and placed it back on her lap. “I don’t like this talk. We’re at the dinner table. Find your manners, Damon.”
Damon ignored her statement, which surprised me. He usually did a better job of looking like the golden child. His demeanor turned venomous as he squirmed to the edge of his seat. “Well, look at Blake being a regular Casanova.” He smiled, sarcasm oozing from each syllable.
My palms were growing sweaty at their exchange.
“I’m no Casanova. I’m a gentleman. I know how a lady is supposed to be treated. I could give you a few pointers some time when you’re ready, bro.” A twisted grin flashed across his face, and I tried my best to stifle a laugh. Blake forked a large bite of eggplant rollatini and stuffed it into his mouth.
Damon leaned back. “Don’t get your panties in a bunch, Blake. I was only kidding.”
Blake shook his head nonchalantly, swallowing. “They’re not in a bunch. I’m just clearing up whatever misconceptions you might have. Think of it as a formal education. Chivalry one-oh-one.” He stabbed his string beans and rested his forearms on the table. “And just so we’re clear, if you ever talk that way about Angel again, bunched up panties will be the least of your problems.”
Blake and Damon had a staring stand off and all hopes I’d had of enjoying Christmas Eve dinner went out the window. I was uncomfortable, but at the same time, my subconscious had her pom poms held high. Give me a B!
My dad’s voice boomed from the head of the table. “Okay, guys. That’s enough. Damon, you’ll watch your mouth. That’s my baby girl you’re talking about.”
“Yeah and I thought you two were supposed to be friends. What’s gotten into you?” Abby questioned Damon.
Damon shrugged, now radiating his famous charm. Too bad it was fake as the day was long. “We are friends. I’m just making sure he’s good enough for our kid sister. Sorry, Mr. R. I was just testing him, that’s all. I didn’t mean to come off disrespectful. Eva knows I love her. ”
Testing? Loves me? I might puke at the dinner table.
Blake leaned back, resting his arm behind my chair. “Well, you can relax. No one will protect her better than me. I’d never let anyone hurt her.”
I didn’t miss the curl in Damon’s lip at Blake’s last statement. I cleared my throat. “So, Daddy, when are you playing again?” It was all I could think of to get the focus off me and loosen things up.
“This Saturday. Wanna come?”
“I can’t, I have to work. Hey, what if I ask my boss if you could play at the bar one night?”
A smile slid across his face. “I never thought of that. Sure thing, ladybug. This old man can show you youngins how it’s really done.”
I grinned, still uncomfortable with the giant elephant in the room. “I’ll set it up when I get back.”
Mom clapped her hands together. “Time for presents. You know it’s my favorite part. Family room. Stat.”
There was only room to walk single file as gifts seemed to come from every corner. “Ma, we’re not babies anymore. This is crazy.” I talked a good game, but really, I loved presents. Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without the ginormous stacks we always got.
“Says who? You’ll always be my babies.” Her eyes practically glistened as she took us in.
“Blake and I are going to exchange tomorrow. His tradition is Christmas morning,” I said.
“Us too,” Abby added. “Damon said he got me the best gift ever this year, so I think he’s trying to torture me.” She pushed her lip out in a pout, shoving Damon’s shoulder.
Time got away from us and, before we knew it, it was ten o’clock and we were still peeling paper off our gifts with no end in sight.
“Abby, I’m ahead of you. I gotta use the bathroom. Catch up while I’m gone.” I hopped off Blake’s lap, ignoring Damon’s eyes on me as I left the room. I didn’t remember how much wine I’d consumed sitting there for so many hours, but my bladder was reminding me it hadn’t been a little. After a while, Abby had set a bottle in front of each of us and we’d gotten rid of our glasses. Now my head was light and airy, and I finally felt relaxed.
Having Blake here made me feel safe. I replayed how he’d put Damon in his place during dinner and smiled, picturing the flush on Damon’s cheeks when there was nothing left for hi
m to say.
I washed my hands, reapplied my lip gloss, and then tightened my ponytail, draping it over my shoulder. In a rush to return to Blake, I threw back the door and ran straight into a brick wall.
A gasp caught in my throat when he covered my mouth with his hand and pushed me back inside the small half bath with his chest. “You think you’re safe hiding behind your little boyfriend, letting him make a fool out of me, beautiful? You’ll pay for that one, I guarantee it.”
I shook my head in denial, my eyes darting behind him as terror coursed through me.
Damon’s purple-red, wine-stained teeth pushed into my face. The smell of stale alcohol on his breath made my stomach lurch into my throat. “I’ll always own you, you little bitch. You better find a way to tone him down. What would he think if he found out our little secret?”
He released my mouth, and I sucked in a large gulp of air. He dragged his finger down my jaw to the top of my breast, and I turned my head, squeezing my eyes shut. “You owe me one now. I don’t like to share, and your little attitude just ensured you’re not going to enjoy it next time.”
Bile rose in my throat, and I bit down my cry as he squeezed my breast, twisting my nipple. Everything flashed before my eyes.
What he was doing . . .
Blake in the other room . . .
Blake.
In the other room.
I pulled from somewhere deep within me, and my eyes snapped open as I grabbed his finger, twisting it in my fist. Staring him straight in the eye, I spit out through clenched teeth, “You’ll do no such thing. You’re never going to touch me again. Do you understand? It’s over.” I threw his hand away from me in disgust.
Damon laughed. “Feisty, too. I think I like this even better.” He moved in closer to my face, backing me against the wall. “I say when it’s over. Get out of fucking fairyland. You’re mine.” He dug his fingers into the tops of my arms.
Those words enraged me. They belonged to someone else. I pushed against him, whispering harshly through gritted teeth, “Damon, I fucking swear. Keep your hands off me, or I’ll tell them. I swear to God, I’ll tell them how you like to touch little girls. How you tricked me.” I wasn’t kidding. I’d open up my shame to the world if it meant I never had to deal with him again. I was done with this. “Now back. The fuck. Off me.”
He laughed again, and my blood boiled. Finally he released me and crossed his arms over his chest, a confident smirk on his face. “They won’t believe you. They love me.”
And there was the truth we both knew. The reason why this had gone on as long as it had.
Another slice to my heart.
But, true or not, I needed to move on from this. I couldn’t wash the last few months down the drain. “I don’t care what they believe. It’s over. Now get the fuck out of my way before someone comes looking for us, you asshole.” I shoved past him, my hands visibly shaking, and took the stairs to my bedroom two at a time.
I sent a quick text to Jace.
Come here. Now.
I opened my window and stuck my head out into the freezing, snowy air, dragging giant gulps into my lungs. I needed to compose myself or Blake would know. My family was oblivious, but he’d be able to see right through me.
When my breathing returned to slow, even beats, I descended the stairs, smoothing back my hair, reveling in the fact that I’d just stood up for myself for the first time in my life. I felt invigorated and empowered.
Feeling saucy, I winked at Abby who was talking to Blake. I grabbed the wine bottle from the floor and threw my head back, pouring a good amount down my throat, then I pushed Blake back on the couch and straddled his lap. “I’m so glad you’re here with me.”
Blake held me by my shoulders and pushed back, his cheekbones tinged a rosy pink. “Whoa, Angel. I’m glad too, but time and place. Remember?”
“I know. I just wanted to tell you how much I love you.”
His face softened. “I love you too, babe.”
My parents walked back in the room. My dad’s eyes went wide over the platter of cookies he was carrying. “Okay, ladybug. Put the bottle down. I don’t need any grandchildren just yet.”
I blushed, scooting next to Blake and throwing my legs over his lap.
Damon returned with a scowl on his face as he sat next to Abby, who hadn’t taken her eyes off of me and Blake. She stared straight ahead as if she were somewhere else.
Suddenly, the front door bounced off the wall, and Jace stumbled across the threshold. “Merry Christmas Eve, bitches.” He wore a huge smile as he sashayed over to my parents, kissing each of them and then Abby. He put his finger to his chin. “Damon, have you gained weight?” He slapped the back of his hand across Damon’s gut. “Got a little pudge in the tub?”
“Nice to see you too, Jace,” Damon ground out.
“I know it is.” He squinted his eyes at him before spinning on his heel to face me. “Eva, come get me some alcohol. My throat’s dry.” He curled his hand around mine and tugged, dragging me alongside him. In the kitchen, he opened the freezer and dug around the bottom, revealing a half-filled bottle of Grey Goose.
“Hey. How’d you know that was there? I’ve been drinking crappy wine.”
“Sweetie, I always know where to find the vodka. Now spill. What happened?”
I let out a big breath. “He cornered me in the hall and told me I’m his and that I’d pay for bringing Blake here with me, but I told him where to shove it. I did it, Jace!” I quietly squealed.
“That fuck!” He looked back toward the other room and then lowered his voice. “Good girl. I’m proud of you. You okay?”
I expelled a trembling breath, not realizing my nerves were still bunched somewhere in my tonsils. “I am now, but that’s not something I want to do again any time soon.”
“Yeah, well, I’m sleeping here. He won’t get close enough again.”
“It’s okay. Blake’s sleeping with me.” Thankfully, since Damon and Jace had been around so many years, my parents were cool with them staying in our rooms. It was a blessing and a curse.
“Yes, I know. I’ve been dying for that sandwich and now I finally have an excuse, so back off the goods, bitch.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed. “Thank you.”
Jace laced his fingers with mine and walked us back. I reclaimed Blake’s lap as my seat, snuggling into his neck.
“Mother effer!”
My head snapped up as Damon sprang to his feet, wiping down the front of his slacks.
“Oopsie. I’m so clumsy sometimes.” Jace licked the vodka that’d spilled over onto his fingers, a lopsided smirk adorning his face. “Well, now I need another drink. I just wasted that one on some tacky pants.”
“Don’t you think you’ve had enough, freak?” Damon asked, wadding up bits of napkin and dabbing at his crotch.
Abby was finally thrown from her trance. She narrowed her eyes at him. “Hey, it was an accident. Don’t talk to him like that.”
“Go get me a change of pants,” Damon barked back at her.
“Watch yourself, Damon.” My dad’s voice was stern for a rare moment. “Jace is just as much a part of this family as you are.”
Jace flicked his wrist at Damon. “It’s not my fault there’s not much there to absorb it. And go get your own pants. Your legs are wet, not broken.” He brushed past him, knocking him on the shoulder before bouncing onto the loveseat. He crossed one leg over the other and stared him down, daring him to counter.
A tic broke out on Damon’s flushed jaw and his nostrils flared. I had to fight a laugh when I noticed the smile tug at the corner of Blake’s lips. Something told me he wasn’t as fond of Damon as he’d originally let on.
“Now, now. I think everyone’s had enough to drink for tonight. Go to bed all of you.” My mom stood, picking up discarded wrapping paper. When no one moved, she repeated a little more forcefully, “Now.”
“Fine.” I turned to Blake. “We inherited Jace for tonig
ht. I hope you’re not shy.”
Although I knew he loved Jace, Blake’s hard swallow told me he was a little worried. I patted his bicep. “It’s fine. I’ll sleep in the middle.”
“Be flattered, hot stuff. Not everyone gets to share a bed with all this.” Jace did a wiggle, dragging his hands over his body.
I snorted out a laugh. “Come on, trouble maker.”
After the three of us changed and washed for bed, I peeled back the purple duvet and crawled up toward the pillows, thankful my parents had handed down their queen size when they’d upgraded to king. It’d still be a tight fit, but we’d manage.
Left in only his boxers, Jace skipped over and hopped onto the bed on his knees. Blake still hadn’t budged. Knowing he usually slept just about naked, I laughed at the thick sweatpants and long sleeved shirt he wore as he stood at the foot of the bed.
“Blake, get your ass in here. I’m not diseased.” Jace slammed himself back on the pillows and wiggled onto his side.
Blake rounded the opposite corner and kissed my forehead. “It’s after twelve. Merry Christmas, Angel.”
“Merry Christmas.” I bit my smiling lip and scooted back, flipping the sheet open to invite him in.
Blake slid beneath the covers and took me in his arms, tugging me close to his chest. He wrapped his legs around mine and kissed my nose. I delighted in the fact that tonight I was sandwiched between the two guys I loved the most, and that I finally felt safe in my home. In my bed. It would be the first peaceful rest I’d had here in what felt like forever. I kissed the divot at the base of Blake’s neck and buried my face in his chest, inhaling his scent.
Blake’s body tensed beneath my touch. “Angel?”
“Mmhmm.”
“Any chance you grew a third hand?”
“Wha . . . uh . . . Jace?” I twisted my neck to look at my traitorous best friend.
“I’m sorry.” Jace definitely didn’t sound sorry. “I might never get this opportunity again. I needed to feel those rock hard buns for myself and woohoo does it feel as good as it looks. Congrats, doll.”
Live Me Page 35
