Tory heaped a pile of laundry into Tony's arms. "You might as well take this with you."
"Yes ma'am.”
Andi followed suit with Carl and then both girls followed with the last of the clothes, piling them next to the other clothes that Tony and Carl had put on the bed.
"Wow Tone," Carl said. "I didn't know you owned this many clothes."
"That's what you get when you don't do laundry for a month. You started wearing shit that's been buried in the back of your closet for like five years."
"Anything I had five years ago wouldn't fit me Tone," Carl said with a laugh.
"I know kid." He patted Carl on the head. Carl rolled his eyes at Andi as they walked out of the room and she laughed.
"So where should we start?" Andi said.
"There's not much left to do. You should have seen this place before we started cleaning. I think there's another load or two of laundry. Then we need to vacuum in here and sweep and mop in the kitchen."
"Okay. I'll do the kitchen if you want. I don't mind cleaning. My mom always made it a game for me and my brother so we never really looked at it as a chore.” Andi shrugged.
Wow, Tory thought. This girl was too good to be true. Gorgeous, smart if her mom was bragging about her grades to Marcune, and she liked to clean? If Carl had any sense in his head he'd never let Andi get away.
Not that he probably had any interest in doing that Tory thought as Andi started wiping down the kitchen counters. If they'd already had sex, she was any straight man's dream wrapped up in a bright and shiny package. Tory just hoped she wasn't hiding some major league psycho tendencies underneath because Carl really was a good kid and deserved someone like Andi.
Sometime later Andi said “Hey, do you know what surprise the guys have planned for us tonight?"
"No. This is the first I've heard about it."
"Oooh that must mean it's a good one." Andi giggled as she went back into the kitchen.
Surprise she thought? With the combined efforts of Tony and Carl she couldn't think of what it would be that didn't involve sex. She held back a laugh as she threw a load of towels into the washer, then drug the vacuum out of the corner and out to the living room.
Two hours later the kitchen was sparkling, the laundry was put away and the whole house smelled like gingerbread. Andi had brought over cookies that her mom and Lorelei had formed and popped them in the oven once the cleaning was done.
A scented candle was lit in the middle of the coffee table. Carl and Tony had dug a foot tall fiber optic Christmas tree out of a dusty corner of the garage and plugged it in. Feeling real holiday nostalgia for the first time since her grandparents had died; she leaned up and gave Tony a kiss.
"Mmm," he said. "You taste like cookies. Are you girls ready to go?"
"Go Tony?" She had almost forgotten about the big surprise they had planned. "You expect me to go anywhere looking like this?"
Her hair was a mess and she was wearing one of Tony's shirts since she'd somehow managed to spill the contents of the vacuum all over herself while she was trying to dump it in the trash.
"You're beautiful as always Tor. You wanna go in my car or are you and Andi gonna follow in yours Carl?"
Carl shrugged. "Your backseat's got plenty of leg room right?"
"Yep. And we can put the rest of the shit in the trunk. Will you help me start hauling stuff out to the car while the girls do whatever it is girls do to get themselves ready to go out?"
"Sure."
Carl followed Tony out to the garage.
She raised an eyebrow at Andi, and followed her back to Tony's bathroom where she ran a brush through her hair and tucked in Tony's shirt.
"Carl didn't let anything slip about what they've got planned?"
"Nope." Andi giggled. "You know what's so cool? My mom gave me permission to spend the night here since I told her you were going to be here, too."
"Wow.” Parents sure were more open minded these days she thought.
“The only thing that Carl let slip was that Tony was picking up some champagne and I think they rolled up a joint of some strain that's supposed to be really good. So no matter what we're doing it should be a blast."
Tory laughed, feeling almost giddy herself. It was funny to see Andi who looked so wholesome, talk about getting high and drunk. They were leaving the bathroom, Andi in the lead when Tony called from the living room "Kick it in the ass you two. You were both born beautiful so what's taking so damn long?"
Carl helped Andi into her jacket.
Tony said "Don't forget yours Tor. You're probably gonna want it."
She walked back into the bedroom, grabbed her coat and slipped her arms into it, taking one last glance at herself in the bathroom mirror. She was never going to turn heads like Andi but she looked as good as she had in a long time. She looked happy she thought, even with the trip home looming ahead of her.
Oh shit, she thought as she walked back into the living room. She had forgotten about sending the package to her dad and picking up the money that her mom had wired to her.
"Tony. What time is it?"
"A little after six. Why?"
"Damn. I meant to get that watch sent out to my dad today."
"We'll do it in the morning baby. It wouldn't have gotten there by Christmas if it had gone out today anyway. I think you missed the deadline by like three days."
"I still need to pick up the money that my mom sent."
"We'll stop at the convenience store on the way back."
"Okay.”
She took his hand as they walked outside.
Andi and Carl were already in the backseat, steaming up the windows as they made out. Tony knocked on the window. Carl jumped back, startled, and then flipped Tony off as he went around to the driver's seat.
"You're an asshole, Tone." Carl leaned back in the seat, putting his arm around Andi's shoulders.
"I gotta make Uncle Keith proud don't I?" He winked at Tory as he backed carefully out of the driveway.
"At least I was never dumb enough to let Dad catch me making out, let alone half naked in the backseat, Tone.”
"It wasn't me who was half naked in the backseat. It was Tory. Tony can get dressed in seconds flat. I think it's a girl thing."
Tory reached over and smacked him in the arm. "Did you have to remind me of that Tony? That was humiliating. And you wonder why I didn't want to go with you to thanksgiving dinner."
"I forgot you haven't formally met Uncle Keith. You better tell your dad to go easy on her if she's going to be so defensive Carl."
Tory groaned. "You're kidding right?"
Tony paused, as if thinking it over. "Of course I'm kidding Tor. Well not really," he said as she started to let out a sigh of relief. "But I promise you Uncle Keith will be on his best behavior. Well, until everyone starts to get drunk and high. Then all bets are off."
Tory could feel color rising to her cheeks, just thinking about it. "That's it. I'm going back to school and sitting in my room by myself on New Year's."
Tony laughed. "No you ain't darlin’. If he starts to tease you, I'll remind him of the time he caught me with Kathy Baker at the old make out spot. That poor girl was mortified. She was drunk as hell and stoned half out of her mind and kept trying to put both her legs into the same hole on her pants. Never mind that her chest was still bare. Uncle Keith could have had himself an eyeful for five minutes if he'd wanted it before I took pity on her and helped her. She'd been a virgin until like five minutes before he got there. She was so embarrassed by the whole thing that she made her parents let her go live with her older sister in South Dakota."
“Gee Tony, you're such a gentleman," Tory said sarcastically.
"I was so stoned that it took me five minutes of staring at her tits to figure out that they should probably be covered up."
"Great excuse." She gave him a dirty look. She'd never let him know that she thought it was pretty funny herself.
"Or I could always remind him of t
he time he DID catch Carl making out."
"No," Carl said. "He never did I swear."
"He did too. You were all of what; fourteen? You convinced Uncle Keith to let you stay over at my place, remember? He comes over at like midnight, walks in the front door like usual. I was in the bedroom screwing some nasty bitch, you remember Tracy don't you Carl? My on again off again pity fuck. You should have seen this girl Tory. Gorgeous, killer body, but she couldn't get it through her head why her boyfriend had left her. It was because the bitch didn't know how to take a shower. Carl, you were making out with what the hell was her name; Amy, from down the street, the one whose parents never gave half a shit where she was? Uncle Keith caught you copping a feel on my couch."
"Oh shit, now I remember." Carl shook his head. "That poor girl. Her parents really didn't give a shit. Last I heard she was hooking in LA, supposedly doing porn on the side. Her name wasn't Amy it was Annie remember? They used to call her little orphan Annie."
"Yeah." Tony let out a quiet sigh. "I remember the last time I saw that poor girl. Her mom had come over earlier that day and spent the last of their money on a couple rocks. The old man had been at work so she hadn't bothered to save any to share with him. He comes over at like six o'clock at night with empty pockets, looking to score himself a rock. She'd sold the last of their food stamps for the money for that shit. He didn't get paid for another week so that piece of shit brings over his daughter. It was a while later, maybe a year or so. She might have been fifteen then. He expects to sell his daughter to me for a couple rocks. I beat that mother fucker bloody. You remember that don't you Carl? You were out fishing with Uncle Keith. The neighbors called Aunt Lori, told her there were two chicks bawling in my front yard while I was trying to kill some guy. Uncle Keith pulls up with Carl, has to pull me off of this dude. I had it in my head I was gonna kill that bastard. This was like twenty minutes after they got to my place. Annie had run home and got her mom. They're just standing there both wailing their heads off while I continue to pound this guy. Why in the hell that poor girl was upset that I was kicking the ass of the sorry sack of shit that had tried to sell her for crack I'll never understand. But that's a woman I guess.”
"Yeah, I remember that day," Carl said. "Annie's mom had a black eye and a fat lip. But she was still upset when Dad told that asshole to get the hell out of town and never come back. He was upset at until dad slipped him some cash, the money that he was saving to buy mom a nice birthday present. Dad looked that guy in the eye and said 'You're lucky I didn't let my boy kill you asshole'. That dude took off in nothing flat after that. You would have thought Annie's life would've gotten better after that wouldn't you Tone? Didn't her mom marry that rich dude?"
"Yeah.” Tony threw his cigarette out the window. "You would've thought so. Only when you think about it Carl, why did that loaded dude marry Annie's mama? Woman was ugly as sin, had like three teeth left from smoking too much meth, and could barely put on her clothes in the morning. If she wasn't high she was drunk off her ass. What would a rich guy possibly want with a bitch like that? Uh, couldn't possibly be her hot as hell teenage daughter right?"
"Oh shit," Carl said. "Yeah. Annie quit coming to school a couple months after they got married. People were saying she was knocked up. The next thing you know she was gone. I guess I was still too young to really think about it."
"That poor girl," Andi said, leaning over and putting her head on Carl's shoulder.
"Yep," Tony said. "There are some sorry mother fuckers walking around this planet."
"You really did that Tony?" Tory reached out and squeezed his leg.
"Yeah darlin’, I did. Wasn't one bit sorry I did it either. I was high out of my mind for a week afterwards, my knuckles hurt so badly from pounding that guy. But I'd do it again if I had to. No little girl, hell no grown woman, deserves to have some worthless asshole sell her for drugs. I’ve seen plenty of women sell themselves, or try to sell themselves for a high, but that's their problem. They make that choice, so it's on them. Nobody has the right to take that away."
Tory looked at him as she reached for a cigarette. He was such a contrast she thought, always surprising the hell out of her with the things he did or said. He could be crude, and was a notorious pervert, but in more ways than one, he was the sweetest, most honorable man she'd ever met.
"What you looking at me like that for Tor?" He said, as he stopped the car in the parking the lot of the small rest area next to the lake.
"You never cease to surprise me, Tony." She was trying to keep a light tone in her voice, when she wanted nothing more than to fold herself into his arms and never leave their shelter.
He could almost make her believe that everything would turn out all right. And wasn't that ironic she thought? A drug dealer could make her believe in life. In love, in happiness and safety. In her best fantasies of a life with Jude she'd always had to wonder if he would really protect her when it came down to it, if he could really provide a life for the two of them.
She had no doubt that Tony would work three jobs if he had to to keep a roof over their heads. She'd never worry whether or not Tony could protect her. If he'd almost killed a man for trying to sell his daughter for drugs, what would he do if someone hurt her she thought?
And wouldn't their children be beautiful? Damn she thought. If she didn't stop she was going to get down on one knee and propose to him. Feeling a sudden need to lighten the mood, she did just that.
He had given her a sexy wink and then went to help Carl spread out a tablecloth on the wooden picnic table. He pulled out a candle from the picnic basket and had straightened up from lighting it when she got down on one knee on the cold ground, took his hand and said "Will you marry me Tony, you big teddy bear?"
Andi giggled. Carl shook his head.
"You be careful woman." Tony took her into his arms and planted a kiss on her mouth that left her feeling shaky and a little embarrassed at the same time because yet again he didn't know how to keep his tongue in his own mouth when he kissed her, no matter who might be watching. "I think I might hold you to that.” His hands slid down her back to cup her ass as he kissed her again, pressing his body fully against hers.
Breathless, she pulled back, and shoved his hands away from her butt, though she did it in a way that let him get another good feel in. He gave her a cocky grin and then went back to helping Carl set the table.
They had brought enough food for an army Tory thought. There was salad, sandwiches, chips, cookies, and homemade fudge and divinity. Tony pulled out a thermos full of Carl's hot chocolate and a huge bottle of champagne.
They ate until they were stuffed and then passed around two joints of a wicked strain of weed that had a slightly fruity smell to it. Tory passed on the champagne, because she'd never really liked the taste of champagne or the bubbles. But Andi and Carl were completely blitzed and unashamedly groping each other perched on the edge of the picnic table when a pleasantly buzzed Tony took her hand and pulled her towards the woods.
"Are you having a good time baby?"
She glanced back at the picnic table and caught Carl trying to undo Andi's bra and burst out laughing. "I think they're having a good enough time for all of us. I hope your uncle doesn't show up and catch them naked.”
Tony chuckled, and then grew serious.
"What's wrong Tony?"
"Nothing baby. You know when you pretended to propose to me? It kinda threw me for a loop. Do you think you'd ever really think of me that way Tor? As someone you'd want to spend your life with?"
She looked up at him, her head still spinning a bit from the pot. "You make me weak in the knees when you look at me Tony. You drive me insane when you kiss me, let alone what you do to me in bed. You make me feel safe, you make me feel loved. You make the whole world a better place you good for nothing drug dealer." She reached up and cupped his face in her hands and gave him a soft kiss.
He scratched the edge of his shoe in the dirt, not looking at her, looking l
ike nothing but an overgrown little boy with his hands in pockets. "'My mom gave me something today. She was doing pretty good for once, kinda like the Mom I remember from when I was a kid. I want you to have it."
He reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a gold locket that hung from a thin chain. He dug out his lighter and lit it, and then he opened it and showed her the pictures nestled inside.
"That's my dad right after he found out Mom was pregnant with me." He pointed to the left side, showing her a man who looked almost exactly like him beaming into the camera. "And that's me when I was little." He pointed to the right side, where there was a picture of a little boy who was missing his front teeth, holding up a fish that was almost as tall as him. "Dad told everyone that I caught that fish. He did, but he didn't want to make me feel bad. I kept getting scared when there was a tug on the line and letting them get away."
He handed the locket to her. "You can change the pictures if you want. She was bugging me today about meeting a nice girl. I told her about you and she insisted I give it to you for Christmas."
As she took it from his hand he added "I could hardly break her heart by telling her I already bought you slutty lingerie."
She rolled her eyes at him. "Always the charmer aren't you Tony?"
He laughed and then reached over and took the locket from her hand, undoing the clasp and slipping it over her neck, refastening it and taking her into his arms for a brief embrace.
She pulled back and looked up at him. "It's beautiful. I wouldn't dream of changing the pictures. Tell your mom I love it."
"You can tell her yourself when you meet her. I think they finally got her medication right. So I figure that in a month or so when you're over the devastation of spending new year's eve with Carl's mom and dad, I'll take you up to meet her on a Saturday. If that's okay with you."
"Sure.”
"Dude can we go home now?" Carl was stumbling in their direction, Andi clutching his arm. "I'm fucking freezing."
"That's what happens when you get naked outside in the winter bro." Tony patted his cousin's shoulder.
Misty Reigenborn Romance Boxed Set Page 114
