Keith’s voice was a little gruff when he said “No problem Tory.” He cleared his throat. “What about that cocoa you promised Lor? Carl, go help your mama.”
Carl sighed and shoved his cell phone into his pocket, but followed Lori to the kitchen.
Tory sat next to Tony on the loveseat. Carl returned a few minutes later with a tray full of mugs of steaming hot chocolate. Lori followed with a huge platter of cookies and fudge. Tory helped herself to two cookies and sat back and listened while they told stories of childhood mishaps both Tony and Carl had had while growing up.
It had turned into an easy, comfortable evening. Tory was sad when it was time to leave. She liked being around Tony’s family. It felt like the first real family time she had had since her grandparents had died.
Carl had gone to bed and Keith and Lori were both yawning when Tony said “I guess we’d better head out. Thanks guys for a great meal, and thanks for the leftovers.”
“You’re welcome. Well if you’re leaving, goodnight. We’ll see you on New Year’s if we don’t see you again before then. We’re stopping in to see your mother the day after tomorrow. I’m excited to see her since she’s doing so well. Excited to meet this Ryan too.”
Tony made a face at the mention of Ryan, and Keith said “Remember what we talked about Tony.”
“Yes Uncle Keith. Goodnight. Tell the kid that I said bye and that I love the little asshole.”
Keith laughed. Lori gave him a look. “He takes after his father doesn’t he?”
Lori softened. “That he does. Goodnight Tony. It was nice to see you again Tory.”
“You too.”
“Drive safely.”
“I will Aunt Lori.”
Tony took her hand and led her to the door and outside. He handed her a cigarette as soon as they were in the car. She lit it with a grateful sigh.
He laughed. “My nicotine addict.” He pulled out of the driveway, and drove the short distance to his house.
“Are you too tired to make love?” Tony said, as soon as the bedroom door was shut behind them.
“I’m never too tired to make love to you.”
“Good. Just don’t forget that when we’re married, okay?”
She laughed. “I don’t think you’d ever let me forget Tony.”
“Nope.” He kissed her. “I love you Tory. I had a really nice time tonight.”
“So did I. I love you too.” She suddenly remembered the scene from dinner. “Do you think Andi’s family is going to be okay?”
“Yeah. She texted Carl. Michelle gave in and accepted the fact that Sophie was going to be a part of Riley’s life whether she liked it or not. Andi told Carl that she was the one that suggested Riley and Sophie move into the apartment above their house.”
“Wow, that’s great.”
“It is. Andi’s really excited about being an aunt. Carl said she’s already bugging him about when we’re going to make her an aunt.”
Tory smiled. “I don’t know about making her an aunt again anytime soon, but I don’t think I’d mind practicing what it takes to make a baby.”
“Practice makes perfect.”
Tony kissed her. They were soon making love. When they had finished Tony took her into his arms and kissed her.
“Good night Tor. I love you.”
“I love you too, Tony.”
She settled back against his chest and was soon asleep.
Chapter 20
Tony wasn’t in bed when she woke up the next morning. She could smell coffee. She reached for a cigarette, and lit it on the way to the bathroom. When she was done in the bathroom, she finished her cigarette and went out to the kitchen.
Tony gave her a bright smile and leaned down and kissed her. “Good morning beautiful.”
“Mornin’ handsome. So what do we have planned for today?”
“Not much. Carl and Andi might stop by. Play some video games. He knows that she let him win the one time that he did.” Tory laughed. “Riley and Sophie might stop by for a while too. Andi said that Sophie is bored stiff here since they live in the big city, but she said she’s not leaving town until Riley goes so she’s stuck here for a few more days.”
“That’s so romantic.”
“Just think how I’m going to feel when you have to go back to school.”
“Don’t remind me. Hey, what if I quit and got my GED and moved in with you now?”
“Much as I love to have you in my bed Tor, I think you’d have three very unhappy parental units if you did that.”
“Yeah. Do Riley and Sophie know that you deal in case some druggie comes knocking on the door when they’re here?”
“Yeah, Andi said that she told Riley. They’re gonna keep it on the DL as Andi put it. Sophie said that she’d rather hang out anywhere than have to spend another day with Michelle. I guess she went from not wanting to be a grandmother to being gung ho in no time flat. It scares the shit out of both of them.”
Tory laughed. “I could see that. So I guess we’re going to have to smoke outside today since there’s going to be a pregnant woman in the house”
“We really should quit Tor. I wish I’d never let you get started in the first place.”
“I liked the taste of it on you.”
“Ha ha. I want us both to quit by summer.”
“What about your mom and Ryan? Ryan smokes.”
He gave her a dirty look. “Everyone needs to quit giving me shit about that guy. I’m trying to deal with the fact that he’s got the hots for my mom and that she seems to have the hots right back. But it’s hard when everybody keeps shoving it in my face.”
She kissed him. “I’m sorry Tony. I’ll shut up about Ryan.”
“Thank you. Let’s go find something for breakfast.”
“Okay.”
They spent a nice day together, watching movies and playing games. Tory liked both Sophie and Riley. She thought Sophie was beautiful, though she was dressed somewhat unconventionally in a shirt that was both low cut and cropped and wore a torn pair of jeans with lacy tights underneath. She had waist length dark hair that was streaked with chunks of purple, blue and hot pink. The pink matched her combat boots. Tory was tempted to ask her where she had bought them. Her nose, lip and tongue were pierced. She’d convinced Riley to pierce his nose, which Tony teased her endlessly about when they were in bed together that night.
Riley seemed happy and chatted away with Carl and Tony.
They all ingested large amounts of Chinese food that night. Both Carl and Andi pouted when Riley and Sophie told them it was time to leave, but Sophie gave them a look and they shut up. Tory had to laugh because she knew that look would be helpful when Sophie was dealing with an unruly toddler or another pouty teenager.
There were no interruptions from people wanting to buy drugs. Tory was glad, but she was worried that Tony wasn’t making any money. He had broken out a second credit card to pay for dinner, though Riley had offered to pay half.
She wasn’t too thrilled when there was a loud knock at the front door when she and Tony were making love. Tony gave her an apologetic kiss and moved off of her, pulling his jeans on. He was back within a few minutes and she said “The next time someone is banging on our door when we’re having sex I want it to be a two year old who’s had a nightmare and wants his daddy.”
He gave her a huge grin and kissed her. “I knew you’d come around. But a two year old probably wouldn’t knock. If they could reach the doorknob, they come right in.”
“Ugh, that really makes me want to have kids.”
He laughed as he moved to straddle her. “I promise I won’t torture them when they get older about the times they caught us having sex. Mommy had better learn not to be such a screamer if she doesn’t want to scar our babies for life though. They might think I was killing you with the way you cry out my name.”
“Shut up Tony.”
“Yes love.”
Chapter 21
The next few days were busy. T
ory got dragged out for baby shopping with Andi, Michelle, Sophie and Lorelei. Riley and Carl ended up being drug along too. She caught Andi looking wistful when she was looking at baby clothes and was worried that the younger girl would be pregnant before any of them knew it. But Tony said that she was on birth control and he’d bought Carl two more extra-large boxes of condoms when she mentioned it to him later.
Lori mentioned that she and Keith’s visit with Monica had gone well and remarked to Tory that she wouldn’t mind having a good looking guy like Ryan chasing after her. Carl heard her and gave his mother the dirtiest look that Tory had ever seen him give. Lori told him she was kidding. But she winked at both Tory and Andi once Carl had gone off to the video game store with Riley. Tony stayed at the house that day because business had picked back up.
It was soon New Year’s Eve. Tory was looking at all of the clothes that she had brought with her strung out on Tony’s bed.
“Tor, it’s not some formal party. Wear jeans and a t-shirt. Besides, everybody will be too drunk and stoned to notice what you’re wearing.”
Tory sighed. “Yeah, sure.”
“I didn’t think you cared about clothes.”
“I don’t. I guess I’m just nervous.”
“No reason to be nervous. I don’t plan on drinking. I’m sure that you don’t either, because you’ve never liked the taste of alcohol. I might smoke some bud with Aunt Lori. You’re more than welcome to join us. She finally gave in and let Carl smoke with her, though she warned him it wasn’t going to be a normal thing. Though it might turn into one because I think the kid inherited his mom’s migraines.”
“That’s too bad.”
“Yeah, it is. I guess Carl had to inherit something from his mama, though, with him being so much like Uncle Keith in every other way. C’mon baby, just pick something out and put it on. All the good snacks are going to be gone by the time we get there.”
“I don’t want to get stoned in front of a bunch of people Tony. I might do something stupid.”
Tony chuckled. “Everyone else is going to be doing stupid shit so no one will notice. But if you don’t want to smoke then don’t.”
“Do you want to take my car?”
She knew she was stalling and wasn’t sure why she was nervous since she’d already met Keith and Lori and liked them both, and had been to many of Tony’s parties. Maybe it was the fact that she wouldn’t have Tony’s bedroom to hide in at Keith and Lori’s house she thought.
“Sure. But you’re driving it if we do.”
She tried to give him her best pouty face but it didn’t work. She finally decided on a pair of jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt and was soon dressed and ready to go. Tony was already outside and sitting in the passenger seat of her car.
She got in the car and he leaned over and kissed her. “We’ll have fun. If you want to leave early, we will.”
“I don’t want to take you away from your family. I thought this was one of your favorite days of the year.”
“It used to be. I’ve had some wild times on New Year’s. I think it’s time to settle down. I don’t want that lifestyle anymore. I know why Uncle Keith throws these parties. He likes to thumb his nose at the chief. But it’s also because though he’s had his own problems with drugs and has let his nephew get away with dealing for three years, Uncle Keith really is a good cop. He needs to let go sometimes or he’d go crazy. This may be a relatively small town, but you wouldn’t believe some of the shit that’s gone down here since Uncle Keith became a cop.” He smiled. “Old man that he is.”
“I’m going to tell him you said that.”
Tony laughed. “Go ahead. Carl and I are always giving him shit about being old. Aunt Lori does too, even though they’re the same age.”
“That’s funny.”
When they neared Keith and Lori’s house Tory found that there were cars parked for blocks. She had to park almost three blocks away. She was glad that she had worn a long sleeved shirt since she had forgotten her jacket, but was still shivering after they had gone only a block. Though Tony was only wearing a t-shirt, he pulled his jacket off and handed it to her.
There were a ton of people in the front yard. Tory thought that she caught a glimpse of naked skin and turned away. They had to push their way into the house it was so packed. She didn’t see anyone she knew anywhere and was glad that Tony was with her, or she probably would have walked right back out the door.
They both got a plate of food and made their way over to the only empty chair they found which was hidden in the corner. The music was so loud that it was giving Tory a headache. She was almost tempted to take Tony up on his offer of leaving early, though they’d only been there fifteen minutes. They both stood while they ate and then Tony sat down in the chair and pulled her onto his lap.
He was kissing her several minutes later when a deep male voice said “Tone, is that you?”
Tony pulled back from her and looked up at the tall tattooed man with a crew cut that was standing in front of them. “Hey Frankie.”
“Thought that was you buried in your old lady’s hair.”
Tony laughed. “Frankie, this is my fiancé Tory. Tory, this is Frankie.”
“You popped the question huh? Congratulations. Hey, I might stop by your house later. When you think you’re gonna be home?”
“I guess it all depends on Tory. When she says it’s time to go, it’s time to go.”
Frankie chuckled. “Yeah. Hey, did you hear about Eduardo?”
Tony’s voice was cautious. “No. What’s up with Eduardo?”
“Coupla guys jacked him hardcore last night. Took his nasty girlfriend’s piece of shit car. Beat the shit out him. Took the drugs he was trying to sell.” Frankie winked. “I got a package for you in my trunk.”
“Thanks.”
“Thank Smalls. Or the two guys he called in favors from that he got to do the deed.”
“I will. I owe you both.”
“Nope. Smalls says that he can never repay you for what you did for Annie that night. Even with the shit that happened with her worthless fuck of a stepdad later on, he doesn’t think that she would have recovered if you’d taken her body that night. Most guys would have. She’s always been beautiful. Oh, Smalls told me to tell you that she says hi and hope’s everything is good for you. She told him to tell you thank you too. Said she never told you before.”
“She didn’t have to. It was the right thing to do.”
“Yeah man, but that doesn’t mean shit to a lot of people. I’m gonna go get a drink. It was nice to meet you Tory. Catch me before you leave Tony, so that I can give you that stuff.”
“Thanks Frankie.”
The big man walked away.
“So the drug crowd isn’t such a bad crowd after all huh?”
Tony shook his head. “Don’t go thinking that Tor. There are good people that get addicted, yeah. But there are also a lot of people that will lie, cheat and steal to get their fix; or someone else’s like Eduardo.”
“But it’s okay now right? They got your drugs back for you.”
“Yeah, what Eduardo and his nasty girlfriend didn’t sell or smoke, snort or shoot themselves.”
“It’s something at least.
“I agree with that. I’ll meet you back here in twenty minutes or so okay? Can I have your keys so that I can put that stuff in your trunk?”
“I guess.”
“I’m sorry babe. I didn’t think about it. I’m so used to having drugs in my car that I didn’t stop to think that it might bother you to have them in yours. I can probably talk Uncle Keith into letting me borrow the Jeep to take them back home.”
“Don’t worry about it. I don’t want to cause anyone an inconvenience. And besides, when I go home tonight I want to be able to stay there.” She handed him her keys.
He kissed her. “I’m so lucky that you were dumb enough to fall in love with me Tor.”
“Ha ha.”
“I’ll see you in a bit bab
y.
Tory smiled back, wondered where Carl and Andi were. Then she remembered his promise to Tony that he’d have her in his bedroom at the party and had to admit that it seemed likely since Brent and Michelle seemed more interested in keeping Riley and Sophie from sneaking off together than worrying about Andi and Carl.
She went outside for a cigarette, let out a sigh of relief when she saw that the streaker she thought she had noticed for was no longer running around. She soon figured out she was wrong though, because there were now two people running around naked in Keith and Lori’s front yard. They seemed to be doing laps. Every time they passed each other one called out “Are you naked?” and the other called out “Hell yeah I am.”
A third person joined them. This one was a woman. That stopped the men from their laps for a minute. But they started up again shortly after the woman stopped to vomit loudly in the bushes. When she was finished she sat up, wiped her mouth and called out loudly “And I’m not naked either.”
Tory couldn’t help but laugh as she headed to the backyard, which was quieter. The only other people in the backyard were an older couple who were unashamedly making out and groping.
Tory took a cigarette out of her purse and lit it. The backyard had gotten darker. But she was glad because the noises from the couple on the longue chair told her that they had moved beyond making out. She had a feeling that the trio in the front yard would soon join them too, because the woman had joined in and admitted she was naked and had started saying “Fuck yeah I am,” instead of hell yeah in response to the calls of “are you naked”.
Tory put out her cigarette and let herself be amused for a minute. And she’d thought that Tony’s parties had gotten crazy she thought as she slipped into the house through the kitchen door.
Tony was standing at the kitchen counter, sipping from a mug and talking to Keith. “Hey baby. You want some cocoa? You can have yours without the rum.”
She made a face at him. “No thank you.”
“It’s only a little darlin’ and you’re driving home.”
Misty Reigenborn Romance Boxed Set Page 141
