Diary of a Rocker's Kid (D.O.R.K. Book 1)

by Haley Despard

  “Mads?” Gio cringes, making a tendon in his muscular neck stick out. He shakes his head confidently. “That’s not a pretty enough name for you.”

  I smile at the compliment, and then I shrug. “I’ve been called that basically since I was born.”

  “I have a reputation for giving people good nicknames,” Gio tells me. “I’ll come up with a better one, don’t worry.”

  Just as presumptuous as ever, I think to myself. “Well, alright then,” I say, indulging him.

  “So is rock all you ever listen to?” he asks me.

  I shake my head. “Nah, I can get down with some alternative. Even good pop or EDM. Just never hip-hop.”

  “You like Muse?” he asks.

  “Yeah, Muse is pretty good.”

  “Well then, what about Madness?”

  “Good song,” I say.

  “No, I mean as a nickname,” he says, grinning.

  “Oh!” I smile, pleasantly surprised. “You know, I really like that.”

  “Madness it is, then,” Gio declares, turning up on his side so he can face me. I let my eyes wander his torso for just a second, and he does the same.

  “So,” I say, teasing him, “you just couldn’t wait to see me again, huh?”

  “I’m an opportunist, Madness,” he says casually. “When I see a beautiful woman in the pool next door, I go and talk to her. It’s as simple as that.”

  “Beautiful woman”… That’s definitely a first for me. However, the comment itself was still slightly offensive. “So I’m an ‘opportunity,’ huh?”

  Gio opens his mouth to speak, and then he hesitates. “I’m… not sure how to answer that question.”

  “Then that was an extremely underdeveloped line,” I reply, smirking.

  Gio drops the façade completely and laughs—the cutest, most endearing laugh I’ve ever heard. “You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you?”

  In a sultry voice, with a little head waggle: “Nah… I like to make things hard.” Wink.

  Gio throws back his head and laughs his ass off again. “That was a good line,” he says, and I giggle along with him.

  “Okay, horndogs, break it up,” Cass teases us from the sidelines, chucking a volleyball at me. “Who’s up for pool volleyball?”

  The guys set up the net, and we start a match of guys vs. girls. I let Ana and Cass do most of the work since I’m generally uncoordinated… and also because I’m hypnotized by Gio. It’s undeniably hot watching him stretch up to hit the ball and swing his muscular arms to serve it. His hair is dripping wet and it’s curling around his face as it dries. He laughs at something Dart says at one point, making his dimples appear once again. I’m not paying any attention to the game itself, and at the end of the match, the ball hits me square on the head and bounces off to the side. “Guy point, for the win!” Dart says, and he does a secret handshake with Gio.

  “Well, damn,” I say, picking up the ball. “Sorry, girls.”

  “Feel free to sit out the next match,” Ana says. I childishly stick my tongue out at her, and she returns the love.

  “It’s fine, I don’t like volleyball anyway,” I say, handing Ana the ball. I climb out of the pool and sit in a lounge chair as they play another round. Dad comes out of the house in swim trunks and joins me on the sidelines.

  “You okay, Mads?” he asks me, easing himself down into a chair next to me.

  “Yeah, I’m good,” I say, smiling. “Where have you been?”

  “Just on the phone helping Melissa with some farm stuff,” he says. Melissa is my aunt, who is staying with Nana while we’re gone. “I recognize Gio, but who’s the other boy?”

  “That’s Dart,” I say, and Dad raises an eyebrow.

  “What kind of name is that?”

  “I think it’s a nickname, Dad,” I explain. “Anyway, he’s a huge fan of yours, so please be nice.”

  “I’m always nice,” Dad says. He watches me for a minute as I attempt to avoid looking at Gio, but don’t succeed. “You have a thing for that Abate kid, don’t you?”

  “What? No,” I lie, but my face starts to flush.

  “Yes, you do,” Dad says, chuckling.

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Mads…”

  “Well… yeah, kinda,” I admit reluctantly. Crap. Now I’m going to be banned from ever seeing him again.

  “It’s okay,” Dad says. “You know, I was thinking maybe we could make an amendment to that agreement we made earlier.”

  My stomach jumps. “Really??”

  “Yeah,” Dad says. “You can date, if I can start dating again, too.”

  Oh… wow. Dad hasn’t dated anyone in a long-ass time. “Who are you thinking about dating?” I ask. Odd that he would choose now to start, since we’re in LA… although, maybe that’s a good sign.

  “Well, no one in particular yet,” Dad says, “but Cass and I are going out to a club tomorrow night, and you never know who I might meet.”

  Cass seemed to me to be the obvious choice, but maybe he doesn’t see it. “Well yeah, of course,” I say, grinning. Who cares who he decides to date? I CAN GO OUT WITH GIO… if he asks, that is.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  On Thursday night, Ana and I cuddle up on the black leather couch in the living room to watch a movie on Netflix. Dad and Cass are out at the club and they told us not to wait up, so I’m guessing it’s going to be a while. I get on Facebook on my phone, just for something to do with my hands, and I notice I have a friend request. I tap on the notification, and then a smile grows on my face. Giovanni Abate added me on Facebook.

  I immediately hit “confirm,” and then five minutes later, he messages me.

  Gio: You were never going to text me, were you? I feel jilted.

  I giggle at his choice of words.

  Me: Lol sorry! I’ve been away from my phone a lot.

  We’ve been in the pool morning, noon, and night lately.

  Gio: Well, I guess all hope is not lost, since you just added me on FB. You still coming Sat night? I mean, you’re my date, so you’d better show up ;)

  I guess I’m his date. Even though I’m elated, he didn’t exactly articulate that fact.

  Me: Oh am I now? ;)

  Gio: Yes you are. Can’t wait to show you off.

  I’m starting to think it’s cute how assuming and forward he is.

  Me: Yes I am def coming, and so is Ana. Btw, what’s the dress code?

  Gio: It’s out by the pool, so most girls wear bikinis and shorts… or ditch the shorts…

  Me: Lol. Got it.

  Gio: Looking through your photos right now… you looked a lot different before, too.

  Oh dear God… I didn’t even think about that when I added him. How mortifying…

  Me: Yeah… damn braces.

  Gio: Still hot, tho ;)

  A guy who thinks I was hot with braces. Or… maybe he’s just lying to make me feel better. Either way—

  Me: Thanks :)

  I click on his profile and look through the first few pictures. There are a ton of photos on the beach with Gio, Dart, and some of his other friends. It looks like he has a tight-knit group of both guys and girls that he hangs out with a lot.

  Me: What beach are you guys on in these pics?

  Gio: Santa Monica. It’s where all the Wilcox kids hang out.

  Ah… so those are his school friends.

  Gio: You haven't been there yet, I assume.

  Me: No, sadly, we have not.

  Gio: You’ll probably love it. Dart likes to go there and play his music. He says it’s inspiring.

  Me: It looks inspiring. I especially love the pier.

  Gio: You should see the Ferris wheel at night. It’s amazing. Very romantic.

  “Romantic”… Seriously, where was this Gio for the past three days?

  Me: You’re confusing.

  Gio: …what?

  I decide to get really real with him.

  Me: Well, I saw the blonde babes in yo
ur pool with you on my first night here, so when you showed interest in me, I kinda thought you were just a player that wanted to bang one out with the girl next door. Now you’re talking about romance and inspiration. I’m just confused.

  He takes a minute to respond to that one.

  Gio: Well, Madness… to be honest, I found out yesterday that you can see right through BS. I’m just acting like myself now to make things easier.

  Best. Response. Ever. I smile.

  Me: Keep doing that :)

  Gio: Btw, the blonde babes were my way of getting over a bitch that broke my heart. You’re the first girl I’ve met in a while that I actually like.

  OMG… He really actually likes me.

  Me: Well that’s nice to know :) Sorry about the bitch, though.

  Gio: It’s okay, she’s the last thing on my mind right now. I can’t stop thinking about that sexy line you delivered at the pool yesterday. You must be a professional flirt.

  That’s code for “slut”… I’d better set him straight.

  Me: Actually… you wanna know a secret?

  Gio: Of course.

  Me: You’re the first guy I’ve ever flirted with.

  Five seconds go by.

  Gio: You’re lying.

  Me: Nope.

  Gio: Then you’ve practiced extensively.

  Me: Nuh-uh.

  Gio: Well then, you’re a natural. And it’s really not fair.

  I giggle, and Ana starts to give me the evil eye. “I’m stopping soon, I promise,” I say. It annoys her when I text someone else while we’re watching a movie together.

  Me: Hey I g2g, Ana and I are watching a movie together.

  Gio: What movie?

  I tell him what we’re watching. It’s a straight-up chick flick.

  Gio: I like that movie! Can I join you?

  I get the feeling he’s lying about liking it, but at the moment, I don’t care. “Hey Ana,” I say, “can Gio come over and watch the movie with us?”

  Ana shrugs. “If it keeps you from texting during the movie,” she says.

  Me: Come on over :)

  Five minutes pass, and then Gio knocks on the sunroom door. I hurry over to slide it open and let him in. “Hey!”

  “Hey,” he says, smiling. He’s only wearing jogger shorts, and it takes all my willpower to resist his washboard abs.

  After a moment of awkward should-I-kiss-him-or-not feelings, I say, “Come on in,” and let him pass by me as I shut the door. I lead him into the living room and I sit back down by Ana, and after a brief wave to her, Gio sits down beside me and puts his legs up on the ottoman.

  I hand him the bowl of popcorn. “Thanks,” Gio says, looking like he’s hungrier for me than he is for the popcorn. I glance down at my legs shyly. I’m wearing shorts for once, so when my knee accidentally bumps up against his, there’s a skin touch.

  The lights are out, so after about two minutes, Gio subtly starts to rub his fingers against my left leg in between us. His touch creates a surge of desire, and I look up at him above the rim of my glasses. His silver eyes are reflecting the TV screen, and there’s a naughty little smile on his face. I reach over and nervously lay my right hand on his abs. His skin is warm and surprisingly soft on top of his tense muscles. I can tell he’s flexing them a little bit, which is even more of a turn-on. I lay my head on Gio’s strong, firm shoulder and let out a little sigh. His hand moves from my leg and he puts his arm around me, and I cuddle into him.

  We stay cuddled up for the rest of the movie, covertly feeling each other up and making each other go crazy. The urge to kiss him gets almost overwhelming, but I manage to avoid looking at his lips until the credits roll. The moment the music begins, our heads turn to each other, and I feel the magnetic force between us become irresistible.

  “Go on,” Ana says suddenly, not taking her eyes off the screen.

  My head whips around. “What?”

  Then Ana turns to us. “I know you wanna ditch and go up to your room. Just go,” she says with a grin.

  I laugh, and then my heart starts pounding even harder than before. I’ve never even touched a guy like this before. Going up to my room, in Gio’s mind, is going to mean sex, and I just met him three days ago. Still… the heat between us is growing into an inferno. Ana might get burned if we don’t move it somewhere else. “Thanks, Ann. Let’s go,” I whisper to Gio, who beams as I take his hand and lead him toward the staircase.

  I stop when I reach the bottom of the stairs. “Wait… do you have a condom?”

  “Madness,” he says in a low voice, “I came over to your house, at night, while the adults are away. Yes, I was smart enough to bring a condom.”

  I giggle. He’s still making me ridiculously nervous. “Okay,” I say, and I lead him up the steps to my room.

  We walk in the door, and I hesitantly close it behind us. My palms sweat a little and my throat goes dry as we turn to each other, finally alone. I take my glasses off and lay them on my dresser. Gio moves in to me and his arms go around my waist, and my hands go up on his solid pecs as we pull closer and closer together. His head leans down, and he’s aiming right for my lips. Oh, God… This is it.

  In one smooth movement, Gio touches his delicious, soft lips down to mine. After a short moment of freezing up in my nervousness, I reach up and dig my fingers into his thick black hair as I kiss him back. It’s my first kiss ever, and, to me, it couldn’t be any more perfect. He must be enjoying it, too, because he’s not pulling back, and his lips keep pressing harder and harder against mine. His hands are down at my sides, and he’s grabbing the bottom of my tank top, like he wants to take it off, but he’s not sure if he has permission. Then, he moves his hands gently up and under the shirt, and I feel his slightly-roughened skin brush against my back. His fingers move up and down slowly, almost going down to my ass, but not quite.

  “You can take it off,” I whisper shakily, and he immediately pulls my shirt up and over my arms and head. Then his arms wrap around me again, and we continue to make out as we move inch by inch towards the bed.

  “Feel me up, Madness,” Gio half-whispers in an irresistibly deep, desirous tone. My hands slip up and down his back and arms, and his incredibly sexy frame under my fingertips lights a fire inside me that I never knew could exist. Gio’s warm tongue enters my mouth, and I moan softly in pleasure as he swirls his tongue around and around mine. Automatically, my hands start moving down over his abs.

  “God, you’re so hot,” I groan, with my lips brushing against his, finally feeling free to express my desire for him. We sit down on the bed, and he’s kissing my neck and starting to unhook my bra when a car motor sound comes in the driveway and I notice the flash of headlights through my window. “Shit! Dad’s home early,” I say, yanking away from Gio and searching for my tank top. “Get back downstairs with Ana, quick!”

  Gio runs out the door, cursing under his breath, and I hear him dash down the stairs. After I’ve fixed my bra, I put my shirt back on and run my fingers through my rumpled hair, and then I hurry downstairs. I’m back on the couch by the time Dad and Cass walk in the front door, yelling at each other.

  “What the hell is your problem?!” Dad yells.

  “My problem is your lack of respect.”

  Dad scoffs at her. “So now it’s ‘disrespectful’ to dance with a woman at a club when she asks you?”

  “It’s disrespectful to leave your best friend alone, on your first night out together in sixteen years, for a barely-dressed whore who can’t keep her ass to herself,” Cass retorts. They go upstairs immediately, and I don’t hear the rest of what they’re saying over the sound of the movie Ana’s watching now. It doesn’t take long to hear two door slams.

  Ana and I start giggling to each other. “Daddy got in trouble,” I say in a sing-songy voice.

  Ana says, “I bet Cass punched the bitch out.”

  “God, I would pay so much money to see that fight.”

  “Does Cass have a thing for your dad or somet
hing?” Gio asks.

  “Well... I mean, they have slept with each other. She said it was just FWB, though,” I explain.

  Gio shakes his head. “I don’t think that’s the truth. Steph and Papa used to be friends before my parents divorced, and Steph would badmouth my mother constantly because he was jealous of her. Cass is the same… She's obviously not cool with anyone else touching your dad.”

  “Aww!” Ana exclaims, smiling. She’s a sucker for love stories. “You think Cass is jealous because she has feelings for Mike?”

  “If she is,” I say, with the wheels turning in my head, “that means she had another ulterior motive for getting him out here, which explains her visit and why she’s furious right now. It all makes sense.”

  Gio leans back on the couch with his hands behind his head. “You’re welcome,” he says, grinning.

  I lean over to whisper in Gio’s ear, “Sorry, by the way.”

  He smiles patiently. “No worries. We got time.”

  Chapter 5

  On Friday, I spend most of the day watching Cass closely to look for signs of her feelings for Dad. They’re still mad at each other for most of the day, so it’s not really a good time to get a proper reading on that. However, I do notice that toward the end of the day, Cass starts stealing sad glances at Dad, and after dinner, she pulls him aside to apologize and they make up. She couldn’t even stay mad at him for a whole day. It’s clue number two. Everyone knows true soulmates can’t bear to be apart.

  I decide to FB message Gio with my findings, since he was curious.

  Me: I think you might be right.

  Gio: About what?

  Me: About Cass. She apologized to Dad today, and it looked like she just missed him too much to stay away.

  Gio: Dead giveaway. Steph could never stay mad at Papa, either.

  Me: They would be so perfect together… I wonder why Dad doesn’t see it.

  Gio: Cass is kinda stubborn and prideful. I bet she never even told him how she felt.

  Me: Classic tragic love story… the jilted lead guitarist.