She kicks her foot out, hitting me with it. "You know what I'm saying."
"I do. And I'm glad you're feeling better."
"Me, too," she says. "And Cherry and Destiny bringing me cookies was just the icing on the cake."
Cherry.
Destiny.
What the hell?
"Cherry and Destiny," I repeat.
"Yeah, the Montgomerys," she says. "They live just down the block. Cherry's a stay-at-home mom. Her husband, David, is an investment banker. Isn't that cool? I told her you do all that stuff, too."
"All what stuff?"
"Like trade stocks and portfolios or whatever."
"You're thinking of a stockbroker. An investment banker helps companies raise money."
"Same difference," she says, waving me off as she grabs another cookie. "It's all about money, isn't it? You know about money."
"So, you talked about me?"
"Of course," she says, like that's not a big deal at all. "She asked what my husband did for a living."
"And what did you tell her?"
"Same thing you told me."
"Which is?"
"Freelancing."
I laugh. Freelancing. I remember telling her that. It was true, albeit misleading, I'll admit. I left off the part that what I was doing was illegal.
I suppose she left that off, too.
"You know, her husband goes to a club," she says. "One of those men-only, non-stripper kind of clubs that you used to go to. Bunch of rich guys drinking liquor and having pissing contests or something, I don't know... whatever you do at those places. I told her you might be interested—"
"Karissa, just… don't." Stepping to her, I cradle her face in my hands and stare at her pointedly. "I love you, I do, but so help me God, the next person who talks to me about making friends is going to have their tongue ripped out for it. You got me?"
She clamps her lips closed.
"I'm not interested in hanging out with investment bankers," I say, letting go of her. "I'd rather spend my time with you."
She opens her mouth, like she's going to say something to that, but instead she just shrugs and finishes her cookie.
Once it's gone, she closes the box up and sets it aside before hopping down onto her feet. "Ugh, I'm starving... you want to head into the city and grab something to eat?"
I grab her hips, pulling her to me. "I've had a long day and I'm tired. Why don't we just order some delivery, instead?" My hands travel down the curve of her ass as I press myself against her. Dipping my head, my lips find her neck. Her skin is soft and warm, slightly tangy, as my tongue makes its way along her throat. "We can eat and then I can... eat."
My teeth nip the base of her throat, and she hisses, pushing away from me. "Thought you were tired?"
"Never too tired for you, sweetheart."
As soon as those words are out, I'm yawning.
"Ugh, as great as that sounds, I've got a meeting with my advisor a little later, so I've got no choice but to head to the city."
I sigh, letting go of her. "You can't skip it?"
"Afraid not," she says. "The time has come to declare a major finally."
Huh.
I'm not exactly surprised. She's been in school for quite a while now and she's running out of time. But she hasn't mentioned it before this moment.
Hasn't brought it up at all.
"So what are you declaring?"
"Dunno."
"You don't know."
"Nope."
"No idea at all?"
She shakes her head. "Thinking about playing eeny-meeny-miny-moe at this point."
I don't know what to tell her.
She's been indecisive for as long as I've known her.
"You shouldn't do something just for the sake of doing something," I tell her.
"Says the guy who just a few weeks ago told me he needed a hobby for something to do."
I guess she got me there.
I'm still trying to figure out my something.
Because this life? This tug-of-war? It isn't it.
"Get dressed and I'll drive you into the city," I say, motioning toward the stairs.
She heads upstairs, to the bedroom, and I make my way to the den, taking a seat on the couch to wait. My chest is still tight from my visit to Genova's. My lungs feel like flames have charred them. Someone punched holes in me before setting my insides on fire, making sure that every inch of me burns.
I'm in a daze, staring at the wall, going over the conversation this morning, again and again stewing over his words. My eyes sting, and I close them as I lay my head back, stealing a moment of darkness to try to find some peace.
Peace.
Peace.
All I fucking want is some peace.
"Naz?"
My eyes open at the sound of my name, meeting Karissa's gaze. She stands right in front of me, already dressed, her hair fixed and a bit of makeup on her face.
Sitting up, I groan, rubbing my eyes. "That was quick."
"Uh, not really... it took me like forty-five minutes."
I look at her with confusion. Forty-five minutes? "I must've dozed off."
I start to stand up when she presses her hands to my chest, shoving me back against the couch. "Why don't you just get some sleep?"
"What about lunch?"
She scoffs. "I can feed myself."
"I told you I'd give you a ride to the city."
"I can find my own way there."
I debate that, and almost refute it, but truth is, I'm exhausted and could use some rest. "Call a car."
"I will," she says. "I'll look both ways before I cross the street, and I won't even take candy from strangers, even if it's chocolate."
Grabbing her, I pull her down toward me, giving her a kiss. "Good girl."
The moment I open the door to the deli, I'm greeted by a sound.
Whistling.
It's loud and enthusiastic, downright cheerful, echoing overtop of the usual chatter. The sound makes me pause, my eyes seeking out the source over behind the long counter.
Giuseppe.
He's cutting meat at the slicer, his back to everyone. It's like he's in his own world... a world full of rainbows, and sunshine, and whatever else makes people happy.
Puppies?
I don't know.
Happiness to me these days is orgasms.
Weeks have passed since the last time I came here, since the day gunfire tried to rain on the man's parade. I'm not sure when Giuseppe reopened the deli, but my fears of it hurting his business were obviously unfounded.