“No, Nick. I’m good. Seriously.” I shrugged him off and tried to give him a warning look with my expression. If Tommy’d seen him put his hands on me, that would not be good.
He blew out a long breath, “Don’t lose my number. You ever need anything, you call me.”
“Thanks. But I’m good. Have a nice life, Nick. I mean that.”
He left, slamming the door.
I headed back to the dining room. It was quiet and awkward in there and I knew they’d heard everything. Tommy’s expression was hard but he made no moves. I sat beside him. Rose, Mia, and Beth went to the kitchen to get food. Ruby excused herself and I suspected she was chasing Nick down.
Dinner was weird but Rose tried to make nice. She asked us about our living arrangements.
“We’re staying in the house I grew up in for now. We weren’t planning to be back this soon from our honeymoon so I’m not sure about our long term plans yet. We may travel some more first,” Tommy told her.
Tommy asked Cal about his work and they talked for a bit but the whole meal was forced, uncomfortable. Afterwards, I was in the kitchen with everyone clearing up, and as soon as Rose left the room Beth and Mia cornered me.
“Tia,” Mia whispered, “Are you really okay?”
I nodded, “I really am.”
Beth got right in my face, “We were so worried about you. Don’t ever do that to us again.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head, “You guys don’t know what I went through and I can’t go there. Let me say now that I’m done apologizing. I’ve done it. If you can’t accept it, there’s nothing more for me to say.”
Beth put her arms around me and so did Mia. Then Ruby bridged the gap by coming over and did the same and we had a group hug and we all started to sniffle and get watery-eyed.
“He is fucking gorgeous,” Beth whispered.
“So much,” Mia added.
Ruby butt in, “He usually gives her 2 orgasms each time. Two!”
We all giggled.
“Is that true?” Beth gasped.
“Sometimes even three,” I whispered.
“Holy shit!” Mia squealed.
“And you know what he can do to a cherry stem…” I added.
“Wow!” Ruby said and they all got dreamy-eyed. We all started giggling louder.
Tommy stepped into the kitchen and saw our huddle, heard our girlie cackling, “Baby, sorry, but something’s come up. We’ve gotta go.”
I sobered, wiped my eyes, which were wet from both laughing and crying and hugged the girls. Then I hugged Rose and Cal and thanked them for dinner and promised to see them again soon. Rose made me promise to come or at least call if we had to slip of the grid again. And then she hugged Tommy. Hugged him! He looked shell-shocked. Whatever impression my husband made on Cal had obviously transferred to Rose.
Mia gave Tommy a look and said, “You be good to her!”
He gave her a salute and led me out.
** ** **
“Fucking bullshit,” Tommy said as soon as we were off their street, “If that was any other scene that fucking punk would’ve been toast right then and there.” He picked up the phone and dialed,
“Tino. The punk’s uncle? I want him interrogated. Fi
nd out what he thinks he knows.” He ended the call.