I slammed the phone back onto the wall and closed my eyes. What the fuck. Was I a kid again? Making prank calls? I pressed my back against the wall. I blew my breath up and my hair flew everywhere as I went through what just happened. I tried to call a girl up and hung up on her dad!
I’d just have to try again.
Randy called for me, and I went back to the living room just in time for him to pass me the joint. I inhaled and handed it back to him, slowly breathing back out.
“So, who’d you call?”
“Aleida,” I lied. “I wanted to make sure she got to her hotel all right.”
“Makes sense. I can’t believe you just let her go like that.”
“What do you mean? She’s fine.” I eyed him suspiciously.
“You’re not worried about her cheating?”
“No, not really. You were right. We’re not a good fit.”
He took another hit off the joint. “So, does that mean you’re finally gonna break it off? Man, don’t make me buy a tux for a marriage that isn’t going to last more than a year,” he groaned and handed it back to me.
“I’ve told you a million times. It isn’t as easy as just calling shit off. Our parents—”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ve met them. I’m still not entirely sure he ain’t part ofGoodfellas.”
He wasn’t far off. Add a little blood-drinking into the mix and he’d be spot on.
“Is her family the same?” he asked.
“You got it. That’s how my parents got together, and hers, and a lot of couples in our… circle. It’s pretty common.”
“Yeah, but I’ve met your mom. She’s a peach. Aleida is not. Bangable, yes. But she’s a bitch. You can’t marry someone you can’t stand.” He took one last hit and then smushed the joint into the ashtray on my coffee table.
“That’s most marriages, isn’t it?” I chuckled. I’d been so used to defending my engagement to Aleida Linotti, it was reflex now. There was little I could do. Our parents were vampires. They lived forever, it would shame our name if I disobeyed them. I couldn’t go against their code. Despite feeling relaxed and lightheaded from the weed, I was bummed. I didn’t want Aleida, I wanted the beautiful brunette waitress from last night.
My interactions with the woman had been brief, but there had definitely been something there. She was incredibly attractive, but also intimidating, despite her size. She was short, but it felt like she could stand toe to toe with the toughest of them.
“I’m hungry.” Randy scratched his stomach and yawned. “You really didn’t order a pizza?”
“Nope. Feel free to.” I motioned to the kitchen where my phone sat on the hook.
“I want cheese fries. From the diner. Did you have any?”
“I don’t remember.”
“That’s right. I forgot your eyes were glued to the waitress’s ass.”
“You want to get more fries?” I started to stand “I’ll drive and pay.”
“Nah.” He waved me off. “Let’s just order from them. They deliver.” He took account of my irritated expression and laughed. “You just want to see that girl again, don’t you? Seems kind of pointless since you’re engaged.”
“I don’t ask about your love life,” I snapped, starting toward the kitchen. “What do you want to eat?” Randy shouted his order, and I called the restaurant. I was slightly disappointed when an older woman’s voice come across the line, but I rattled off our order along with my address and hung up. With my hand still on the phone, I squeezed the teal plastic. Should I try to call her again?
Taking a deep breath and steadying myself, I dialed a second time. It rang three times before someone picked up.
“Hello?” a woman answered.
“Hello.”
“Who is this?” Her Hispanic accent was thicker than Scout’s had been.
“Uh, Desiderio, I mean Des—”
“Who?” she demanded again, and I panicked and hung up. Again. I leaned against the wall, hanging my head. What a fucking idiot. A moment later, the phone rang. I stared at it for a moment as it continued to go off before I reached out with shaky hands and answered.
“Hello?”
“Desiderio?”
