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Savannah slowing almost to a halt, had Byron turning to her in question. She was staring at a group of guys sitting at one of the tables as another guy approached Byron and Savannah quickly.
“No one told me anything, Vannah,” the guy said as he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “You look good. How’ve you been?”
“Thank you, I’m good.” She nodded but something had obviously warped her usual cheery demeanor and it unnerved Byron. As if he wasn’t already on edge. She turned to Byron squeezing his arm. “Byron this is my cousin Sal, but everyone calls him Chavita.”
“Chava,” her cousin clarified. “Nice to meet you, man.” He shook his hand before adding. “Or you can call me Roman, my middle name. Sal’s my dad’s name. It’s why everyone in the family calls me Chava but outside the family I go by Roman.”
Her cousin walked inside, and the introductions continued. More aunts and out-of-town family members. Her Uncle Eric, who interestingly seemed more amused by Savannah having brought a guy to the gathering, than annoyed. But then Byron knew this was her uncle by marriage and not one of her dad’s brothers.
“You met her dad already, right?” he asked smiling broadly as Byron nodded. “God, I wish I would’ve been there for that.”
“Oh, he’ll be back out here in a few.” Aunt Sofia shook her head. “You’ll get to enjoy enough of Alex’s brooding then.”
As they made their way through the throng of family members, it didn’t go unnoticed that Savannah skipped the table with the guys where her cousin Chava now sat. It made Byron wonder what he’d meant when he told her, no one told him anything, first thing. But he barely had a chance to give it much thought when it was time to meet Uncle Sal. Even worse, he was standing with Uncle Angel.Wonderful. It’d be a double grilling.
Like she had with her Uncle Angel she greeted Uncle Sal first, then turned and did the introductions. Biggest difference between her Uncle Sal and his brothers is he actually smiled when he was introduced. His questions also felt less intrusive somehow. Probably because he asked more about less unnerving topics like Beast, Byron’s black belt, and even about the shop. Clearly, someone had filled him in on everything her parents and siblings had uncovered from that one dinner they’d had with him.
“I heard you’ve done some fighting yourself.”
“I did,” Byron said glancing at her Uncle Angel who crossed his arms in front of him and listened intently. “Never boxed professionally but I did go semi-pro in cage fighting. Until I got injured one time too many. Now I’m a backup youth trainer for 5thStreet on my down time. Haven’t done it in a while but I’m thinking of going back to doing so soon.”
Byron glanced at Savannah who was looking up at him all dreamy eyed. Normally he’dloveit, and as much as it made his still too insecure heart beat wildly, he wished she’d take it down just a notch in front of these two. Her uncles standing there scrutinizing him, had him sweating enough. Her Aunt Sofia’s warning was still very much on Byron’s mind. He didn’t need anything more feeding into her uncles concerns over their young niece’s older boyfriend playing with her heart.
Thankfully, her uncle Sal turned the questioning onto Savannah, asking her about school and then about her new dormmate. “She’s great.” Savannah said smiling big. “I lucked out.”
The conversation stayed on Savannah for a few until Sienna approached them, wrapping her arm around her sister’s. “Whoever ordered more dry ice it’s here.”
“I did,” Angel said putting his beer down.
“You’re good, Uncle Angel,” Sienna said holding her hand out. “Chavita and Richard got it.”
Angel paused peering at Sienna for a second then turned to Sal. “Richard? Little Rich?”
Sal smiled. “Yeah, Chava’s buddy from way back is here. He’s not so little anymore.”
“No shit,” Angel chuckled. “I hadn’t seen that kid in years.”
Relieved the subject veered off him at least for now, Byron turned to look when Sal pointed at who they were talking about as he walked out into the patio with Savannah’s cousin, carrying a large ice chest. But the relief in tension was short-lived. Byron did a double take when he noticed Savannah and her sister’s odd, almost worried exchanged glance. They both turned to where the two guys were setting up the ice chest under the patio.
“Let me go tell them what my parents wanted to do with it.” Angel said turning back to Byron. “But we’ll talk some more in a bit.”
“Yeah, the wife’s waving me down now too,” Sal addressed Byron now also. “But it was nice meeting you, Byron. And yeah, I got some more questions for you about your brother’s boxing days. Particularly about the match with Stefano.”
Byron nodded with a smile, only his attention was back on the guys under the patio as soon as her uncle walked away. It’s when it hit him. Savannah said she’d known her first everything,Richardfor a long time because he was her cousin’s friend. Chava’s comment when he greeted them today, them skipping the table where they sat, as he and Savannah had walked around, and now her and her sister’s odd behavior made sense.
He turned to Savannah feeling his insides heat almost instantly. “Is that yourex-Richard?” She nodded and even as both girls stared at him a bit wide eyed, he blurted out the next more demanding question without thought. “What’s he doing here? I thought you said you don’t stay in touch with him anymore.”
“I don’t, but Chava does,” she explained squeezing his hand. “I told you he was my cousin’s friend for a long time before anything happened between him and I. They’re still friends.”
“Chava didn’t tell anyone he was bringing him today.” Sienna added then went on quickly. “They got here right before you two did. Otherwise, I would’ve given Vannah a heads up.B-but he has a new girlfriend now.”
“Hedoes?”
Instantly Byron’s eyes were back on Savannah beyond annoyed at her obvious curiosity about this. “You wanna go ask him about it, Savannah?”
“Uh, I think I’ll go help mom,” Sienna said before her sister could respond. Clearly, she sensed they might need some privacy. “You know what a hot mess she is in the kitchen.”
With her sister slinking away, Byron turned back to Savannah searching her eyes and waited for a response. To his utter exasperation even this brought humor to her eyes.
