Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“There. Fog’s gone.” I dipped down and kissed him briefly. “Anything else we can do to help August?”
He should be back from the store any minute, and he’d put us in charge of fixing a lunch we could eat while we prepared for the barbecue.
Camden looked over his shoulder at the kitchen island. “I don’t think so. It’s a little early to do the salad.”
The meat was already soaking in different types of marinade, though. Pork tenderloin, chicken wings, and New York strip. The last one rested mostly in oil, sea salt, beer, and black pepper. Then there was a plate of sausage, burger patties, and lamb kabobs too. August had essentially emptied the fridge and freezer last night.
Camden had provided a list of sides he was going to make that included roasted potatoes, vegetable skewers, coleslaw, steakhouse fries, onion rings, and mac and cheese.
Not for the first time around these two, I felt a bit useless. I’d insisted August take my credit card before going to the store, to which he’d raised a brow, then chuckled and walked off.
If they ever did come visit me in New York, I was going to up my game.
“Look at that fuckin’ tan!” Nicky exclaimed, right after stepping off the bus.
I grinned and walked over to him. Growing up, Pop always called us Irish in the winter and Italian in the summer. My lily-white ass had just gotten a head start this year.
“Welcome to the South, bambino.” I gave him a hug and watched the others get off the bus too.
Eight members of our gospel choir from back home, including Maria, Matthew, Sylvia, and Luiz. Then Chris, Nicky’s friend and our bass player. They didn’t look very tired at all. I assumed they’d gotten at least some rest and freshened up at their hotel.
“Papi!” Maria beamed at me and ran into my arms, and I hugged her tightly. I had over a decade on the girl, but she would always be the mother in our group. I’d say she and Matthew were the most influential members of the choir, and I was happy they’d both signed up to be part of our gig.
Matt and I had gone to high school together, so it was nice to have a buddy around too.
“What a beautiful place,” Gideon commented as he took in his surroundings. He was usually sporting a bespoke suit, so it was nice to see Nicky had convinced him to go casual. Well, casual for him. The dress pants were probably still tailored to fit him perfectly, but the fitted pullover brought him out of the boardroom.
“Let’s go inside,” I said. “I’ll introduce ya’s to August and Camden.”
“Fuck yeah, you will,” Nicky replied slyly.
“I’ll introduce you last, punk,” I told him.
He didn’t say anything at first. He just walked over to me and gripped the back of my belt and—what the fuck?
“The fuck’re you doin’?” I frowned, smacking away his hand. Why was my kid brother tryna see my ass?
“No tan lines! That’s what’s up.” Nicky smirked.
Ignoring the guffaws that erupted around us, I stared at him incredulously, then exclaimed, “Boundaries, Nicky! Behave—non fare lo spiritoso con me. Gabeesh?”
“I’m not getting smart wit’chu,” he laughed, speaking with his hands. “You’re my brother—your business is mine. Deal with it.”
I smacked him upside the head. “Scordatelo.” I told him to forget it. “You be good, or I’ll let Gideon know exactly how to make you heel.”
Nicky instantly backed up and showed his palms.
Gideon cleared his throat. “I’m all ears.”
“Soon as we get home,” I promised.
Christ. Fuckin’ animals around this place…
As I blew out a breath and got my shit together, it was just my luck to spot August and Camden in the kitchen window, both with matching grins.
Fuck my life.
Chapter 14
Feet, Don’t Fail Me Now
The biggest rush had to be watching the sea of people jumping up and down to the fast beat as a single unit.
Sylvia killed it on my Hammond, Nicky played and moved around like he was high on cocaine, and I slammed on the strings of my electric as Luiz raised the tempo.
Don’t slow me down.
Don’t fail me.
Luiz hit the snare hard right after I’d gotten out my bottleneck slide again, and then I took a step back from the mic and let my guitar wail in a solo.
I supposed I shouldn’t be surprised that everyone got along well that evening. There was someone for everyone, and the food and drinks put us in high spirits. Throughout the night, I saw little groupings of happy chatter. Camden and Nicky, Maria and Chris and August, Gideon and August, who were then joined by Sylvia and Luiz. No one sat in their seat for very long. With the food set up around the grill, we constantly had a reason to get up and stumble upon another conversation.