All of Me Page 5

  “None of which explains why you’re whispering when they are all the way across a crowded restaurant.” Kat sipped her merlot and studied Stella over the rim of the glass. “Or why you’re acting like a fugitive they’re hunting down. Have you been committing felonies again, Stell?”

  “I’m embarrassed, Kat, for Christ’s sake!” Which was true. She had acted like a crazed maniac that night at Eddie’s. It had been justified, but still. No one likes to think they’re acting like those people on Cops, even when they are. But she was even more embarrassed about her marriage question.

  “Which is why we all told you not to do anything stupid,” Kat replied.

  “A little late for that now, huh?” Stella lifted her glass to take a sip and stole a glance at Drazek and The Other One. Her hand froze when she locked eyes with The Other One. “Shit!”

  “What now? Did that boy you threw up on in the third grade just walk in?” Kat grinned at her own joke and, again, Stella cursed the dry, brutal humor of a smart ass geneticist.

  “One of them saw me. The Rico Suave one.”

  Kat’s brow furrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Stella didn’t have time to explain 90’s one-hit-wonder Gerardo to her sister. Because The Other One just winked at her.

  Dear God…

  Stella lifted her hand in a weak wave. She turned to Christopher on her right. “Talk to me,” she hissed, leaning way into his personal space.

  “I’m talking to Stellan right now,” he hissed back.

  Stella grabbed Christopher’s massive bicep and pulled herself closer to his ear. “Do it or I swear to God I will tell Stellan you are bi.”

  Christopher reared back, eyes wide. After taking a few seconds to recover from that low-blow threat, he turned a little in his seat and stared straight at Stella. He plastered on a fake smile. “Okay, here you go. I’m talking to you, you psychotic little dago.”

  Stella laughed louder than necessary and leaned in closer. “Those cops from the other night are here. And one of them winked at me.”

  Christopher eyed her. “And? So?” He started scanning the restaurant. “Those cops were delicious…”

  Stella rolled her eyes. “I don’t want any male attention. And I especially don’t want it from a cop.”

  Christopher must have spotted the dynamic duo because he growled in the back of his throat. “I can’t see the other one, but stud muffin #1 is beautiful.”

  Stella tugged on his shirt sleeve until Christopher met her eyes. “Focus! Please! You know why I’m not looking for anything, so stop panting and be my friend!”

  Christopher rolled his eyes, but leaned in to make it appear they were deep in conversation. “Alright. Fine. But Ryan was like a year ago. It might be time to think about moving on, honey.” Christopher patted her hand and added, “Just sayin’.”

  Even hearing his name was like a punch to the stomach, face, and kidneys all at once.

  You’re supposed to be over it. What is your problem? Why can’t you get over things like other people do? Stupid, stupid, stupid…

  Stella’s face always betrayed exactly what she was feeling and this time was no exception.

  “Aw, Stella, I’m sorry.” Christopher nestled up closer to Stella and folded his hands in his lap. “Okay, use me as you will. Should we start making out? Wanna give me a frencher for full effect?”

  Stella laughed for real and gave Christopher a good shove. “Go back to your conversation with Stellan. I’m sure I’m making too big of a deal out of this. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

  Christopher didn’t need to be told twice. He whipped back around to face Stellan so fast Stella felt a whoosh of air on her face.

  She turned back to Kat, only to find her studying her intensely. “What?”

  “You’re all freaked out. More than usual.” Kat’s hazel eyes narrowed. “What’s up with you?”

  Thank God the waitress arrived at that moment, the entrees they’d ordered in hand.

  Stella never forgot about them, but she managed to put her self-consciousness aside for long enough to scarf down her eggplant parm and order a slice of tiramisu. There was a lot of joking, laughing, and flirting (well, between Stellan and Christopher anyway), and Stella was having a good time despite herself.

  Until the dynamic duo stood up and The Other One turned around and met her eyes.

  If Christopher thought the blonde officer was beautiful, he should have torn his attention away from Stellan long enough to take a gander at Drazek. Damn it, the guy was sexy as hell. Despite the fact that he looked like he was throwing up in his mouth as he trailed behind The Other One toward Stella’s table.

  Chapter Six

  “Hey, it’s the first time we’ve seen you when you weren’t brawling,” Danny called out as he sauntered up to the table.

  The gypsy, Stella, gave him a small smile and arched a dark brow. She glanced down at her watch. “The night is still young, right? Always time.”

  Her gaze moved to Nathan and he felt it again: those weird, powerful, uncomfortable sensations. His scalp tingled and his dick jumped and he went light-headed.

  Maybe she wasn’t a gypsy. Maybe she was a witch.

  God, I hope she’s a witch. Then at least there’s a reasonable explanation..

  The woman sitting across from Stella cleared her throat, breaking the weird silence.

  “Oh, uh, this is my sister, Kat.” She pointed at a tall, lanky guy in a skin-tight baby blue tee shirt. “This is our friend Stellan…” Stella placed a hand on a big, burly, dark-haired guy’s arm. Nathan recognized him from the hospital the other night. “And this is Christopher. My supervisor…” Nathan’s lungs ceased functioning for a second. “…and friend.” She tilted her head toward Danny and Nathan. “Guys, these are the officers who responded to Eddie’s house the other night. And I bumped into them at the hospital a few night’s ago. Officers Drazek and…” She looked at Danny’s nameplate. “…McDonough.”

  She knew my name for sure. She had to look at Danny’s.

  Nathan wanted to punch himself in the face for being so pleased.

  Danny jammed a thumb into his chest. “Danny.” He gestured over his shoulder to Nathan. “And Nathan. Nice to meet you all.”

  “My sisters told me how compassionate you both were the other night with that situation,” Stella’s sister said. She had a short, straight haircut, dark-rimmed glasses, and a very thin frame. She was young and attractive, but seemed fragile somehow. But her voice was authoritative when she spoke, as if she expected to be listened to. She gave them a serious nod. “Thank you. My family really appreciated it.”

  Nathan had never been more grateful that Danny was a shameless shmoozer because he couldn’t have answered if he’d wanted to. He did give the woman a tight nod before continuing his fruitless attempts at not being affecting by her sister. Who was obviously here with her boyfriend.

  “It was nothing. We deal with dirtbags like that all the time.” He gave Stella’s sister a cheesy smile that seemed to confuse her. “I’m thinking you won’t be having another problem with him.” Danny turned his attention on Stella, leaning into her space and lowered his voice. “And if you do, just call me.”

  Nathan’s hands balled into fists and his teeth ground down hard as Danny did his familiar whip-out-my-pad-and-pen-and-give-a-woman-my-info act. It had happened a thousand times over the past 10 years. He’d always been embarrassed for Danny, but he’d never wanted to pull out his Billy club and beat Danny with it.

  But Stella didn’t swoon or giggle or lick her lips. In fact, she seemed kind of irritated, which pleased the hell out of Nathan. Even though it was probably because Danny was hitting on her in front of her boyfriend…who seemed weirdly unaware of everything going on. He and the other guy were very absorbed in something on the boyfriend’s phone.

  “Uh, that’s okay,” she said and Danny’s head whipped up in surprise; pen still on the pad. Stella smiled stiffly. “I appreciate the thought, b
ut, uh, I think we’re all set. But thank you. Anyway.”

  Danny – in shock over his first female rejection probably ever – tried to regain his former swagger. He finished writing the info, handed it to Stella’s sister, and put his pad and paper back into his pocket. “Well, hang on to it. You never know when you’re going to need a cop, right?”

  “Our sister is a cop, so…” Stella said, eyeing Nathan.

  “But that’s okay,” Stella’s sister interjected. “Thank you, officers.” She slipped the number into her handbag.

  Danny straightened up and gestured toward the door. “We’d better get going. Nice to meet you all.” Danny zeroed in on Stella. “And to see you again. Don’t hesitate to use that number if you need to.”

  Stella nodded and Danny turned to leave. But before Nathan followed suit, he made the mistake of looking at her one more time.

  Their eyes locked. And the most annoying, stupid, insanely intense thing happened: one of those movie moments, where everything else fades except the two people staring into each other’s eyes. It was the most imbecilic thing to ever happen to him, but it was happening. All he could see was her face and all he could hear was the pounding of his heart in his chest and ears. The rest went blurry, then black, until he didn’t remember where he was – or even who he was. Which was magnificent in its own right.

  “Come on, partner. A call just came through.” Danny’s voice and a shove to his shoulder broke the spell. Nathan blinked a few times and dazedly followed Danny out of Marinelli’s. He got into the driver’s side of the cruiser and started her up. When Danny jumped in, Nathan asked him, “Where to?”

  “Nowhere.” He faced Nathan and huffed. “I had to get you out of there, dude. You looked like you were about to pass the fuck out.”

  “Wh-“

  “Are you or are you not into that Stella chick? And do not lie to me.”

  “No. Why?”

  Danny reared back. “Uh, because the two of you just eye-fucked in front of the whole restaurant!”

  The word fucked jumbled into the same sentence with the two of you (when Nathan was one of the plural you and that particular woman was the other) was enough to turn a perfectly nice erection into a painful, raging hard-on.

  He shifted uncomfortably. “We did not.” Nathan gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands. “She’s very attractive and seems nice, but she’s not my type.”

  “Bullshit!” Danny pointed back toward the restaurant. “That chick is everyone’s type! She’s a hot little piece of ass and I want you to admit you are into her!”

  “Stop calling her a chick and a piece of ass!”

  “Ah-ha!” Danny leaned back against the door and window, shaking his stupid head. His self-satisfied smirk was enough to make Nathan’s blood pressure triple. “You fucking dog. “You want her. Bad. Why the hell didn’t you tell me you were into her, Nathan?”

  “I’m not into her. I’m dating someone. And, even if I was stupid enough to be into her, she has a boyfriend. You met him, remember? Big, dark dude with the gold chain and earring?”

  Danny scoffed. “So what? You know how many woman I’ve been with who had ‘boyfriends?’ One good screw and she’ll forget that douchebag’s name. And don’t even play the Christy card. Christy isn’t even on same planet as that chick – oh, excuse me – that woman. Christy can physically have sex because she’s a human and alive. That chick is sex. You can tell just by looking her. That woman would rock your world.”

  “I’m not looking for anything like that. I’m not like you, Danny, I don’t need all that crazy shit. In fact, it’s the last thing I want.” Nathan shoved the next sentence past the grapefruit sized lump in his throat. “But if you think she’s so amazing, you should definitely hook up with her.”

  And pray to God that Nathan didn’t strangle him with his bare hands.

  “She’s not into me and we both know it. She couldn’t take her eyes off of you, D. Seriously. And that last look she gave you…” Danny shuddered. “I’ve never had a chick look at me like that. Ever. It looked like she was staring straight into your soul or some shit.”

  “Maybe she thought she recognized me. Maybe I looked-“

  The realization slammed into his brain like a freight train going 200 miles an hour.

  Stella - Maristella, Kat - Katerina, Nina – Antonina, Fi – Fiorella…and there had been one more sister…G…Giovanna – Gigi. The five Ciaramitaro sisters. Their father owned C’s. In the old neighborhood. Orr at least he had when Nathan lived there twenty years ago.

  Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.

  So that’s why she’d been staring at him. She recognized him from the old neighborhood. And definitely remembered all of the other stuff that went with it.

  Nathan felt sick. And clammy. And he wished he could put his fist through a cinderblock wall.

  See? You should have known better. She’s not into you. She just remembers your sorry ass, that’s all.

  “What’s up there, bro?”

  Nathan turned to find Danny studying him. “Nothing. I just remembered where I know her from. The old neighborhood. The one I lived in before I went into the system. Their dad owned a little grocery store. So, see, that’s why she was staring. She just recognizes me from back in the day.”

  “Yeah, nice try, but nope. That was no ‘hey, I know you’ look, dude. That was a ‘I have evil plans to jump into your brain and fuck you up, but I’m gonna have some fun along the way first’ look.” Danny clucked his tongue, grinning. “Gonna be one helluva rough ride there, my man. Better you than, me, my brother. Better you than me.”

  “I’m telling you, it’s not like that. But feel free to continue your fantasies if it keeps you entertained,” Nathan replied.

  Nathan stole one last look at Marinelli’s as he drove out of the parking lot.

  Okay, things were looking up. He’d figured out why the Stella woman was always staring at him. Now it made perfect sense and he could stop thinking about her. The world was, once again, in tidy order.

  He was, once again, in total control.

  Chapter Seven

  “So, Stella’s into somebody.”

  All clanking of utensils against plates and lively Sunday dinner conversation came to a halt. And all eyes were suddenly on Stella.

  She swallowed her ravioli and shot Kat the biggest malocchio she could manage. “I am not. There’s this police officer who I think is…attractive. And nice. We bumped into him at Marinelli’s last night and Kat’s got it in her head that I’m into him.”

  “What cop?” Nina asked. “Cleveland or a suburb?”

  “Cleveland,” Stella answered, knowing what was going to happen next.

  “It was one of the cops who showed up at Eddie’s that night.” When Stella shot her another dirty look, Kat mouthed “what?” and shrugged. “Stella was almost drooling over him. It was extremely entertaining to watch.”

  “Which one?” Nina asked, like it was no big deal that Stella was panting after one of the cops who’d almost arrested her.

  “Never mind. Doesn’t matter.” Stella stuffed more ravioli in her mouth and hoped against hope the conversation would turn.

  “He was really tall and had short sandy brown hair,” Kat said. “And he doesn’t say much.”

  “Ah, okay, I know which one you’re talking about. Drazek, was his name, I think. Nice guy.” Nina cut up some sweet sausage for Sam and passed her the plate. “You into him, Stell? I thought you swore off cops.”

  “Drazek…Drazek…” Pops’ fork paused halfway to his mouth. “Why does that name sound familiar?”

  “Maybe you dealt with him a few years ago. When you were going through one of your rough times,” Fi said.

  Pops hadn’t handled their mother’s death well. At all. But he was hanging in there now.

  Time and antidepressants: the cure all for most everything.

  Nina and Carla’s six year old, Gabby, turned to her four year old baby sister, Sam. She patted her chu
bby little hand and said, “Pops went a little nuts. But don’t worry. Mamas and zie say it’s alright…we all go nuts sometimes.”

  “That’s right, Gabs!” Marco bellowed, laughing. “Especially in this family!”

  “Hey!” Kat ducked as Fi threw a roll at Marco. He made an expert catch and ate the thing in two quick bites.

  Stella’s nephews – all riled up at the prospect of an adult-sanctioned food fight – had to be reined in by Gigi via various threats regarding Xbox, DS, and Wii deprival.

  “I know that name from somewhere,” Pops muttered, unaffected by the mass chaos around him. With a frustrated sigh, he returned to his meatball.

  The family finished dinner and the men cleared the table. Stella stood at the kitchen sink washing while Fi rinsed and Carla dried.

  Fi hip-bumped Stella. “Sorry we haven’t had a chance to talk. Things were…crazy…with what went on. And the firm too.” Fi sighed. “Just so messed up. I’m so sorry.”

  “I know, babe.” Stella gave Fi an awkward wet-hands-in-the-air hug and a peck on the cheek. She pulled back and met her sister’s eyes. “You’re done with him now, right? No more talks, emails, texts, nothing?”

  “Nothing.” Fi handed a glass to Carla. “I don’t know when things got so screwed up. He was always a jerk, but not like that.” The sad look on Fi’s face was enough to send Stella bee-lining for Eddie’s to finish what she’d started.

  “It’s the way they play it, Fi,” Carla said. She ran a worn chintz dishtowel over the plate. “It’s all about manipulation and control. And they are so smooth, so practiced at it, that you don’t even know they’ve manipulated you until it’s too late.” Carla patted Fi’s arm. “But it’s over now. You’re safe. And by the grace of Stella’s boyfriend she’s not in jail-

  “Hey!” Stella interjected, laughing. “Don’t you start!”

  The talking/bantering/laughing/coffee/dessert ritual went on until Stella finally got into her car two hours later to head back to her house

  At 8:30 pm, Stella poured her nightly glass of wine complete with a handful of ice. She was heading to the back porch for a few minutes before “Everybody Loves Raymond” started when her doorbell rang.