Bekah
I watched him sit in the cold vehicle, motionless. He raised his hands to blow into them. It was cold out, I know because I had left my jacket at the bar, apparently he did, too.
I couldn’t call and ask Tiffany to bring them home, my phone was in my pocket. So I stood watching him sit in my car waiting for him to leave so I could fall apart.
And that is just what happened. I lay in bed, next to his overpriced jacket that smelled of leather and him. I held it tight and cried myself to sleep.
~
I woke to Tiffany sitting next to me brushing the hair off my tear-stained face. I looked up at her and she held my coat.
“Thanks,” I whispered.
“No problem. Go back to sleep.” She kissed the top of my head and started to stand.
“Tiff, ti ammo gattino?”
“I love you, too.” She smiled and started to walk away.
“Wait!”
She stopped and turned. “What is it?”
“Ti amo gattino? What’s it mean?”
“It’s been a few years since I took Italian, but I’m pretty sure in means I love you, Kitten.”
“No.”
“Look it up.” She sat next to me and grabbed my phone from my coat pocket and laughed, “There’s an app for that.”
She played with my phone and then gave me sad puppy dog eyes. “Yeah, it means I love you, Kitten. Did he say that to you?”
I nodded and started crying again.
“And it makes you sad?”
“Yes, damn it!” I lay down and cried into my pillow.
“Okay.” she lay down and rubbed my back.
~
The next time I woke, it was to a tall blonde gorgeous man tickling my feet. “Rise and shine, darlin’. It’s turkey day.”
“Chris?” I rubbed my eyes, “What are you doing here?”
He sat down and hugged me. “Well apparently hell froze over in the South. The colonel called me this morning to wish me a Happy Thanksgiving.”
“No way!”
“Yeah, no shit, huh?”
“Apparently, he wants to make sure his kiddos know he feels like shit about the past four years and hopes that even if we don’t want to spend the holidays with him we should do it together.”
“What did you say?”
“I told him I didn’t know if he was hopped up on pain meds but I was still gonna fuck guys when I felt inclined.”
“You didn’t?”
He looked at me and rolled his eyes.
“Of course you did.”
“He told me life was too short for the bullshit and he hoped we could move past it all. He also told me about some guy that you brought down there that he was an asshole to. Oh and by the way he’s not apologizing for that because he’d do it again. I asked if when I brought a boy home he’d do the same thing to protect my virtue.”
I laughed and covered my mouth. “What did he say?”
“He said not to push it.”
We both laughed. He gave me a big-old Chris hug.
“You look like shit, Beks, take a shower. It’s two in the afternoon for fuck sake! Get all pretty and we’re going out to Thanksgiving Dinner.”
“Okay.” I hopped up and ran to the shower.
As shitty as I felt, I wouldn’t say no. It had been too long between visits with Chris and I and we lived so close.
Tiffany walked out of her room with Drew. “You sure you won’t go with us?”
“No, Chris is here, we’re going to dinner.” I know I was beaming and she smiled and hugged me.
“Glad you feel better. See you later?”
“Yes.”
~
After my shower I walked into the bedroom and Chris was standing in the window smirking.
“What’s so funny?” I asked and nudged him with my hip.
“You’re car just got dropped off by two very hot men.”
I looked out the window and sure enough the SUV was pulling out and Zandor wasn’t driving. They drove by slowly and Zandor had his head out the window looking up at me and he flipped me off. The driver pulled him back and peeled out.
“You got an admirer?”
“Apparently not.”
“Why because he flipped you the bird?”
“Yeah.” I forced a smile.
“It’s Thanksgiving, baby girl. I’d take it as a Happy Thanksgiving greeting.”
“Rose-colored glasses?”
“No other way to live. Now get dressed, we are gonna have one hell of a Thanksgiving.” he chuckled and walked out leaving me to get dressed.
~
“Where are we?” I asked as he pulled into the driveway of a beautiful home on a hill just outside of town.
“I work with this girl. She insisted on me coming here for Thanksgiving, and I promised I would. If you’re not comfortable we can leave. But I think you’ll like them, real down to earth people.”
He walked around the car and opened my door. “Feels good to have a hot female date to dinner. Been awhile.”
“Still on the man kick?”
“You live here now, you tell me how the hell I couldn’t be.” He patted my back.
The door opened, and a little girl with dark hair and blue eyes said. “Happy Thanksgiving!”
“Happy Thanksgiving to you, too.” Chris grinned at her.
“Momma Carly, we have guests!” She yelled as she skipped into the entry.
A pretty blonde walked out followed by a very petite brunette. “Christoff you made it!”
“I did and I hope you don’t mind, I brought a date.” He hugged each of them.
“Of course, there’s plenty for everyone.” The blonde smiled and stuck out her hand, “I’m Carly.”
“Very nice to meet you. I’m Rebekah. You have a lovely home.” I shook her hand.
“I know right, crazy beautiful.” She was very sweet and seemed down to earth.
The little brunette stuck her hand out and smiled. “I’m Tara. What did you say your name was?”
“Rebekah, but you can call me…”
“Is that music I hear?” Chris interrupted and dragged me behind him as I kicked my shoes off.
We walked into a beautiful family room to the little dark haired girl playing a dance game on the television.
“Come on, Aunt Tara and Momma Carly! I’m not getting any younger.” She clapped excitedly
Carly looked at me. “I apologize for what you’re about to witness, I’m not a dancer. If you want to sit back and watch, feel free to watch Bella or Tara. Or do me a favor and play along so I don’t feel like an idiot.”
I laughed. “I’ve never played.”
“Perfect, maybe I’ll have a few minutes before you get the hang of it to not be the only one that dreadful gaming system boos.” The doorbell rang and she smiled. “Excuse me for just a moment.”
“You’re player four, see right here?” Bella pointed to the screen and I smiled and shook my head yes. “Let’s get this party started! Christoff you’re playing too.”
“Fine, I suppose I can do that, just don’t start crying when I wipe the dance floor with you, Bella.”
“As if,” she snickered. “You’re number 5.”
We were dancing and laughing. Tara was definitely the one to beat. Bella was great, too. We played for at least five songs before we stopped for a break.
“You have me sweating.” I wiped my head and Bella did too.
“Want a drink?”
“Sure, lead the way, tiny dancer,” She grabbed my hand and pulled me down the hall and into the kitchen.
I stood looking around in aww. It was perhaps the most beautiful kitchen I had ever been in. The cupboards were distressed white wood framing glass doors. Each was organized beautifully. The double sink was stainless matching all the other appliances. The counters were all white granite except for the large island in the middle, its countertop was black. I loved the contrast in color.
I heard muffled voices from the other room and Bella grabbed five bottles of water from the refrigerator.
“Come on, break time is over.” she giggled
We stepped into the hall and she dropped three on the floor. I laughed and picked them up. I heard a loud inhale of breath and a growl from behind. Before I could look, Bella was dragging me into the family room.
“Alright let’s do this!” She cranked up the music, Thrift Shop played. I looked at Carly shocked.
“PG version. Let’s do this!” Carly shouted.
We were all doing well, even Carly, who thought she couldn’t dance.
When the song ended, the room erupted in applause and I turned to look behind me.
I felt dizzy immediately and must have stumbled because Carly grabbed my elbow and steadied me.
“You oaky?”
I couldn’t look away from his angry dark glare.
I shook my head quickly up and down.
“Why don’t you have a seat for a minute?”
Carly walked me over to the couch and it was like Moses parted the red sea. Xavier moved over and patted the spot next to him, as he bit his cheeks, suppressing a grin.
Joe walked in wiping her hands on her apron and her jaw almost hit the floor.
Tara smiled at her. “Christoff and his sister Rebekah are joining us.”
She smiled. “Of course, of course. It’s wonderful, the more the merrier. Nice to see you again, Bekah.”
Zandor chuckled, and I felt my face heat up. “You too, Mrs. Steel.”
“Joe is good, Bekah.” She smiled and then shot Zandor a look.
He and Xavier both chuckled.
I looked up at Tara who was looking back and forth between Zandor and me almost as if she knew. I wondered if she did. If everyone in this room did, I searched for Chris and he was avoiding eye contact. I wondered if he knew too.
Bella walked up to me with my water bottle. “Are you okay?”
She knelt in front of me and opened the bottle and handed it to me.
“I’m fine thank you, Bella.” I took a drink and only then did I realize I was shaking.
Zandor reached up and took the bottle. “Why don’t you go see if maybe there’s a couple crackers, Little Bell.”
When she left the room Xavier burst out laughing and then gave me a big kiss on the cheek. He left the room, and my brother followed him out.
Zandor turned toward me. “This fucking diet is gonna kill you, Bekah.”
“You…this is your…”
“My family? Yes. The guy you came with is Christoff?”
“Chris, yeah. My…”
“Brother?”
“Yeah, you’ve been drinking?”
“A lot.” He started to rub my leg. “I’m going to have a hard time controlling myself.”
“I’m going to leave, this is your family’s…”
“You stay. If you try to leave, I may lose my shit.” He stopped and lifted my hand. “I hurt you last night.”
“I bruise easy. I’m fine.”
“I never would hurt you, Bekah.”
“You flipped me off today.”
“I saw a man in your bedroom window and your hair in a towel fresh from a shower.” He brought my hand up and kissed my wrist and then licked it.
“Zandor.”
“No, let me pretend that you didn’t crush my heart last night. Let me pretend that you’re still mine.” He leaned over and kissed my neck. “I won’t come after you again. I said everything I could last night. If your feelings aren’t the same, there is no reason for me to be here.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means me…”
“I got crackers.” Little Bell ran into the room.
I looked up and Carly, Tara, Cyrus, and another man walked in and looked at me.
“Thanks, Bella.” Zandor leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
She laughed. “You need to shave.”
They all walked in and sat around me.
Zandor looked up and laughed. “Bekah, I think you’ve met every one here except Jase.”
Jase smiled and stuck out his hand. “I feel like I already know you.”
I felt my face turn red instantly.
“Smooth, Jase.” Zandor sat back and groaned.
Jase laughed. “I haven’t even gotten started, little brother.”
Carly stomped on his foot. “Damn it, baby, that almost hurt.”
“Sorry about…”
“Sorry to her or me?” Jase interrupted Carly.
“To her. You deserved that.”
“Baby, he deserves everything I’m gonna dish out today. No disrespect to you, Bekah, but I owe him big.”
“The tattoo wasn’t enough?”
Jase looked shocked and Zandor laughed and grabbed my hand and kissed it, in front of all of them.
“Hey, is this the girl you went away with?” Bella smiled in wonder.
“Yeah, this is Bekah, Little Bell.”
“Good, glad you’re back, he has been grumpy.” Bella laughed when he grabbed her with his other hand and pulled her across his lap.
“What the hell is that?” Jase yelled and pulled her shirt up further exposing the turkey across her back.
Zandor laughed as Bella stood up and bent down sticking her little fanny in the air. “Tramp stamp, Daddy. Uncle Zandor gave it to me.”
I looked at Zandor who was grinning from ear to ear and then at Jase who was turning redder by the minute.
“Carly, please take our daughter in the other room.”
Carly took Bella’s hand. “Come on let’s go help the set the table.”
“Momma Carly, does he think it’s real? It’s not.” She said as they walked out of the room.
“Tramp stamp?” Jase snapped.
I started to stand and Zandor threw his leg over mine.
“She said it, I didn’t.”
“Where did she learn that term?”
“I have no clue. Wasn’t from me.”
Jase looked at him and I could tell he believed him. “Fuck!”
“Yeah, no shit. She’s gonna go to school and during show and tell she’s gonna say ‘over Thanksgiving break I made cookies, played games, watched the parade, and got a tramp stamp’.”
I had to bite my lips so that I wouldn’t laugh out loud, and Jase looked at me and then back at Zandor who wasn’t trying to hide his amusement.
Jase stood.“You two just wait till you have three or four little terrors running your life. Then I can sit back and laugh.”
He walked out of the room and Zandor looked at me all smiles and I smiled back. “She’s a treat.”
“She’s the best.”
His leg was still across mine and my hand was still in his.
He leaned over and kissed me softly on my lips and I didn’t move away.
“You belong here with me. Don’t respond.” He closed his eyes. “Please don’t respond.”
“Zandor?”
“Yeah?” He opened his eyes.
“I know you’re drunk but please say it again. What you said to me last night.”
“Ti amo gattino.”
“Now tell me what it means.”
He looked at me. “Doesn’t matter that I’ve been drinking. I’ll tell you again tomorrow and every day for the next fifty years.”
“Fifty years?”
“A hundred and fifty.”
His fingers were gently cupping my chin and he was smiling. “I love you, Bekah.”
I closed my eyes and he kissed me. It wasn’t a wet kiss, it was soft, sweet, and exactly what I wanted it to be.
He pulled back. “Give me a chance. Even if it’s only today to show you how I feel. To show you what a life with me would be like. I promise you it’ll be better than you can ever imagine.”
“We’re both so young.” I said as he kissed my cheek.
“Years ago people were married when they were fourteen.”
I pulled back and looked at him.
He laughed and sat back. “I’m pushing.”
“You’re drunk.”
“On you. I have been since I saw you. The moment I saw you. I knew you and I were a lot alike.”
I looked at him and rolled my eyes. “Falling in love is like giving another person a loaded gun pointed right at your heart and trusting them to not shoot you.”
He smiled. “A little dramatic, but I understand why you feel that way. I would never shoot you, Kitten.”
“If I ever open my heart again it will be to someone who can make me feel secure. I can’t be with someone who makes me wonder when he’s going to figure out I’m not his type and leave.”
“I’m the perfect choice then.” He grinned.
“How so?”
“All those women in the file or whatever the fuck it was on me. All of them would have been just fine if not for one little thing.”
“And what’s that?”
“I didn’t love them. I didn’t feel drawn to them immediately. I didn’t want to see them every second of everyday. None of them would have worked out because there has never been another until now. My heart didn’t start pumping until I saw you. I’ve done some rather fucked-up things since I’ve met you, but that’s not me. I can control myself in any situation that I’m in… well I used to be able to, before you were delivered to me.”
“You’ll kill me.”
“That won’t happen, not ever. But if it makes you feel any better, I’d die if you did.”
“Now that’s dramatic.” I giggled.
“No Kitten, that’s reality.”
“Zandor, come help me now please.” I heard Joe’s voice.
“Please eat these crackers and drink the water.” He kissed the top of my head as he stood. “I’ll come back in a few minutes okay?”
I smiled and took a drink.
As soon as he left the room, Carly and Tara came rushing in.
“You okay?” Tara asked as she sat next to me.
“Yeah, these boys can be very intense,” Carly chimed in.
“But Zandor is a good guy. He helped me through some stuff.” Tara took my hand.
“Lucky you, I knew him before Italy, he certainly changed.” Carly laughed.
“What do you mean?”
“Well you’ll get a good taste of it at dinner, especially if Momma Joe leaves the room.” Carly looked at Tara and they both giggled.
“The Steel men are pretty rough around the edges,” Carly told me.
“But they’re so loyal. So honest about who they are and when they love…”
“Hold up, they’re honest when they’re ready to be,” Carly interrupted.
“Yeah, but even before I knew about all the things Cyrus did to keep me safe and protected I knew when he said something he meant it.”
“Jase had me jumping through hoops thinking I was crazy for two years. When I wasn’t thinking I was crazy I was sure that he was.” Carly threw herself back into the couch cushion.
“Yeah, they can be secretive.” Tara smiled and looked at me. “But I think it’s more for self- preservation.”
My head was spinning as I listened to the two of them and they could tell.
“Okay just do us a favor, sit back and watch them at dinner. You’ll know when they’re trying to hide something. All four of them would back each other no matter what, but I know Jase would never do anything to hurt me. He is my lover, protector, best friend, and arch nemesis all rolled into one amazing package.”
“To look at Cyrus you’d think he was completely self-centered. I mean he spends more time in the bathroom than I do.” Tara laughed.
“Jase, too.” Carly agreed.
“But I know without a doubt now what the words I love you mean coming from him. It’s all consuming. I will never go to bed at night wondering if he’ll be there in the morning…”
“Or unsatisfied.” Carly leaned back into the couch.
“Oh and yeah about that. If you haven’t figured it out already, they’re all very sexual. Every conversation between them has a double meaning and always centers around sex.”
I was smiling when Joe walked in and cleared her throat.
Tara and Carly looked up and smiled at her.
“We ready to eat, ladies?”
They stood up and smiled at me before leaving me alone with Joe Steel.
“You feeling better?” She sat on the edge of the couch.
“Yes, thank you. I feel silly but I guess I forgot to eat today.”
“Zandor is a good man.”
“I never said he wasn’t.”
“No dear, of course not…”
“Okay yes I did, I told him he was a bad man last night.” I felt tears welling in my eyes. “It was a bad night.”
“You don’t have to explain to me, Bekah. I have had to force myself to try to avoid butting into their love lives. It’s just different with Zandor. He’s a very, um, passionate boy. But I can assure you if he shows you and tells you he cares then he does, without a doubt. Now let’s go out and celebrate Thanksgiving. We all have something to be thankful for, no?”
“Yes, of course.”