“Mello, babe.” Rebel places her hand on my shin, giving it a light squeeze. “You’re like your brother in so many ways. Did you ever think he’d settle down and do the one-person thing?”
I stare at her, thinking if I had a woman like Rebel, I’d figure out a way to do the one-person thing just like my brother did. “I didn’t for a long time, but I knew once you were back in the picture along with Adaline, he wasn’t going to let you go again.”
“We just have to find you your person,” Jo says, like somehow it’s that easy.
“And that would be?” I ask her.
She shrugs. “There’s someone out there for everyone.”
“Who would be his match?” Lily asks no one in particular, staring out across the lanai at my grandparents’. “Who could we set him up with?”
“Hmm,” Gigi mutters.
“Lemme think,” Tamara says.
“You know…” Jo adds.
Lily sits up, placing her bare feet on the cement and looking toward the women who are on the other side of me. “Who?”
“Yeah, Jo. Who?” I ask, curious.
Jo taps her chin and glances upward. “No, I forgot she’s knocked up.”
“Yeah, let’s skip that one.”
Rebel smacks me. “Single mothers are very good catches.”
“Babe, you were a good catch, but not all single mothers are a good catch. And the last thing I need is to be playing with the emotions of someone who may get attached too quickly. It’ll be hard for me to break their heart.”
Rebel rolls her eyes. “You’re not the heartbreaker you think you are.”
I pull myself up to a sitting position. “I never said I was a heartbreaker, but I’d hate myself if I had to break a single mom’s heart. I’d rather be with someone who didn’t have extra—”
“If you say baggage, I’m going to punch you in that pretty face,” Rebel tells me, glaring at me.
Lily pats me on the shoulder. “We’ll find you someone. I promise.”
“Are you sure you can give up your barfly, whorish ways?” Tamara asks me.
“You gave up yours, didn’t you?”
“Oh shit,” Gigi gasps and covers her eyes with her hand. “He’s looking to die.”
Tamara drops a shoulder. “Wanna say that again, cousin?”
“Nope. Not particularly.”
“Just leave it to us, and we’ll find someone you can’t resist. You keep dating all the wrong women. It’s all about the perfect match,” Lily says.
“And that would be?” Jo asks.
“We’ll talk about it later when he’s not around. It’s best if he doesn’t hear the conversation,” Lily replies.
“I think it’s best if I’m here for the conversation,” I argue.
“I think we should set you up on a trial run with someone we know can test you and your dedication. We’ll get some feedback, and then we can find you your forever person,” Lily says, still taking the lead.
“That’s stupid,” I tell her.
“No, it’s not. Just leave it to me. I got you.” Lily smiles.
“He needs a freak in the sheets, Lily, not someone who knits for fun,” Gigi says.
Lily throws her the middle finger. “Those women are some of the biggest freaks. Don’t judge a book by its cover, babe.”
“Oh, okay,” Gigi teases. “I’m totally sure they’re wildcats in the sack.”
Lily crosses her arms and glares at Gigi. “He needs to get to know whoever it is before he sleeps with them. He’s always too quick to jump into bed with women. He needs to slow his roll.”
“Oh boy,” Rebel mutters. “This should be interesting.”
“Interesting is never a good thing,” I tell her.
Rebel taps my leg again. “Don’t worry, brother. We got you. Do you trust us?”
I look around at their hopeful faces. The one thing I know about my crazy-ass cousins is they’ll never do me wrong. Even if they think I’m an asshole sometimes, they only want the best for me.
“I do,” I say, sealing my fate.
6
The front door to the shop opens, the bell above it ringing loudly. “Hello?” A woman’s voice echoes into the work area. “Lily? You here?” The voice is familiar, but I can’t place who it belongs to.
“Yeah, babe,” Lily calls back.
“Be right there!” Lily then yells to her, giving me a devilish grin as she leans forward, getting close to my face. “She’s here for you. Not me.”
My eyes narrow, and I drop my voice low so the girl doesn’t overhear us. “What did you just say?”
“She’s one of my good friends and wants a tattoo, and the bonus is, you know her too.”
I raise my eyebrows and clutch my chest. “Oh. You scared me for a minute. How’s that a bonus for me?”
Lily gives me a nervous smile. “Don’t get mad, but…”
Nothing good starts with Don’t get mad, but. Not a goddamn thing. Especially when it comes from the mouth of a Gallo.
“But what?” I ask, folding my arms across my chest.
“She may be here for a little more than a tattoo,” she says, her voice rising on the word may.
“Lily,” I warn, but I can’t find it in my heart to be pissed at my cousin.
“Oh, hush. She’s dropping in for a consult today, but I think she’s the one for you—or at least someone who can ease you into a relationship or the idea of being in one.”
“The one?”
“She’s perfect, Mello, and you two had chemistry.”
“Had?”
“You met her a few times, but she’s been hanging out with us and comes to book club, where we don’t always talk about books.”
Oh, goodie. A Lily book-club girl. She probably wants a rose on her arm or something like that. It’s what most newbies to tattoos always get as their first one.
“She’d better not be someone I’ve slept with already.”
Lily laughs, waving her hand. “Oh God, no. You only met a few times, but she’s going to be great at giving me feedback so we can move you in the right direction. We have to work out a few of your chinks first.”
“Kinks or chinks?” I ask, waggling my eyebrows, trying to find humor in a situation where there is none.
“Your issues,” she explains, sucking the fun right out of the possibilities.
But then again, how much fun could I have with a bookish chick? Probably not much since I don’t enjoy sniffing books and discussing the easter eggs an author drops in as clues.
“I don’t have issues when it comes to the ladies.”
“Uh, yeah, you do when it comes to commitment. And she’s going to help me help you learn how to slow things down.” Lily turns her head toward the front of the shop. “One more minute, sweetie,” she calls out before turning back to me.
“No rush. I’m sitting here finishing my book. One minute, one hour, it’s all good.”
Fucking fabulous.