16
“You locked that shit down quick,” Pike says as I sit down at the table on the lanai after dinner. “Quicker than I thought possible.”
Gigi smiles as her gaze moves to Arlo and Lily huddled together, talking on the other side of the patio. “Even a man as experienced as Carmello can pull his head out of his ass eventually.”
“Thanks,” I mumble sarcastically, turning a beer bottle in my hand, keeping my gaze pinned on the ladies.
“I’m proud of you. Today was a big step,” she adds. “You’ve never brought anyone here, so that says a lot about how you feel and your intentions.”
“We’re new, Gigi. I’m not putting a ring on her finger or anything.”
“Not soon, at least,” Gigi replies.
“One family dinner doesn’t mean marriage.”
“No,” she says, shaking her head. “It doesn’t, but it’s a step in the right direction. You’ve never brought any of your other bimbos here, and I know Arlo and she’s absolutely perfect for you.”
Tamara rolls her eyes. “Have you found your way into Arlo’s pants yet, Mello?”
“No,” I snap, lifting the beer to my lips, feeling dirty talking about Arlo without her around. “And it’s none of your business.”
Tamara sits up straighter with a smile on her lips. “Ooh. I like this side of you. You finally sound like your father.”
I growl, and Tamara laughs along with Mammoth, Pike, and Gigi. Jett is weirdly quiet, busy typing on his phone.
“Why are you silent?” I ask him from across the table.
He shrugs. “I don’t know, man. I really like Arlo and…”
“You think I’m playing a game?”
He pushes his sunglasses up on his head, finally giving me his eyes. “I think you are. One taste and you’re going to be out the door so fucking fast, you won’t look back. You’re going to really hurt that girl, and she doesn’t deserve your kind of bullshit.”
“That’s rich. Is the pot calling the kettle black?”
His lip snarls. “Lily and I had history, and I wasn’t pretending with your cousin, nor were we forced together. I knew once I crossed that bridge, there was no turning back. Our families were too intertwined for me to walk out of her life. I worry Arlo will want to tell you to fuck off but won’t be able to do it.”
“She’s had no problem so far,” I reassure him.
“Do you know about her past? About how she was brought up?”
I nod. “She told me.”
“Then you know she’s never had a family like this.” He waves his arms around the lanai and toward the house. “This is something someone like her would always dream of having, and now you’ve shown it to her. Are you trying to reel her in, using what you know about her past against her?”
I touch my hand to my chest, trying to stop myself from reaching across the table to punch him square in the face. “I’m not using anything against her, asshole. She was going to sit at home by herself today. Should I have just left her instead? I swear to God, it doesn’t matter what I do. You guys will question my motives. If I’d left her, you would’ve called me out for being uncaring.” Those words I say to everyone around the table and not just to Jett. “And by bringing her here, I’m being accused of using my secret family weapon to get in the woman’s panties.”
“Fair enough,” Mammoth says. “We can’t judge what’s in your heart. We’ve all known Arlo for a while, and we’re looking out for her.”
“What about me?” I ask.
Mammoth’s forehead crinkles. “What about you?”
“Who’s going to look out for me?”
Everyone laughs.
“I’m being serious.”
Pike runs his hand down his face. “Brother, you’re like a rock. No one can crack you.”
“You all claim to know Arlo so well. You don’t think she has the power to destroy me just as much as I have the ability to ruin her?”
Mammoth leans back and grabs Tamara’s hand. “I get what you’re saying. I do, man. Tamara could’ve wiped me out if she would’ve left me. Everyone thinks we’re made of granite, but we have the ability to crack too. I believe your intentions are true with Arlo, but I’m telling you right now, you yank that girl’s chain for fun, and I’m going to bust your nose, ruining your pretty face forever.”
I lift my hands, giving him my palms. “I’m not looking for more than she’s willing to give.”
“Hey.” Arlo’s voice comes from behind me before her hand lands on my shoulder. “Everything okay?”
I tip my head back, smiling up at her. “Perfect. You two done?”
“Yep,” Lily answers for her. “Just a quick girl chat.”
“Nothing important,” Arlo tells me, moving into the chair next to me. “You okay?”
“Couldn’t be better,” I reply.
“You want to come over tonight? We’ll light a fire, have a few drinks, and watch the meteor shower,” Lily asks, but she is looking at Arlo when she speaks. “It’s supposed to be amazing.”
“I should really work tonight.” Arlo glances my way and smiles. “I was supposed to write all afternoon, but—”
“Are you on a deadline?” Lily asks before Arlo can finish the statement.
“Sort of, but I’m always on a deadline.”
“Maybe another night,” Lily replies, but I can hear the disappointment in her voice.
“We’ll come,” Gigi tells Lily.
“Us too,” Tamara adds.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Jo says. “Nick bought a telescope.”
My gaze moves to my cousin, shocked that he’s that into the stars. “You bought a telescope?”
He gives me the middle finger. “My girl likes stargazing, and whatever she likes, I’m going to make it happen, even if I have to build her a telescope in the backyard like we’re an extension of NASA.”
“Weirdo,” I mutter.
“Arlo, you like looking at the stars?”
She nods. “There’s a beauty in the celestial heavens. A majesty that can’t be recreated.”
“Then come,” Lily tells her. “You can write tomorrow.”
Arlo peers over at me, and I know she’s wanting to hear what my plans are. And just like my cousin Nick, I’d do just about anything she wanted, even if it means staring up at the sky all night. “I’ll go if you’re going to be there.”
“Another night off isn’t going to kill me. I’ll just have to write twice as much tomorrow.”
“What are you working on now?” Gigi asks.
“The side project I’ve been talking to you guys about for a while.”
It really hits me then that they’ve all been friends for some time, and I never knew it. They hid Arlo from me—rightfully so, too.
“That’s exciting,” Gigi says. “You’re going to do amazing.”
“What is it?” I ask, feeling stupid for not knowing.