“So… you and Dad are like cousins?”
“We aren’t related by blood and we didn’t see each other much growing up, but the family still considered us kin. It’s kind of a similar thing between you and Gigi. We raised you two to be close and while we always knew there could have been a “slight” chance that you could be attracted to each other, we never gave it any serious consideration.”
“So are you telling me this story because you want me to apologize to Uncle Cam and forget how I feel about Gigi?”
“No, Knox, I want you to understand that if I had listened to all the people in our lives who didn’t want me and your father together that there’d be no you or Bronx or Seven and you three boys are our world. We followed our hearts and you and Gigi are going to have to follow yours.”
“But are you one of those people who don’t want us together, Ma?”
Although I gave her hell growing up, I value my mother’s opinion and have always wanted her approval. I really want to know how she feels about me having a future with Gigi.
“I don’t think anyone is saying that we don’t want you together. Maybe your aunt and uncle’s feelings are a little hurt that they were the last to know about you two, but they couldn’t wish for a better man in Gigi’s life than you. Deep down they know that. I raised one hell of a man.” She smiles.
“I guess.”
My mother looks up at me with that serious mom face.
“Uh-uh, you don’t guess, you better be sure. If you love that girl, you walk into that room and be sure about what you’re saying. You hear me?”
“Yes, Ma.”
“Good, because I didn’t raise you to be frackin’ wishy-washy.”
“Yes, Ma.”
Mom presses her face to the window.
“He’s here and if you need a gun to defend yourself, there’s a loaded one in the cabinet in the library.” She smirks.
“That’s not funny, Mom.”
“Too soon?”
“Way too soon.”
***
My Uncle Camden has always been a formidable presence in my life and even though they call my grandfather “mean ole’ Joe”, I have always been more intimidated by Uncle Cam than any other man in our family.
I walk downstairs to the library like I’m marching toward a death squad. My father is in his office working on a deal and can’t be bothered to mediate this, so it’s just on me.
I walk in the room but wait for my uncle to choose where he’s going to sit first out of respect. He sits at my mom’s favorite mahogany wood desk and I take a seat in one of the club chairs across the room.
“This is a long time coming,” Uncle Camden says.
I nod quietly.
“Did you know when we sent you to Gigi’s apartment that you had feelings for her?”
“No, sir.”
“These feelings are new?”
This feels like a trick question.
“At first I thought they were new, but I’m starting to come under the self-realization that perhaps I’ve always loved Gigi.”
“Loved?” He cringes a little. “Loved like a sister, you mean?”
“No, sir. I don’t think I’ve ever looked at Gigi as my sister.”
“You two fought all the time.”
“Exactly, sir.”
Uncle Cam stares me down for a moment, but then his body relaxes back in the chair.
“I ain’t going to lie, Knox, I was hoping Gigi would marry a doctor or a lawyer.”
Another trick question to test my sincerity.
“But instead, she’d be marrying the man who will protect the legacy that you and my father spent your lives building,” I tell him.
A reserved look of interest appears on Uncle Camden’s face.
“You would take over Masterson and Associates one day? That’s what you want to do?”
“It is.”
“And what about Miami?”
“She’s your only daughter. I would never take her away from you.”
Uncle Cam sighs contemplatively. “I don’t think she wants this life, Son. God knows we didn’t want it for her. You’d be involving her in things that she’s not built for.”
“She’s stronger than you think, Uncle Cam, and I’m going to steer this company into the future not take it back twenty years. The long-term goal is to acquire assets and build wealth, not work as a service-for-hire forever.”
“You’ve got this all worked out, huh?”
“Not exactly, but I’m willing to work it all out if she’ll let me.”
“You can’t let her run all over you, Knox. You kept things from us because you’re being led by your nose. That whole thing with Jake could have gone really south and we wouldn’t have known anything about it. If you’re going to truly be the man that loves her and keeps her safe, you’re going to have to be stronger than that.”
“She doesn’t run over me. We make decisions together.”
Okay, that’s basically a lie, but I feel like I’ve got a fighting chance right now, so I don’t want to fuck it up.
“Have you spoken to her since the shit went down with Jake?”
“No, sir, my father asked me not to until I spoke with you.”
“And you abided by that?”
“Yes.”
“You’re making her crazy, you know.”
“Pardon?”
“She’s outside in the car and she’s been texting me the entire time we’ve been in this room.” He lifts his cell phone to show me. ”If you want to talk to her–“
I fly out of the room before my uncle can finish his sentence and run downstairs and outside to the large Suburban truck with tinted windows. I open the door and see Gigi staring back at me like a deer in the headlights.
“Was he horrible to you?” she asks, tears streaming down her face.
“Come the fuck here, Queenie.”
She steps out of the truck and looks like a fucking snack in her tight straight-leg jeans, bright yellow t-shirt and tan riding boots.
I imagine everyone in my house is looking out the windows, including her father, but I don’t give a shit. I wrap my hand around her delicate throat, pull her into my body where she belongs, and kiss her correctly and completely.
She tastes like home.
Twenty-Seven
Gigi
* * *
I’m standing on the balcony of my apartment with my hands gripped tightly to the railing and my legs spread shoulder width apart.
“Look at that full moon, Queenie. It’s shining just for us,” he says as he slowly enters me from behind. The bistro table and chairs are stacked and pushed to the corner to give us more room. It’s going to be one of those nights. I’m practically bent over the damn railing. I can’t look up to the moon for shit and he knows it.
“Damn, you 're tight. I could stay in this pussy all night.” Knox slides one of his hands into the back of my curls and lifts my head up as he continues to enter deeper inside of me. “The moon, baby, isn’t it beautiful?”