Baby Come Back(23)
He furrowed his brows trying to get a clue as to what I was talking about. He was soon going to find out.
“I’m not following you, Gina. What secret have I kept from you?”
“I want to know when you f*cked Amber.”
“What? Amber who?”
“Oh for Chrissake! Amber Stratton? The bitch sitting next to you today at the cookout? The bitch that is constantly watching your every move?”
“I have never f*cked her! Hell, I barely even know her. What kind of craziness is this, Gina?”
“You tell me, Tristan. She obviously knows you! She is the one that talked to Ian at the bar weeks ago. She is the one that told Ian you have a big cock; and what is more, she is the one that told Ian about your little devil’s fork birthmark that I f*cking found on your ass! The one that you didn’t even know you had. Explain that!”
“I can’t explain it, but I damn well will find out what it’s all about. I promise you that!”
I turned away from him to start the shower; he grabbed my wrist and whirled me back to face him. He was still determined to find out what he thought I was hiding from him. He had my wrist in a tight grip.
“Oh, I see. What are you going to do, Tristan? Slap me? Shove me around a little bit? Show me whose boss? You don’t see me curling up in a little ball out of fear, do you? Go ahead, slap me, hit me with your best shot; you f*cking know that you want to!”
I watched as his facial expression morphed into confusion and revulsion at the thought of doing harm to me. Why had I said that to him? I knew he was not that type of man. Nick was; Tristan wasn’t. He released my wrist and gently pulled me against him. His hand went to the back of my head, gently stroking my hair. He lowered his lips to the top of my head, kissing it and whispering to me.
“You tell me when you’re ready, sweet baby,” he said softly. I’m here for you, okay?”
I nodded into his chest. I hated when he got all emotional like that with me. There was no call for him to treat me as if I was fragile.
CHAPTER 13
Tristan took me to the airport the following Tuesday to catch my flight to Newark. I had a sick feeling of dread about going to the funeral. I had loved Mrs. Camerucci. She had always done right by me. It was Nick that I dreaded seeing. I hadn’t seen him since I had left Atlantic City all those years ago. That was no accident either, it was planned. I hadn’t wanted to see him again after I left him. It was too painful.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you, Gina?” Tristan asked as he walked me into the terminal. “I can still arrange for someone to cover for me if you want me there with you.”
“Tristan, it is fine. It is one night. I can manage.”
“I know you can manage. I just thought maybe you would like my company while you did.”
He was so f*cking sweet at times; most of the time, actually.
“Truthfully Tristan, I will feel better knowing you are keeping things in order at the club.”
He walked with me until we got to the security check. He handed me my carry-on bag.
“I’ll be here to pick you up tomorrow evening, Gina. Call me later when you get in, okay?”
“I will, Tristan.”
He leaned down giving me a warm kiss on my lips.
“I love you, Gina.”
“Right back at you, Tristan.”
My mother was busy in the kitchen when Dad brought me home from the airport. I knew she would be cooking up all kinds of Italian dishes to take over to the Camerucci’s. It was customary. I smelled the aroma as soon as I was in the door. I shed my coat and immediately went to her in the kitchen.
“Oh Mom,” I said, wrapping my arms around her apron clad body. “I’m so sorry, Mom.”
“Gina Marie,” she said, tears flowing now, “I’m so glad you made it. I know Angie is watching us from heaven. We were best friends for more than forty years. She was only fifty-four. I don’t know how Leo will manage.”
“I know, Mom. It will be tough. But Leo is strong, right?”
She nodded, pulling a tissue from the pocket of her apron to wipe her nose.
“Where’s Pete and Amie?” I asked.
“They’re driving in from Philly,” she said, sniffling. “They should be here anytime.”
“And Nick?” I asked, hesitantly.
“He’s in from the city with his wife, Teresa. He’s been helping Leo with the arrangements. You’re not going to be uncomfortable seeing Nick, are you?”
“What? No Mom. That was a long time ago.”
“I suppose time has healed his broken heart by now. You know he was devastated when you left him like that, Gina. Angie said she had never seen him so distraught. He never would tell us what happened. Neither would you, Gina. Angie and I had always thought the two of you would marry and raise a pack of children. Had you already met Ian, Gina? Is that why you left him?”
“No, Mom. I didn’t meet Ian until after I had already left Nick. I told you, things just didn’t work out. Come on; let me help you stuff the cannelloni.”
I needed to get her off the subject of Nick. I told her that things were going well with Tristan and me. She already had a bit of an attitude about him not coming with me. I assured her that it had been at my insistence.