EPILOGUE- TWO WEEKS LATER
BARON
"I don't understandwhy we're still here," Roman tears open a bag of potato chips and pops a few in his mouth. The deafening sound makes me drop my satellite and fling the headset off my ears.
"Jesus Christ, do you have any idea how loud you smack your lips?" I rub my ears, snatch his chips and hand him a muffin from his bag. "I'm here because she refuses to quit, and the craziness doesn't go away just because we're together," I lift my headphones and adjust them over my ears. "I've got news for you. It gets worse."
"Do you know what your problem is?" He wipes off his binoculars and brings them into focus.
"Of course not. I'm perfectly content. Sunny and I are in love and living in a love nest in Greenwich Village. I wake up every morning wrapped in the arms of the most beautiful woman in the world. If I were any happier, I'd do high kicks up and down Broadway and shoot rainbows out of my ass." I grumble and lean into the sill, listening to Sunny's whistle as she prances around work, making coffee for other men. It's been two weeks since we made things official. Between her classes and the few hours she comes here, we spend most of our days prowling New York searching for furniture, knick-knacks, and whatever odd and ends Sunny finds interesting enough to make our place a home. When our days are done and we've built up enough sexual energy to set off a bomb, we race upstairs and explode in each other's arms. Most days, we don't make it past 3:00pm. But we're getting better at controlling our urges. It's crucial my lady knows I value more than her hot little body. Sunny's the whole package, and she lights up my world.
"Then why do you sound like someone pissed on your parade?" Roman inhales his muffin and tosses the wrapper in a paper bag. Always meticulous, he wipes his hands with a moist towelette he keeps handy and narrows his gaze with suspicion. "You should be elated, and yet I sense annoyance." He offers his armchair psychology.
"She hasn't told her family. It's been two weeks, and she still hasn't shared our joyous news with her parents, who know me well. And I know it's because of that shit, Sebastian. Maybe two weeks isn't so bad. If I hadn't grown up with her family, I certainly wouldn't take it as a slight. But I know she wants to go home for Thanksgiving, and she's putting off her decision because she doesn't want to take me." I grit my teeth, ball my fist and punch his bag of snacks.
"It's a good thing that's empty, asshole. And she did tell her parents. She just hasn't told you. She told her parents last night. I think she plans to tell you tonight over dinner." He gives me an angry glare and lifts the binoculars to his face.
"What? When? What the hell are you talking about? When did you hear that? You're supposed to report everything to me." I slap his forearm and nearly knock the eye gear out from his grip. I feel like a loose cannon. I don't know what I've become. If my mother were here, she'd make me stand in the corner and read the riot act over my manners.
"Summer told me last night at dance class." He offers the information with a shrug like it's the most natural thing in the world.
"Dance class? Summer? Since when the hell do you know Summer, and why are you taking dance classes?" I shake my head, stunned by this strange revelation and jealous he knows something I don't.
"You don't know everything about me. I have sides you don't see." He tightens his lips and pretends to straighten a non-existent collar. "My people enjoy a good dance, and Summer teaches a few blocks from my Nonna's. I saw her and stopped in for Mambo lessons."
"You saw her? What do you mean you just saw her?" I stare, confused.
"Fine, I followed her." He lifts his hand to prevent me from speaking. "But I won't be judged by a man sitting across the street from his girlfriend's place of employment holding a parabolic listening device. We met when I stopped by her apartment to move Sunny's things, and she's just my type." He smiles to himself. "Sue me, I like 'em sassy, and she's got sass coming out of her ears."
I remove my headset and wave my hand to move him along. "Get to the part I want to hear."
"Oh, yeah. Sunny talked to her parents last night. Summer told me on our walk to get gelato after class. Her parents took the news well. If she's happy, they're happy. She asked if they would come to New York for Thanksgiving, and she plans to bring it up to you tonight. I don't know if she told her brothers, but according to Summer, she doesn't care what they think. They don't consult her about their private lives and should afford her the same courtesy."
My heart swells and bursts through my ribs, soaring with love for my sweet girl. I should have known better than to doubt her. I could kick myself for letting those thoughts marinate in my brain. Sunny and I are the real deal. These past two weeks have been the happiest of my life, and I should have trusted that she'd reveal our relationship in her own time. I won't make that mistake again.
I stop to consider my words and chuckle. Who am I kidding? Thank goodness she's a patient woman. I'll be doing stupid shit the rest of my life.
"Is that her brother? Are you listening?" Roman punches my knee and points to the coffeehouse. I scramble to pull on my gear and hold the device towards the door. My heart sinks like a stone. Sebastian's familiar bellow comes in clear through the clinks of ceramic cups and buzzing blenders. He mumbles something in Spanish, chiding Sunny like a child and demanding she returns to California before I ruin her life. She stands her ground and begs him to leave before he gets her fired. He doesn't comply.
I yank off my equipment and jump to my feet. "I better go." With my coat in my hands, I race down the stairs and jaywalk through traffic, and barge into Roasters Coffeehouse. In my haste, I forgot to attach my hat and sunglasses, but there was no time to go incognito when Sunny needs me.
"You!" Sebastian calls me out, and all eyes land on me. Patrons turn to stare, lifting their phones discreetly, hoping to film whatever may transpire.
"It's me, but I'm not doing this here. Are you okay, sweetheart?" I look at Sunny's tear-stained cheeks and fight the urge to knock Sebastian on his ass.
She nods and sinks her teeth into her quivering bottom lip. "I am now." She walks around the counter and gives me her hand, squeezing it for dear life before she sinks into my embrace and hides her face inside my coat. "I'm so embarrassed."
"Let's get out of here." I ignore Sebastian's stink-eye, a talent I've perfected over the years, and lead Sunny through the crowded café. He follows close behind, breathing down our necks, expecting a fight he won't get. As much as I'd like to tear him apart, he's Sunny's big brother, and she loves him. I love him too. He's been my best friend for over a decade. I don't know why he objects so vehemently to me dating his sister. So, it finally occurs for me to ask.
When we reach the end of the sidewalk, I spin around and face him man to man. "What the fuck, dickhead? I love your sister. She loves me. We're not having a good time. We're not seeing where this goes. We're building our life together because we're exactly where we're meant to be. You won't scare me away."
Sunny clings to my arm and nods. "No one likes Vickie, Sebastian. She's a jerk. But we all put up with her because you say you love her." It's true. No one likes his girlfriend.
He turns as pale as a ghost. "Vickie is a saint."
Sunny and I turn to one another and laugh. "Mom and Dad jumped at the chance to come here for Thanksgiving so they wouldn't have to spend it with her." Sunny kicks him below the belt and then turns to me. "I was going to bring that up tonight. I hope you don't mind. You hinted I should ask, so I thought it would be okay." She smiles awkwardly.
"You're nineteen, Sunny, and you don't know the way actors can be. You'll be his starter wife and then end up alone with a bunch of kids. I don't want that for you." He follows us through the crosswalk and insults my commitment. My hackles rise with rage. I know Sunny doesn't believe that, but I don't want this prick putting that thought into her head. She's the center of my universe, and the very idea that I'd ever replace her is ludicrous. When we reach the end of the block, I ball my fist and prepare to pounce. Sunny catches my arm, shakes her head, and holds it down.
She turns to her brother and then lifts her big brown eyes to me. "You two were friends. I loved how close you've always been. Sebastian, you're my brother. Nothing will ever make me stop loving you, but this is the man I love---the man I've always loved. And Baron, I know you fired my brother, but I hope you can see fit to rehire him one day."
"He didn't fire me!" Seb outs himself.
"Aha! You liar! I'm going to tell Mom!" She pushes him off the curb and kicks his shin.
"Fine, stay with him. Get married. Have your babies. But I'm not coming to your wedding." He huffs and stomps away.
"Yes, you are!" Sunny screams.
"No gift then!" Sebastian hollers.
"I love you!" Sunny calls out as we continue our walk home.
"I love you, Sunny." Seb answers.
"Thank you for coming so fast, baby." Sunny jumps over a puddle and swings around a stop sign. I smile and lift her legs around my hips, cradling her in my arms for the last half block home.
"Of course." I wish I'd checked my cell phone. How the hell do I explain being in the neighborhood?
"I didn't call you. Care to tell me how you knew?" She holds my face and plants a kiss on my cheeks.
"I was in the neighborhood." I lie. Fuck, I hate lying, but it's not technically a lie. I was right across the street.
"I know you were, Baron Caulfield. I could see your face and beady little eyes staring at me from across the street. Do you enjoy watching me, or is it a trust thing?" She kicks her legs and prods me to put her down. I don't.
"Number one---of course, I trust you. Number two---my eyes are not beady. And number three---I fucking love watching you. And right now, I want to watch you strip down to your panties and pretend to make me some coffee. I'll wait on the other side of the kitchen counter with a five-dollar bill." I carry her up the stoop, unlock the door and push it in.
Sunny's peeved expression vanishes. Safely inside the foyer, she slips down my legs, peels the shawl over her head, and sprints into the kitchen. "This is Manhattan, buster. Coffee is ten dollars."