Once upon a time, Antonio was confident, perhaps overconfident, when it came to most things, especially women. But, Torri was different. He pulsed with trepidation just thinking about her. His palms grew cold and clammy whenever he saw her. Broken after losing his mother, Antonio believed he didn’t have anything to offer Torri other than his love and he wanted to give her more than that. Things were different now.
Reinvigorated, Antonio pulled himself together and with careful ease he wove through the traffic like a professional racer. Drivers beeped their horns and flipped him the bird along with a few unkind words. He remained focused on his mission and left them in his wake. Once off the expressway, he caught every light on the way to Torri’s. He glanced at this phone. Without any injury, he shaved off ten minutes.
His cell phone rang. His heart was certain it was Torri. Thanks to blue-tooth, he picked up the call while he drove. He spoke without checking the caller ID.
“Hey, pretty girl. I’m so sorry. This traffic is a killer. I’m almost there.”
“Okay, sugar. Hurry; Mama’s getting cold.” A deep voice snickered.
“Xander! Man, I thought you were someone else.” Antonio laughed.
“Yeah, I know. I guess hooking up with you for a drink tonight is out of the question.”
“Not tonight, man.”
“Who are you in such a hurry to meet?”
Antonio cleared his throat. He couldn’t let on it was Torri. She’d be embarrassed. Besides, until he was sure what was going on, his buddy would have to remain in the dark. “Well, you know me. Just a girl I ran into at the gallery.”
“At Torri’s party? There were some pretty hot sisters there, including your hostess. I got a couple of numbers myself.” He bragged. “So which one has you begging for forgiveness? The one with the fat…”
Antonio jumped in. “I’ll tell you about her another time.”
“Hell, we’re not seventeen anymore. I expect all the juicy details.”
Antonio couldn’t contain his laughter. He missed Xander. “X, you’re still crazy, man!”
“Its good to have you back, Tee. Later.”
“Its good to be back.”
The call ended just in time. Antonio scored a rare spot in front of Torri’s brownstone. He bolted up the steps. The entrance was unlocked. He glanced around; Torri wasn’t in the gallery. He continued up the stairs to her apartment. The door opened before he knocked. He stared into Torri’s sweet, brown eyes. They weren’t as bright as usual. He gathered he was right to be concerned when she lowered her thick lashes, averting his eye contact.
He couldn’t let the evening begin on a low note. He greeted her with a deep chuckle. “C’mon I’m not that ugly? You used to find me cute.”
Her laugh was delicate. Antonio wanted to scoop her into his arms and restore light into her eyes. He caught a glimpse of it in his truck when she agreed to this date.
“You always manage to catch me on my way out.” She tugged at her dress and pushed back her hair. “What brings you around today?”
His brows pulled together in a frown. “We have a date.”
Torri’s dark eyes widened. “Oh, Tony. I’m so sorry. Honestly, it slipped my mind. Can we take a rain check?”
“Are you sure? I have an incredible night planned.”
“Not tonight. I’ve had a pretty rough day.”
Antonio shoved his hands into his pockets. His chest muscles flexed with the quick motion. If his mental scuffle with worst case scenarios on his drive over did little to deter him, he wasn’t about to make a U-turn now that he stood in front of Torri. Besides, the dejection Antonio recognized in her eyes once filled his own. His throat ached. He wouldn’t leave her alone. Something had Torri on edge and Antonio aimed to relax her. He leaned against the doorway.
“Do you want to talk? I’m all ears.”
She crossed her arms over her stomach. “Thanks, but I’d like to forget about it. I can try to call you tomorrow.”
Torri guarded her emotions and Antonio sympathize with that. However, he feared that if he walked away, any chance to get back into her life would leave with him.
His voice was smooth, yet insistent. “Can I at least come in for a moment?”
A chuckle slipped from Torri. “Forgive me, I didn’t mean to leave you out in the hall. I was on my way downstairs to check on things in the gallery. But, that can wait.” She opened the door wider for Antonio to enter.
“I thought I needed a special password -- ,” he softened his voice, “or something.”
Torri gave Antonio a gentle shove. “Keep teasing me and next time you’ll need one.”
“I’m happy to hear there will be a next time.”
Antonio shut the door and lingered behind as Torri drifted toward the sofa. Even without the fancy clothes and make-up, Torri captivated him. Time was gracious to her. With his eyes he traced every curve of her 5’4” frame, down to her delicate ankles. Her hair bounced and swayed just above her hips. A fresh, familiar scent swirled in the space between them. He leaned forward and inhaled the fragrance he’d dreamed about as a teenager.
“Mmmm, coconuts.”
Torri faced Antonio. “Excuse me?”
“You always smelled like coconuts back in high school.” He chuckled at her feisty reaction.
“I didn’t realize you paid that much attention.” Her hands dropped from her hips.
His voice dropped at least five octaves. “Torri, you have no idea.”
She folded her arms across her full breasts. Antonio ignored her and breached the barrier she raised between them as he inched closer. He placed his hands on her hips. She quivered under his touch. “I remember how your curls danced in the gentle morning breeze before school. The way your sexy, little nose wrinkled each time you giggled. Even, how you’d push your hair behind your ear whenever you were embarrassed — like right now.”
A wave a heat forced him to step back. He wasn’t sure if it came from him or Torri. She lowered her arms and gazed into his warm eyes. She quivered. Antonio seemed to know her so much better than she knew herself - at least who she was then. After she learned of her mother’s affair, Torri was no longer sure who she was. Was she anything like her father? He was a photographer, but what else did they share? Was chocolate his favorite ice cream flavor, too? Did his nose wrinkle when he laughed?
“That was a long time ago. Things are different now.”
She moved toward the mini bar, in the far right corner of the room. She kept it well-stocked in case company dropped by. She poured herself a generous glass of merlot and swallowed half before she continued. “Would you like a glass?”
Antonio shook his head. “Things have changed for both of us.”
Torri was on the defensive again after the conversation she had with her mother. “What guarantee do I have that you’ve changed? How do I know that if things get tough again you won’t go running?” She regretted her comment the moment it left her lips.
Torri swallowed the remainder of her wine, and refilled the glass — to the rim.
“Torri, you have every right to question my actions. Right now, I’m getting the impression something else is eating at you.” He removed the glass from her hand and placed it on the bar. “Don’t do this. It won’t change a thing.”
Watching her attempt to numb her apparent pain reminded him of his lost years after his mother’s death. Years he spent detached from himself and disconnected from those that cared about him. Torri’s chin trembled and she shuffled away from the bar. While he felt confident that he wasn’t the reason for her current angst, he wished he could erase the sadness he filled her with when they were teenagers, but that was impossible. He made choices in the past that he’d have to live with. And, as Torri stood before him, a lifetime later, he had another choice to make. He could walk out the door and out of her life forever o
r continue to fight for her.
“Why don’t you come home with me and let me cook you something? Then we could relax and forget what’s troubling you.”
“I don’t know, Antonio.”
“I’m near the beach. It’s a proven fact that the salt-filled air emanating from the ocean is quite soothing. I think it’s just what the doctor ordered.” He jested.
“Do you realize this is the first time you invited me to your home?”
“Long overdue.”
The hint of a smile lifted on Torri’s face. “I know what you’re trying to do, Antonio. And, it won’t work.”
A roar of laughter erupted from Antonio. “Afraid I’ll take advantage of you? Ree, relax. I want to ease your mind, even if it’s just for a little while. At the same time, I’ll benefit from your company.”
Ree. Antonio was the only one to call her that. Goosebumps up and down her arms tickled as much as hearing him say it. It reminded her of how much fun they shared during their school days. Jasmine was the group’s “mother” and Xander worked hard to cultivate his “ladies man” image. Antonio threw caution to the wind and Torri always admired that. Some days he’d arrive at school with a plan to skip classes. Jasmine and Xander wimped out each time. Torri, an ‘A’ student, could afford to tag along for an adventure, on a few occasions. Antonio never disappointed.
“Don’t make me beg. Let’s do it for old time’s sake.”
She knew the fresh air would do her some good. Yet, she wouldn’t give in so fast.
“So, there’s no wife or girlfriend waiting for you at home.”
“There hasn’t been woman waiting for me for a very long time.”
A deep dimple graced his cheek. Torri’s eyebrows rose and she studied Antonio’s physique again. She found it hard to conceive he didn’t have someone special in his life. He was more than easy on the eyes. He’d always been a perfect gentleman, even if he made a few mistakes. He definitely had her fanning herself in secret. A few hours with him wouldn’t be so bad.
“Well, Jasmine’s not around and I could use a break.”
“Hmmm. Second best; I’m making a little progress.”
“Don’t push it, Antonio.” Torri grabbed her keys from the table.
“Not pushing, just grateful. You should grab a light sweater. It gets a little chilly on the beach.”
“I’ve never really been to Staten Island. My mother used to take Cliff and me for rides on the ferry. We would get off and she’d buy us ice cream while we waited for the next ferry back to the city. After graduation, not right away, I rode the ferry a few times, alone. It may sound crazy, but I hoped if I rode back and forth enough, I might run into you.”
Growing up, Antonio never invited his friends to his dysfunctional home. His father always had a drink in his hand, his grandmother raised his uncle’s twins because he was serving time, and his mother wasn’t always herself. So, to save himself from any embarrassment, he kept his friends away...far away. On any given day, Antonio never knew what he was going home to, especially that night he arrived home after he last saw Torri. He dreaded the truth would damage their friendship. He didn’t want to feel more alone than he already did.
Torri stirred up a past he tried his best to bury. She’d keep digging until she was satisfied. He feared bringing her up to speed on the missing years, would send her sprinting. He’d worry about that when the time came. For the moment, he planned to enjoy her sweet smile, gentle giggle, and that delicate coconut scent that left him drooling like a fool.
The phone rang as they headed to the door. She glanced at the caller ID. Cliff called for the third time since she left her mother at the park. Torri realized he was checking up on her at her mother’s request. He was five years older than Torri and although he never admitted it, he was very protective of his little sister. She wasn’t in the mood for brotherly love at the moment. The pit of her stomach contracted and a sour taste invaded her mouth. She tried to swallow past the ache in the back of her throat. It was in that moment she realized her mother’s affair also changed things between Torri and Cliff. A conversation with him would transport her cascading spirits into a tailspin.
“Let’s go.”
“Aren’t you going to answer that?”
“No. If it’s important they’ll leave me a message or call me on my cell phone.”
She shut the door. As she twisted her key in the lock, her brother’s voice filtered through the answering machine.
“Torri, pick up. Are you there? Ma called and said you’re pretty upset. Call me, sis.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to get that? It sounds important.”
Torri appreciated the concern in Antonio’s voice. She placed her hands on his rock-solid chest. A jolt shot through her. A bit stunned Torri paused before she ushered him toward the steps.
“The important thing right now, is my empty stomach. So, what’s on the menu?”
Antonio’s tongue slid over the fullness of his lower lip, leaving it moist and inviting. Excitement tingled throughout Torri and her eyes darted along the rest of his body. She darted down the steps ahead of him. Although she missed Antonio, she kept in mind only a few days past since he was back in her life. She peered over her shoulder. Antonio’s long strides brought him closer. Her heart skipped several beats. She wouldn’t allow herself to become undone. Not yet. She needed to take things slow. Figure things out. However, the quiver throughout her deprived body indicated slow might be a challenge.
Chapter Ten
Antonio’s house was small and cozy. The sunset’s golden glow lounged in the room. A black, butter-soft leather sectional faced a stone fireplace. The simple decor suited Antonio, just as Torri expected. Native American art accented the walls. She smiled at their common penchant for art. She reached for a wood-carved eagle that resided on the mantle. Serenity washed over her. Torri trusted she made the right choice spending the evening with Antonio.
“My grandfather carved that an eon ago. My family passed it down to my mother after he transitioned. Naturally, I inherited it. We’re big on tradition.”
“It’s absolutely beautiful. I completely agree that family and tradition are important.”
“Like many of us, my family’s roots are mixed. My grandfather believed his carvings and stories passed down to each generation were important to keep our rich history alive. My home is a celebration of my African and Native American roots.”
While he spoke, Torri’s gaze remained on the eagle. Her thoughts wandered. What would her family be like from now on? What traditions did she miss? She sighed along with her last thought. What did they even look like?A photograph of a woman on a small table near the fireplace drew her attention. The woman’s caramel skin was much like Antonio’s with striking hazel eyes. Her shiny, midnight hair spilled into lustrous curls over her shoulders. Reminiscent of the Mona Lisa, her smile, although faint, accentuated her natural beauty. She picked up the photo.
“Your mother?” She asked, although quite sure of the answer.
He removed the photo from Torri’s hand and returned it to its original resting place. “Yeah.” His response was solemn.
“Well, that explains your hair. She’s beautiful.”
“Yes, she was.”
Torri sensitive to Antonio’s discomfort changed the topic. “I like your place. Thanks for suggesting we come here. I feel better already.”
“I told you.”
The tension she felt earlier loosened at the confirmation of his dulcet toned promise made earlier. Sadly, without a father to turn to, Torri’s brother was the only man in her life that ever took care of her. Dating didn’t even fall on her list of priorities during college. Not that her evening at Antonio’s house for dinner was an actual date. Following her mother’s example, Torri focused more on fostering her career than encouraging relationships with men.
“Make yourself at home, while I get dinner started. Mi casa es su casa.”
“I can help.” Torri offered, not used to a man cooking for her.
Antonio stepped closer. He grasped her hand. “You’re here so I can take care of you tonight. I’ll call you if I need anything.”
Bewitched by his touch, Torri basked in the gentle roughness of his hands against her own. When she imagined how they’d feel against the rest of her body, she broke the connection.
“Sure. I’ll have to trust you. After all, you own a restaurant.”
“Exactly. The remote for the CD player is on the desk. Yes, I’m old-fashioned. At least, I have surround sound,” he joked. “I’ll be back with refreshments.”
The route to the kitchen took longer than usual. Antonio spent each step reprimanding himself for getting too close too soon. His palms tingled, still alive from Torri’s soft skin and he wished she hadn’t let go when she did. Everything about her was soft. Her sun-kissed skin. Her cascading curls. Her intoxicating scent. He wished to get lost in every inch of her softness. However, the timing was all wrong. She reminded him of that. Antonio had to take his time. Torri deserved that and so much more. He’d spend the rest of his life making up for his mistakes, if she’d let him. Losing her was not an option.
Cool air from the refrigerator rushed over a dazed Antonio the moment Sade’s silky sound filtered into the kitchen. He wished he’d removed the disc from the player the night before. Antonio sat awake half the night hypnotized by her sultry voice. He’d spent too many lonely nights with Sade. Torri’s delicate voice joined Sade’s. A sense of calm enveloped him. He hoped having Torri back in his life meant no more lonely nights.
A piercing beep from the refrigerator rudely signaled for him to close the door. He pulled a glass pitcher from the top shelf. He relied on his mother to help whip up a fresh pitcher of iced-tea at least twice a day. She always reminded him there was nothing better than a tall glass of homemade iced-tea to ease your mind on a hot summer day or any day for that matter. He added simple syrup, fresh mint leaves grown in his backyard and sliced up a lemon. His hands shook as he poured the amber liquid into two tall glasses packed with ice.
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