by Eden Fortae
“Come on, wifey, the guys are going to feed us to cure the sadness.”
“We are?”
“Seriously, Chris? You don’t remember saying how happy it would make you to take us on a brunch date a few minutes ago?”
“No one said a single word since Kya and Eden.”
“Oh. Well, maybe that was from the staff meeting in my head. Anyway, let’s go.”
Donny pointed at Karrina while looking at Chris with a warning, receiving a shrug and light laughter in return.
“Bro, I’m coming to you first because I know you love her, but I’m telling you I’ll turn this airport into a wrestling ring if you don’t get her.”
“Bring it, puto. I don’t fight fair. I have mace, and I bite.”
Just like that, the mood became lighter. If having Donny wasn’t a sign that things would be ok, having Karrina was.
Chris and Karrina defined love. Within minutes of being seated at their booth, she saw it. After watching them share their food, feed each other, she was sure.
Karrina was as crazy as they come. Chris loved her regardless. When he didn’t laugh at her or with her, he added to her madness or defended her. He looked at her as if she were a precious stone when not amused. The affection was limitless and seemingly without motive.
Watching them was like watching a flower bloom at ultra-fast speed. Beautiful. Fascinating. As they turned to each other to laugh, Eden smiled. A genuine smile she wasn’t aware of until warmth bathed her ear.
“You’re making me jealous.”
She looked at him with a smirk, “Because I’m enjoying how cute they are?”
“Because I want to make you smile like that.”
Goosebumps covered her arms. “I believe you have.”
“I would remember if I ever made your smile reach your eyes.”
“Why does that make me feel bad?”
“Why does it?”
She shrugged, looking down at her lap. They were practically sitting hip to hip with Donny’s left leg against hers. His left arm rested against the top of the booth behind her. Without trying, he turned something that casual into something intimate by just being him and slowly changing her perspective.
“Because,” their eyes connected, “you and I know you deserve it.”
His lips tilted into something so beautiful warmth passed through her. He truly was a handsome man. More when he grinned like that.
“Perhaps. But I didn’t earn it. I will, though. Just like I’ll figure out how to make you happy.”
He was damn close. Did he know that in his presence, everything was alright? That her mind didn’t wander to that dark and dangerous place nearly as often? That he made her fear and crave his touch at the same time? That the scared girl was growing into a woman brought forth with the freedom to speak freely and feel because of him?
“Why do you have to make me happy?”
“Because,” he licked his lips, “you and I know you deserve it.”
Her heart swelled. Each beat was against her ribs. She wanted to shy away from his gaze.
“I have to admit it,” Karrina broke their trace, “although she’s mine, the two of you do look good together.” Her tone was genuine, but her arms were folded like a petulant child.
Donny tilted his head slightly with a chuckle, “On a scale of bug bite to a broken bone, how much did it hurt to say that?”
“Natural childbirth.”
Eden burst into laughter. Donny playfully pushed her leg with his as if to tell her to stop.
“Is this all the time?” She asked Christian as soon as she regained her composure enough to speak.
“Yes, but this is mild. Most of the time, it’s like watching a tennis match that goes from English to Spanish and back without warning.”
Karrina shrugged, “We have to pick on each other. It’s how we love each other.”
“She’s the bratty little sister I never wanted but wouldn’t trade for the world.”
She clutched her heart, playfully, “¡Mi corazón! I knew you loved me back.”
“Why was there ever a doubt?” Donny’s features twisted.
Karrina frowned and looked just as baffled. “Because of what happened with Clara.”
Immediately, Donny’s expression fell. He went from amused to blank mask. Christian looked worried, and Karrina displayed instant regret.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were still—”
“I’m not.” He countered.
The bubbliness and fun that followed Karrina everywhere disappeared. The air around them became thick with silence until Donny took a breath and looked down at Eden.
“Clara was my childhood sweetheart. We met in high school and stayed together until my third year of military school. I had plans to go into the Air Force like my mom. I told Clara, and although we argued about how that didn’t align with her plans to get married and start a family, we were working on it. Or so I thought.” He looked up at his cousin and tipped his chin, “Rina caught Clara on a date with another man and beat her up. While at the hospital, Clara found out she was pregnant.”
Eden’s head snapped up as she pulled back, but he caught her with the arm that was resting on the back of the booth.
“He’s not mine.”
“I’m sorry I brought it up.” Karrina’s tone took on that of a child in trouble. She looked to Christian. With a sweet smile, he caressed her cheek. His lips didn’t move, but his eyes said enough to relax her.
“If neither of you has plans, why don’t we go bowling and to the movies? Tony’s keeping Junior tonight. We can do dinner or go to Jay’s.”
The tension previously pressed against her side dissolved. As she looked at Donny, he stared back. She wanted to remind them that they were just friends, but the words never materialized.
They eased out of the booth, heading to the hostess with their check in hand. Along the way, her fingers brushed against Donny’s accidentally. Glancing his way, she earned a wink and a grin. That was all she needed to convince herself he was alright.
Bowling was fun until Karrina broke her nail. Then it was interesting, watching her cheer for Chris and Donny but taunt them at the same time. Her boos were loud enough to draw laughter from the people around them. Her celebrations, extra and animated. When she sat down, however, she was calm and relaxed.
“While the guys are busy, I want to apologize to you for the awkward moment earlier. As usual, I spoke without thinking.”
“You don’t have to apologize for that. Especially not to me. I’m a guest in this circle.”
“Like hell you are,” Karrina scoffed, tossing her straightened hair behind her. “Donny is into you. Really into you. I’ve never seen him be so gentle. Not even with my son.”
Eden caught herself before she could smile. “We’ve bonded through our similarities. I think he’s developed this need to take care of me. Like a stray puppy.”
“Or a woman he wants to be with.”
Eden chuckled, “Donovan is such a good guy. I tried my best to keep him at arm’s length. He’s so kind and sweet. I don’t know why he’d want me after everything I put him through.”
Karrina watched her for a moment. “Girl, if you don’t get the hell out of here with that. I know why and if you look outside of whatever damage some puto caused, you’d see it too. My cousin may be a meatball, but he isn’t stupid enough to let you get away from him.”
Taken aback and tickled by her bluntness, Eden acted appalled. “Well, shit. And here I was thinking you were crushing too hard to bitch slap me like that.”
“Ha! Even if you didn’t mean something to Kya and Donny, you mean something to me now. I’m not going to steer you wrong.”
Eden smiled to herself. “I appreciate that. I’m still learning how to get out of my way.”
“Well, should you need your ass kicked, call me. We can go for ice cream after.”
“Babe,” Christian walked over, “Donny said you’re not worried about that n
ail. You’re just scared he’d dust your ass.”
Karrina leaned in her chair to look around her fiancé. Her entire face fell into an expression that was serious and comical as she addressed Chris. “Excuse me? And what did you say to defend my honor?”
“I told him you’d kick his ass, baby.”
“Damn right. I’ll be back.”
Eden watched Karrina approach Donny and saw the confusion on his face. “He didn’t say that, did he?”
“Nope. I lied.”
She snorted, finding one more reason to like this group. From where she sat, she was able to keep an eye on the game and steal a few unnoticed glances at Christian. The first time they’d encountered each other, she’d been caught off guard by his hazel eyes paired with light brown skin before the baby identical to him stole her attention. Now, she could see him without much of a distraction and saw good reason for Karrina to be crazy about him.
“So you and Donny are dating now?”
Mid-sip, she choked on her lemonade. His laughter wasn’t shared.
“We’re friends.”
“Friends make the best lovers,” he shrugged with a prize-winning grin.
“And here I thought you intended to stake your claim over Rina.”
“Even if she were serious, she wouldn’t go anywhere. Besides, my brother isn’t letting you go.”
“Funny, Rina said something similar before you came over here. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you two planned this.”
“If we planned it, there would have been less talking on my babe’s end and more action. She and Donny can’t go without insulting each other, but he’s no different than Tony in her eyes.”
“I figured. I know how close all of you are.”
“So then you know we take each other’s joy and pain to the heart.”
“Yes,” she answered, not sure what to make of that. The looks she received after speaking with Kya re-entered her mind.
“Good. As long as you know. It’s not just Kya, now.”
Although spoken with complete seriousness, he smiled the same way he had initially. No doubt, it was meant to drive home his point. She didn’t just have a sister in Kya. She had a growing family.
SEVENTEEN
For the second time, loud music pierced the room. For the second time, Eden stared at the screen. Her fingers itched to touch it. Her fear kept her hands balled into fists. Secretly she wished she’d asked Donny to be there with her. Instead, she tried to summon his courage to deliver the long-overdue truth.
A text followed the missed call notification. Rather than reading the entire message, Eden took in the words visible from the lock screen. She felt Kya’s concern and put her own behind her. Initiating the video call, she took a deep breath and pretended Donny was there. As Kya appeared on the screen, Eden breathed it out with a genuine smile.
Dinner with his parents twice a week was the tradition. If not to remind himself of how far he’d come, to show himself where he wanted to be. His father always had a secret to tell his mother. It was an excuse to cop a feel he thought Donny wouldn’t see. His mother’s squeals of surprise and excitement always gave them away, but they’d separate as if nothing happened. Minutes later, they’d find their way back to each other for some other form of affection. They cooked together, laughed, and eventually shared a fond memory. Typically one of the highlights of his week, today, his mind was elsewhere.
Donny checked his phone. When he hadn’t heard from her by noon, he reached out. Had he not decided to take on an assignment himself, he would have been there for the call and whatever she needed. The moment he was free, he called. A two-word text was all he had to go on. As much as he wanted to pop up on her, he went to his parent’s home instead, checking his phone relentlessly when not watching them with amusement.
“You looking for an excuse to leave us? You keep checking your phone like you are.”
The accent his father hadn’t shaken amplified his seriousness. Dark eyebrows added to the illusion of irritation that wasn’t there.
Cracking a smile, Donny set his phone on the counter. “Just worried about a friend, Pop. I’m waiting to hear back from her.”
“Her?” His parents repeated in unison.
“What’s her name?” His mother asked.
“What does she look like?” His father followed up?
“Why haven’t we met her?” His mother replied almost immediately.
With a full-blown smile, Donny shook his head. “Seriously, guys?”
“What? When I tried to set you up with a couple of nice young ladies, you turned them all down. We thought we’d never get a daughter—”
“—Or grandchildren...”
“Or grandchildren, because you seem more interested in work. You mentioned a lady friend, and suddenly I was picking out a gorgeous mother-of-the-groom dress in my mind.”
“Anything on you would be gorgeous, mi vida.”
Hae beamed, caressing Fredo’s cheek. “That’s because you know what’s under it.”
“Ma,” Donny cringed, eyes wide and horrified.
“Sorry. I forgot you were here for a second. As I was saying, it’s rare that you mention a woman. You have to forgive us for assuming she’s special.”
Absently, Donny grabbed his phone, staring down at the dark screen, willing a notification with her name to lighten it. “She is.”
“Then what the hell is your problem?” Once again, he was taken aback by his mother’s response. Out of the two, she was typically the calm and reasonable one while his father was more on the outspoken side. “Are you ashamed of us?”
“Of course not. I mean, dad grabs your ass every three minutes, and you gave him a look down your shirt when you thought I was looking, but other than being horny teenagers, you’re awesome.”
Fredo moved toward the pot on the stove, throwing a smile over his shoulder. “So that’s why you’re not telling us anything or bringing her around?—because you’re worried we’re going to give her a show?”
“I think she’d enjoy it.”
“So do I.”
“Guys,” he laughed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m not afraid of you groping each other. I don’t know where things are headed and don’t want to do anything to get my hopes up.”
His father returned to the island where Hae was chopping cucumbers for salad. “Telling us her name and what she looks like will get your hopes up?”
“No, but it will get yours up.”
Fredo waved him off with a scoff. Grinning, Donny pulled up one of the pictures from Kya’s auction. There had been many favorites since then, but that was the only picture they had together. She looked as good on his arm as he did at her side.
With the screen angled so they could both see it, Donny watched for a reaction. “This is Eden.”
Neither said a word at first. They looked at the picture silently and then at each other.
“Wow,” Hae smiled. “She’s stunning.”
“Of course she is. You think my son would be head over heels for a sandfish”
“What the hell is a sandfish, Fredo?”
“I don’t know, but it sounds ugly. You think my boy can’t catch beautiful fish?”
“I never said or suggested that, for one. And two, your boy?”
“Yes, my boy. That handsome fuck looks just like me, so I’m taking the credit.” He glanced at Donny for a moment, gesturing with his free hand. “You can take credit for that weird shit he got from you. Like sleeping sitting up, shooting shit, and counting every Goddamn thing.”
“My counting things doesn’t seem to bother you when it’s the exact number of rotations needed to curl your toes for a knockout.”
Fredo chuckled, waving her off. “Your control turns me on.”
“Well, even when you’re behind the wheel, I know how to get us home because of my counting.”
“It’s not the counting. That medication put weight on you. Me encantan. I love that shit. A lot.”
“Anything to discredit my achievements.” This time she pointed at Donny.
“Never that, amor. I’m just saying he takes after me in the sense that he’d bow to beautiful women as I bow to you.”
Hae smirked with narrowed eyes, “Smooth recovery, Casanova.”
“Yeah? I’ll show you smooth when we’re alone.”
When they finally looked at Donny, he pinched the bridge of his nose. Initially, the argument was amusing. Normal. They always went back and forth with such a smooth transition that he usually watched until the cycle completed for the day. Yet this one took a new turn with visuals he could do without.
“Oh, honey! Did we blackout again?”
“Sorry, son. As your mother said, it’s rare if you mention a woman. We were excited. And she’s a beautiful girl.”
“Stunning,” his mother added.
“She’d give us cute grandbabies,” Fredo looked down at his wife.
“Super cute grandbabies!” She countered. “Oh my goodness, I can’t wait to shop with Elia and decorate a playroom here. How does Oma sound instead of grandma? In Korean, it’s halmoni, but it sounds so old to me.”
“Oma is as beautiful as you.”
Hae moved in for a kiss, beaming as she pulled away. They both looked at Donny and found him resting his face against his hand, glaring at them with a touch of amusement in his eyes.
“Are you done?”
“Yes,” they replied simultaneously.
He shook his head again, grabbing his phone as it vibrated against the counter. The name he’d been waiting for with a three-word question brought him to his feet.
“I have to go. Can we do dinner tomorrow?”
“Of course. Is everything ok?” His mother’s switched gears immediately.
“Yes. I think.”
“Go. You can come by in the morning before you go to work. We’ll do breakfast.”
“Yeah, but you might want to call first. I’d hate for you to find your mother on this counter naked.”
Donny sighed roughly, walking around the island to kiss his mother’s cheek and hugged his dad. On the way out, he heard Hae scold his father for being so crude then giggle like a schoolgirl. Although disgusted to an extent, he laughed at their antics, praying to be just like them someday.