Repair Me (19 page)

             
Danielle pulled from his arms and looked at me. I tried to figure out her facial expressions as I froze. Then she stepped across the room without speaking. She reached for her purse then walked to me. “Do you wanna see mine?” I was shocked when she sat next to me. She pulled an envelope from her purse and she started showing me each one.

             
“She is beautiful, Danielle.” I looked at each one and saw nothing but Danielle. It was even more clear when I met her in person. They had the exact same eyes the same facial features. Even their chins were identical with a little dimple at the bottom. She was beautiful. “She looks so much like you.”

             
We talked for nearly 2 hours until Davien had comforted her enough. I found it amazing that even though I knew at one time Danielle and Davien had been intimate, I had pushed that to the side. I felt an instant bond between all three of us. I explained to her that she was welcome to come over anytime, day or night, even if Davien was gone.

☼

             
After Danielle left, Davien and I sat in peace on the couch. Natalia and Scott were still sleeping upstairs, so Davien and I made our way back to our room to cuddle. We held each other and like always, Davien sang to me. The question was bothering me and it wasn't the right time to ask, but I knew there never would be so I did anyways. “Davien, if you guys were only friends... why did you have sex?”

             
He sat quiet, I assumed that he felt too uncomfortable to talk about the situation. It really wasn't any of my business, but I was still curious. Why did they have such a good relationship, have sex, decided to take a step back and still be there for each other? I knew I would grow used to it, but the feeling was still there. “We didn't.”

             
“What do you mean?”

              “We didn't, we really didn't have sex. I told you that we we're
only
friends, really.”

             
“I'm confused. I know how babies are made, obviously.”

             
“Danielle and I have always been good friends. We lived in the same apartment building as kids. Her life was even shittier than mine, but we stuck together. When she was 17, she got pregnant. Before she found out about the pregnancy, her boyfriend of two years died in a car accident. She was miserable, she was scared and I asked if I could be the Father.” I was shocked with his words “She had nothing, just me and Aubrey. I signed the birth certificate. We promised each other to raise her together even though we weren't a couple. never went beyond that, never will. We were so young, but we grew up so fast. When we found out about her medical problems, we grew even closer together. She didn't have much family and what she had was terrible. Her boyfriend had just passed away and she was extremely depressed. My Mom knew the truth and let her live with us while Aubrey was sick even though my mom didn't have the money. I slept on the couch like always and Danielle shared a bed with my Mom. Thankfully my Mom was between boyfriends or that may have turned into a odd situation. I stuck with Danielle through everything. And always will, I'm sorry for not telling you everything.”

             
“You don't need to apologize. You're amazing and I really respect your relationship with Danielle.” I turned to face him and kissed him. It was strange to think of the bad boy image that Davien showed most people really did have a soft side, a very soft side in fact.

Chapter 9

              Wednesday came around and Davien and I made lasagna together. While layering the pasta, I asked Davien about Friday's Fight that was coming up. “Are you sure that you wanna come?” He asked me cautiously. “I would love for you to come, but this isn't some pretty WWE crap.”

             
“I told Justin I might come and as he pointed it out I did owe him.” Davien and I both chuckled. “I mean if this is something you do with the guys, I really don't wanna interfere, but Justin had invited me.”

             
“Nope, it's not like that I just want to forewarn you how dirty this shit gets. It ain't pretty. But Justin makes some good money off it and obviously he's has some skills. He's been fighting since he was young.  His mom put him in boxing classes, didn't ever think he'd be using those skills to underground fighting.”

             
“I'm gonna give Natalia a call and see if she's coming?”

             
“Sounds good, let's call it a double date.” We both laughed at the tacky 'date' idea.

              I called Natalia as the food was cooking and told her about Friday's fight with Justin. She was overly excited. I found out that Scott had invited her several times, but she said she was too scared to go. “Where's it at?”

             
“Not sure but you're supposed to meet us here and then we'll ride with the guys.” I replied almost as excited as she was.

☼

              Amazing aroma was taking over our townhouse apartment and the guys were watching TV as I set the table. I was beginning to finally feel at home and the guys were sure welcoming me. While Natalia was working tonight, the guys invited Vince and Justin over for dinner. Surprisingly, Davien was an awesome cook. He showed me a few different dishes over the time I had been here. His lasagna smelled wonderful!

             
Unexpectedly, the kitchen door came open. Usually everyone used the main door except for Vince and Justin who parked on the side. “Holy crap, it smells good in here.” Vince's deep voice shattered through the apartment. His heavy hand dropped to my shoulder as I washed some of the dishes from prepping the food. “Did you cook this?”

             
“I just helped. This was all Davien.”

             
Vince's brows arched with surprise.“Well it smells good!” He walked to the living room where Scott and Davien were watching TV. “What's up guys?”

             
The kitchen door swung open again as I continued drying the dishes then putting them in the cupboards. “Hey, Baby girl.” Justin walked to me energetically as always, and placed a kiss on my cheek. He wrapped his arm around my waist from behind. “You need help?”

             
He was the most flirtatious man in the world and any woman would drop to their knees for him, except for me. I couldn't resist his seductive moves without smiling like a young girl blushing. It would take me forever to get used to him, but he was growing on me. And if Davien could trust him, I knew it was all innocent. “Just finishing up with these last few dishes. The guys are all watching some game in the living room though if you join them.”

             
He ignored my answer and started putting away the dishes that I was drying. Justin was more hyper than the rest of the group. Not annoying hyper, just always on the go and not one to sit around being lazy. “Heard you are coming to my fight on Friday?”

             
“Yeah.” I watched his eyes light up. “Little nervous. You better not get hurt! I don't wanna see that crap.”

             
“Won't happen, this one's for you, Baby girl.” He smiled. Placing the last plate in the cupboard, he dried his hands on the clean towel and sat at the kitchen chair.  “Keep your eyes on me and it won't happen.”

             
“Oh don't put this crap on me.” I looked to the kitchen table where he sat and cringed my eyes at him.

             
“It's not on you. I'm just asking you to watch me, not the other fucker.” He laughed. “I win, I'll split my money 50/50 with you. I lose, you have to wash my clothes for the next month.”

             
“Sounds like you're getting screwed either way.”

             
“No, it's just my way of you making sure I win. It's your first fight, I've already labeled it as 'yours' and that means you make part of the profit. You mess up, you'll see how much clothes a single man actually owns.”

             
“Just like I said you're getting screwed either way. Screwed if you have to pay me 50% and screwed if you lose.” I proved my point as I smiled with a devilish grin.

             
He jumped from his chair, walking to the sink where I stood and placed another kiss on my cheek. He whispered in my ear. “I love to get screwed, Baby girl.” I slapped his chest and he made his way to the living room with the guys. He looked back before leaving through the door and I shook my head in amusement.

             
Turning the oven light switch on, I saw the gooey cheese bubbling over the pasta. I pulled the steaming hot pan out of the oven carefully, praying not to drop Davien's master piece. I set it on the counter to cool before we cut into it.

             
Quietly creeping next to Davien, I wrapped my arm around his shoulder and jumped to his lap. His arm went around my waist to pull me tighter. “Smells good hon.” He pulled my lips to meet his into an intimate kiss.

             
Finally releasing my tongue, I said. “I just pulled it from the oven.”

             
Interrupting our conversation, Justin jumped in. “You know Baby girl is getting rich this weekend right, Davien?”

             
“How's that, Bro?” Davien questioned.

             
“We went 50/50.” He laughed.

             
I jumped from Davien's lap and pointed between the two guys. “No, he went 50/50... he didn't give me a chance.”

             
Laughing, Davien argued back. “It's his show, hon, he makes the rules....you want him to win?” I nodded my head, still not agreeing even though I was laughing. “Do what he asks, only fair. Shit he's never gave me 50/50! What the hell, Bro? You trying to take my girl?”

             
“No, I just need some luck on Friday. I'm facing Steven this weekend.”

             
“Steven Steel?” The other two guys dropped their eyes from the TV to look at Justin when they heard the name that came from Davien's mouth.

             
Justin replied, “it's okay, I got Baby girl for luck.” Davien shook his head.

             
“All right man, but what if you lose?”

             
“She might need help with my laundry.” He laughed. “If I lose, bet is that she's gotta do my laundry.”

             
“Why? She didn't do anything.” Davien argued back with laughter.

             
“Exactly man.” Justin tried to prove a point as his brow arched. “Her job is to make sure I win. If I lose it means it was cause she 'didn't do anything'.

             
“Alright guys, let's go eat lasagna.” I directed my fingers towards the kitchen “Enough of the 'lets blame Avery crap'.”

☼

             
The guys ate the lasagna like they had never seen food in their life. I have to admit that Davien's cooking was much better than I had ever expected.  That night I sat with the guys as we watched a horror movie that caused me to grip at Davien's shirt. That only made him amused and laughing each time.

             
I excused myself from the living room to split up the leftovers for the guys.  Vince and Justin lived together, so I found a storage container and cut pieces for them. “Hey, Avery, can we talk?” Vince's quiet voice caught me off guard as I was squatting down looking through a cabinet.

             
“Sure, what's up Vince?” I stood up and watched him sit at the kitchen table. He tapped his hand at the opposite end of the table from where he was sitting, signaling for me to join him. “You okay?”

             
“Yeah I'm cool. I just think we need to talk.” My eyes studied his face as I watched him look around the room. His tan skin was slightly pale and his fingers beat softly at the table as he shook his head slightly. “Look, Avery, I just want you to know that I feel awkward that Anthony is my cousin. I just feel like me and you don't have the same relationship as you do with the other guys. I want you to be comfortable around me.” Vince was very quiet around me. I wasn't sure if that was because of my past relationship with his cousin or maybe he didn't care for me. He was extremely sweet and we had always been friendly with each other. Vince just kind of held further away from me than the other guys.

             
“Vince I feel the same for you as I do for the other guys. I can't sit here and tell you that it doesn't seem awkward that you and Anthony are cousins. And yes when I first found out that you were, I had many wonders that you may have told Anthony what I was doing. But I think our relationship is growing and I'm realizing that you are nothing like him.”

             
“Just the same last name, that's about it.”We both chuckled. “It feels good to get this off my chest. Davien's a pretty lucky guy.”

             
“I'm a pretty lucky girl. I couldn't ask for much more. You know Anthony well enough to know how he is, what he's like and how he thinks. I was brainwashed for the last year. Now that I have you guys, I feel loved for the first time. I realized that some of that materialistic crap isn't worth it.”

             
“No, it's not. And we've got your back, Avery, just remember that.” He slid his heavy hands across the table and gripped onto mine .“We've all warned Davien he better not break your heart. He's a good guy though. Just please, Avery, don't hurt his either.”

             
There was a loud slap across the back of Vince's head. “You damn Ricci boys, always trying to take my girl.” Vince pulled his hands away from mine and held them in the air as we all laughed. “Damn I have a battle. First it was your dang cousin, now I caught you holding her hand.  Then I've got Justin's slick ass always kissing my girlfriend. I can't trust you guys around her. Find your own girlfriend.” Davien teased. I knew as soon as he hit Vince's head, that he was joking. Davien didn't just trust me, but he trusted his best friends with me.

             
“I'm jealous man, you've got us all jealous. Don't mess it up Davien, you've got a good one.” Vince winked at me.

              After hours of watching scary movies on full stomachs, Justin and Vince finally left. “Don't forget, Baby girl, keep your eyes on me. Otherwise I get screwed and you get left with no money and lot's of dirty clothes.”

             
“See you Friday, Justin.” Davien said as he chuckled.

             
“Bye guys, thanks for the meal.” Vince added. “It was awesome! I guess we'll all see each other on Friday.”

             
With relief, the guys made their way to their cars and left. “I got the dishes in the morning man, but I'm tired.” Scott said. “I'll grab 'em before work”. Scott worked at a music shop where he also gave guitar lessons. Many of his lessons started before the store even opened and some after the store closed. He stayed busy making decent money and he was always tired from long days. It kept him busy while he was away from Natalia. She had school and studying plus her part time job as a waitress. They only got to see each other like twice a week. Always on Friday nights which she demanded to be off from work and then usually another weekend day before her work shift. Weeks ago I was jealous of their relationship and I still believe they have a great one. But my relationship with Davien was exactly what I wanted.

             
“Yeah, I am too. I got work in the morning and it's almost midnight.” Davien pulled his arms around my shoulder. “I think we're heading downstairs.” Yawning, Scott walked to his stairs as Davien and I went the opposite direction.

              Turning the bedroom light on, Davien announced. “I think I'm skipping my shower tonight,” he wiggled his brows “gonna get dirty anyways.” I ran to the bed, but he chased me as I pulled the cover over my head.

             
He got on top of me, straddling my body so I couldn't move and tried pulling the cover from me. I fought back to our playful fight over the cover between the two of us. He began tickling me until I released the fabric. “Oh my God, Davien, stop.” I laughed hysterically as I squirmed from his teasing fingers. “I'm gonna pee on myself.”

             
He finally jumped off  me and dropped on his back next to me. Pulling me over his chest and pressing his lips to mine. “I love you, Avery.”