The Eternity that Follows (15 page)

“Hey guys how was dinner?” Gabriella asked, testing out their
mood. She was laying on the bed on her stomach dangling her feet
in the air. Joey was sitting at the computer desk, finishing up the
conversation he was having with one of his old high school team
mates.
“Good we had a lovely time.” Gabriella’s mother, Linda said.
Gabriella could tell she was tipsy off of wine. “Joey’s here I see,
and in his pajamas.” Linda said, pretending to sound surprised.
Joey hung up the phone and twisted around in the desk
chair as Gabriella stood to stand next to him, Joey stood with her.
“Well doesn’t he look cute in plaid pajamas.” Gabriella’s dad,
George joked half hammered.
Joey stood to stand next to Gabriella while they held hands.
Gabriella’s hand started to shake. Joey grabbed Gabriella’s hand
and whispered,
“Calm down.”
“K.”
“Calm down about what?” Linda said, in a persistent tone.
“You’re not pregnant, are you?”
“Oh the more the merrier.” George said, trying to take pressure off
of Gabriella if she were in fact trying to tell her parents she was
pregnant.
“No. She’s not pregnant.” Joey said, opening up the conversation
for Gabriella to tell her parents their news.
“Actually, we’re engaged.” Gabriella blurted out, unable to hide
her excictement.
“Oh wonderful.” Linda said, beaming at the news.
“How engaged?” George asked.
Joey and Gabriella weren't sure what her father had meant.
“Engaged to the point that we have ring tattoos’?” George said,
noticing Joey’s tattoo on his left hand, Joey saw no point in trying
to hide it. George then took Gabriella’s left hand out of Joey’s
hand, and held it up showing his wife.
Joey and Gabriella stayed silent. There was nothing to say.
Their secret was out.
“All right. Well it’s obvious you two aren’t planning to have a
long engagement. We’ll have to start the wedding plans
tomorrow.” Linda said, surprising Joey and Gabriella.
“Welcome to the family Joey.” George said.
“Really? Just like that? You guys aren’t mad?” Gabriella asked.
“Why would we be mad? Gabriella, I knew your mother was the
one the first second I saw her.”
“And I you.” Linda said, looking into George’s eyes.
“Ewe.” Gabriella said, in protest to how in love her parents still
were.
“All right, well good night. We’ll talk more tomorrow.” George
said.
He and his wife then walked out of Gabriella’s room and
retreated to their own.
Joey was speechless. Gabriella wasn’t.
“Do they even care about me?” Gabriella said, upset. “I’m their
little girl who has a tattoo with some guy she met after three days,
you think they’d care.”
“That’s all I am? Some guy?”
“Yes. To them you’re some guy.”
“Well maybe they see me as a little more then that.” Joey said,
getting close to Gabriella and pulling her to him. Gabriella ignored
his pass, pushing him off.
“My friends responded more mature then them. At least they were
mad at me.”
“You talked to your friends today?” Joey asked, trying to keep
calm. First Gabriella had pushed away his romantic gesture and
now she had spoken to her friends about them, and hadn’t even
thought to inform him.
“Yeah I talked to them. I was going to tell you about it but I hadn’t
had the time to yet.”
Joey thought back to their night together, how he had
rushed to make love so soon after dinner, how he had gotten into
the shower quickly after, and how he was on the phone with his
friends before her parents got home, he felt bad for not giving
Gabriella the proper attention. He realized he hadn’t even asked
her how her day went.
“Did your friends upset you?” He asked.
“No. Yes. Well.”
“Let’s talk.” Joey said, and then proceeded to sit on Gabriella’s
bed. Gabriella just stood there, still upset over her parents.
“I don’t feel like talking.”
“All-right fair enough.” Joey said, standing up, knowing Gabriella
was still upset.
“Come hold me?” Joey asked, holding out his arms using his
irresistible face.
Gabriella agreed to that. Her parent’s reaction had upset
her so much, she just wanted to be in Joey’s arms to feel better
again. Joey lied down in Gabriella’s bed on his back and opened
up his arms for her to get comfortable. Gabriella cuddled up in
Joey’s chest, realizing she was getting used to that. Gabriella
wrapped one hand around his neck and with the other, cradled
Joey’s head with her open palm. Joey held Gabriella tightly
wrapping his arms around her. Joey and Gabriella both felt as
though they were in heaven, feeling as though the world around
them didn’t exist anymore. With the way Gabriella was holding
Joey, never before being held like that, Joey felt loved. Joey
grabbed Gabriella tighter while Gabriella strengthened her hold
around Joey’s neck, wrapping her legs around his bottom half.
Joey noticed Gabriella was getting in position to fall asleep. Joey
wasn’t about to let that happen. The last thing he needed on his
mind tomorrow at work was what had gone on between Gabriella
and her friends.
“Are you ready to talk now?” Joey asked, not letting go of his
tight hold.
“I guess so.” Gabriella said, with a cranky yawn.
Gabriella let go of her tight hold, as she had to force herself
out of Joey’s arms. Joey was reluctant at first to let her go, he was
happy with the way they were laying. Gabriella sat up and leaned
against the headboard, Joey followed doing the same. Gabriella
turned to look at Joey, he was already looking at her. Joey smiled,
he was happy to have Gabriella. Joey’s smile was too irresistible
for Gabriella not to smile back. Joey lit up his eyes, as Gabriella’s
smile had brought that upon him once again. Gabriella let her eyes
lit up too, and gave Joey a kiss on the lips as she started to giggle.
“What’s so funny?” Joey asked, tickling Gabriella. Joey kept
tickling Gabriella until the point where she couldn’t stop laughing.
“Joey, stop that.” Gabriella said. Joey’s tickling was forcing her to
laugh. “No Joey, really stop.” Joey kept tickling her. “Joey stop.”
Gabriella said, trying to sound forceful.
Joey sensed Gabriella was getting mad and decided to stop
tickling her. Gabriella composed herself. “I don’t like to be
tickled.” She said, in a cute playful voice.
“Oh no.” Joey said, going to tickle her again. Gabriella jumped
out of the bed.
“No. I hate it.” Gabriella said, lying. She liked the attention.
“Oh really?” Joey said, knowing Gabriella liked the attention of
being tickled. Joey got up to bring Gabriella back to the bed. “I
won’t tickle anymore, I promise.” He said. Gabriella was
reluctant to get back into bed with him.
“I don’t believe you.” Gabriella said, in protest of getting back in
bed with Joey. Joey went to tickle Gabriella’s sides forcing her to
run away from him. He followed her before she was able to get
out of her room. Joey had Gabriella up against her bedroom door,
and in fun, Joey tickled her again, with no where to go Gabriella
fell laughing to the floor. Joey stood over her.
“Come on. Enough playing.” Joey said, offering his hand to help
her up.
“I don’t need your help getting up.”
“Fine.” Joey said, leaving Gabriella on the floor, and then going to
sit on the edge of Gabriella’s bed.
“Come back Joey, I can’t get up.” Gabriella played.
“Nope, you said you don’t need my help.”
“Fine.” Gabriella said, crawling over to the edge of the bed where
Joey was sitting and then kneeling on her knees.
“You have something to do down there on your knees?” Joey
joked, pretending to take off his pants.
Gabriella huffed. Joey felt bad and picked Gabriella up off
the floor, and placed her on the bed next to him. Joey kissed
Gabriella after she gave him a cute look.
“You’re cute. You know that?” Joey asked, tempted to kiss her to
the point where she would be forced to lay her head on the bed, but
remembered he was the one who wanted to talk. Both sitting on
the edge of the bed, Joey grabbed Gabriella’s hand, giving it a
sweet kiss before he rested both their hands in his lap. “So what
did your friends say?”
Gabriella told Joey the conversations she had with her
friends earlier today. She told him about how Sara thought she
was pregnant. Josephine asked why she wasn’t invited to the
wedding, which they both laughed about how dumb she was, and
how Jemma was rude, but called back apologizing. Gabriella went
on to tell Joey how Josephine had left the club with Vinny and
went back to his house with him. Gabriella then went on to tell
Joey how Jemma and her boyfriend got arrested for doing cocaine
in the bathroom, were out on bail, and were due in court next
month. Gabriella then told Joey how Sara and Tie couldn’t find a
hotel and walked the city for a while getting to know each other,
only to lose each other when they decided to go into another club,
so Sara took the train home in the morning by herself, and said it
was a horrible nightmare.
“Have you spoken to Tie?” Gabriella asked Joey, with concern.
“Yeah he called after Josh. He tried telling me the story but I had
another call. I told him I’d call him back. Maybe I should do
that.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t.” Gabriella said, undressing herself,
undressing Joey.
Joey grabbed the pillows from both sides of the bed,
placing them in the middle and got comfortable. Gabriella climbed
on top of Joey. Gabriella was careful with the attention she gave
Joey. She kissed his body the whole way down to his private.
Joey wasn’t expecting that, Joey thought she was going to make
love to him. Gabriella did that thing to Joey that he had joked
about earlier. She climbed back on top of him after he had erupted.
“You expect me to get it up again after that Gabriella?” Joey
asked, as he was astonished at how good she was giving oral
pleasure.
“Oh I think I can help with that.” Gabriella said, placing her lips
on the right side of Joey’s neck, kissing him, leaving three wet
spots using her mouth and tongue. Gabriella then ran the tip of her
tongue along Joey’s neck, running it behind his ear. Gabriella
copied her actions on the left side of Joey’s neck. She than blew
gently in Joey’s right ear.
Gabriella felt Joey hard again right after he made his
comment about being able to get it up again. She saw it fit to tease
him a little before she had him enter her. Gabriella lifted up her
body as she squatted above Joey’s lower body on her toes. Joey
was nothing less but turned on by Gabriella. Her position
reminded him of the way she danced. Joey thought himself ‘ I’m
one lucky bastard’ as he remembered how many eyes were on her
while she danced. Joey helped Gabriella place himself inside of
her. She then lowered her hips a few times, staying in her squatted
position, wetting Joey’s hardness, through the condom, with
herself. Gabriella then put her legs and feet behind her, and made
sweet love to Joey. Gabriella was being sweet, loving and gentle
but Joey couldn’t take it anymore. He placed his hands on
Gabriella’s upper butt and held her still. He then moved himself
up and down, fast as he banged her from underneath. Gabriella
liked that very much. She held still as Joey hit her spot. Joey
made sure to bring Gabriella to her climax before he himself let go.
They got cozy in each other’s arms, and the two of them fell asleep
holding each other tightly.

Joey woke up to the alarm Gabriella set for him. Without
words or question, Gabriella got out of bed and made Joey
breakfast. Joey got dressed and met her in the kitchen.
“What are you doing, baby?” Joey asked, grabbing her from
behind.

Gabriella was making Joey French toast.
“Making you breakfast, can you get the butter and syrup out of the
refrigerator?” Gabriella asked of Joey handing him a cup of
coffee.
“Gabriella, I don’t usually eat in the morning.”
“We’ll you are now.”
“Are your parents up?”
“No, they won’t be up for at least another hour.”
“Good”
“Why good?”

Joey didn't resond, as Gabriella placed the French toast on
the table. Joey sat down and ate as he complimented Gabriella’s
cooking.

When they were finished eating, Gabriella started to do the
dishes, Joey sat at the table for a moment finishing his coffee. He
waited for Gabriella to finish the dishes, and when he noticed she
was all done wiping down the counter, and right before she
reached the table, Joey said,

“let me do that for you.”
“You have a long day of work” Gabriella said, pushing Joey’s hand
he offered away.
“I’m hitting up the gym before work you know?” Joey said,
wondering if Gabriella realized how early in the morning it was.
“I gotta keep myself looking good for you or you won’t be all over
me any more.”
“I’ll love you forever, Joey.” Gabriella said, then contemplating
in her head if she would still want Joey just as much sexually if he
stopped working out.
“I know.” Joey said, with warmth.

Without any more words’, Joey made love to Gabriella
against the counter top in the kitchen. Joey only took off his
bottom clothing to do so, and made love to Gabriella with the
nightgown she had thrown on when she woke up, lifted up.
“I hope we don’t get caught.” Joey said, seducing Gabriella while
he was inside of her.
“Oh that would be bad.” Gabriella said, in a naughty voice.
“Very, bad of you.” Joey said.

Joey was making love with slow tenderness, causing
Gabriella to be too weak to continue talking dirty.
When Joey was through, he put his clothing back on that
were wrapped around his ankles. He grabbed his lunch, the to go
cup of coffee Gabriella had made him, gave her a big smacked kiss
on the cheek, and then he was then out the door.
Joey called Gabriella moments later, but Gabriella didn't
pick up because her phone was up in her room, and she was still in
the kitchen.
“I’m sorry I just had to have you.” Joey said onto Gabriella’s
voice mail. “I love you baby.”
Gabriella’s mother walked into the kitchen soon after Joey
left. Her mother quickly asked if Joey was living here now.
Gabriella told her that was the plan, and her mother agreed it
would be okay. Her mother told her they could share the kitchen
being Joey worked such late hours. He mother assured her that her
and her father would be out in time for her to care for Joey. They
then sat down and discussed Gabriella’s idea for her wedding.
Gabriella wanted to get married in the small chapel next to her
church. Gabriella guests the chapel could hold up to 100 people,
perhaps 150. She wanted her reception to be at Mandala Palace,
though she knew it were expensive. She figured since she was
having a small wedding, her parents wouldn’t mind paying for an
elaborate reception.
Her mother had dreams of a bigger wedding,
but decided to save that wish for her other daughter. Linda thought
Gabriella’s idea was wonderful and romantic, and she began
writing out the guest list. She abruptly got up from the table when
she realized the had to leave for work. Gabriella was still upset,
her mother had no protest to them getting married, but was happy
her parents approved of Joey.
When her mother were gone, Gabriella picked up the guest
list and read through it. Her mother had covered the basics, all her
aunts, uncles, cousins from both sides of the family, her great aunts
and uncles that were still alive, and her three surviving
grandparents. Gabriella numbered the lists, circling one her
cousin’s daughters who was five years old. Gabriella hopped she
would accept her invitation to be her flower girl. She then
wondered if Joey had anyone to be their ring barer. She knew his
brother had kids, but she didn’t know how old and if they were
boys or girls. Gabriella then though perhaps he wanted to pick the
flower girl. Gabriella sighed over the quick guest list her mother
had written. Her family made up thirty-five people. She counted
dates for all her cousins and landed at forty-two. She wanted to
keep her wedding simple, and realized she had enough room to
invite the few friends she wanted to come.
Gabriella spent the rest of her morning filling her thoughts
with plans of the wedding. She envisioned her dress in her head.
Thinking perhaps Joey could draw up her vision for her, and she
could have it customed made. Like her mother had suggested, she
called the church in regards to the chapel, then called Mandala
Palace. Gabriella marked off the possible wedding dates in her
calendar, paying little attention to the guest list.
Gabriella then went up to her room, Hers and Joey’s room,
now that her mom had given the okay for him to live with them.
She thought how she and Joey needed to discuss a few things
before she could decide which of her friends to invite, and which
ones to ask to be a part of her bridal party.
Gabriella saw she had a missed call, and a voice mail from
Joey. She smiled over Joey’s message and, sent him back a text
saying. ‘I love you too,’ while smiling and blushing.
After Joey left Gabriella’s house, he stopped by his house
apartment to grab more clothes, and changed out of his work
clothes and into his gym clothes. Joey didn’t mind switching his
workouts to the morning for Gabriella. The sex alone was more
than enough to make him do so. When Joey was leaving his
apartment, he took a good look around, and concluded he wouldn’t
miss it much. Joey then did a quick walk-through of his apartment.
He had been living there since the last time he got out of jail,when
his previous landlord had thrown out all his stuff. Through his
walkthrough, his mind went down a trip of memory lane. He
though of vow of celibacy, weekends spent with Diana, and the
few girls he brought home after her. Joey realized he had no
attachment to the place. He was attached to Gabriella now, and
had a ring tattoo on his finger to prove just how much.
When Joey pulled into the gym parking lot, he thought to
himself, ‘well I’ll be’ as he saw Gavin’s Camaro in the parking lot.
Joey walked into the gym, confirmed his membership with his card
with the receptionist, and walked over to the weight section where
he knew he’d fine Gavin. Gavin was finishing doing a set, and
walked toward Joey.
“Didn’t think I’d miss my time at the gym with my boy over some
girl that stole him away did you?” Gavin said, and then formally
congratulated Joey, getting a good look at Joey’s tattoo.
“That in love with me are you?” Joey kidded.
“Hey man. I’m up early in the morning and Sadie’s off to work
hours before me. I don’t have much else to do in the mornings.
Actually it works out best for me. I don’t have to work out after
dinner anymore. Sadie hates it when I leave her.”
“So you’ve been coming to the gym at my time just for me, this
whole time?”
“Yeah guess so.”
“I don’t know what to say man.”
“I do have other gym friends’, you know.”
“Aight man, now I don’t feel so bad.”
When Joey was through with his workout, he looked
through his phone, while back in his work truck. He saw
Gabriella’s text message, and continued on, smiling the whole way
to work. Joey had an easy day at work, his workers worked hard
and the day went smoothly. Joey wanted to let everyone go home
at six thirty again, thinking to make that the official time everyone
got off, but he didn’t want to offset the deadline of the house, and
kept to the dedicated time of seven.
The boys worked until the whistle blew, and then Joey was
off to Gabriella. Joey and Gabriella spoke briefly on his lunch
break after he called to thank her for his lunch. Gabriella had
mentioned speaking to her mother this morning about wedding
plans, and something about his side of the guest list. Joey was
actually excited to get home to Gabriella to discuss the wedding,
he was excited to get home to Gabriella in general.
When Joey arrived home, the door was left unlocked for
him. He walked into the kitchen to see what Gabriella was
making.
“Yum tacos’ one of my favorite’s, darling.” Joey said, glad to see
Gabriella.
Gabriella gave Joey a light kiss on the lips, and then went
for more, but Joey pushed her off. “Let me clean up first.” Joey
said, and then he went to the kitchen sink to wash his hands, face,
and arms with dish soap.
Gabriella was next to his side, the moment he were
through, with a hand towel to dry him off with. Gabriella couldn’t
help but stare at Joey as he was washing up, he was ‘so hot’ she
thought to herself. She grew excited dinner would be a daily event
the two of them would share, because she couldn’t wait to see him
wash up for dinner again tomorrow night.
Joey took the towel from Gabriella and thanked her with a
kiss. Joey and Gabriella were making out in the kitchen when
Gabriella pushed him off.
“Not now silly.” Gabriella said, checking on her beef and adding
in the taco seasoning. “Can you pour me some ice tea to drink
sweetie, and get yourself something?” Gabriella asked, as she was
taking out the hard taco shells out of the oven, and going over to
the microwave to get the soft shells. The box had come with both
and she wasn’t sure what Joey would prefer.
“You set everything up so nicely, Gab” Joey said, grabbing the
glasses from the table while noticing how Gabriella had prepared
their fixings.
“I tried.”
“We’ll, your turning out to be the perfect homemaker.”
“Am I?” Gabriella asked, “well I do have the perfect husband.”
“Almost husband.”
“Oh right.” Gabriella said, as she took the beef off the stove and
placed it into a serving bowl.
“You know you could just put the pan on the table, Gab,
everything doesn’t have to be perfect.” Joey said, taking the bowl
from Gabriella and placing it on the table.
“Sure it does Joey! It makes me happy.”
“Okay.” Joey said, pleased that he was the man that got to make
Gabriella happy. Gabriella and Joey sat down at the table.
“Where are your parents?” Joey asked.
Gabriella then informed Joey how they would be sharing
the kitchen from now on, ‘now that your living here,’ she said, in
her retelling of the conversation she and her mother had in the
kitchen, this morning. “So it’s okay with them if I live here?”
Joey asked, lining a soft shell into a hard shell.
“More then.” Gabriella confirmed, grabbing a hard shell for
herself and then spooning beef into Joey’s taco, and then into her
own.
Joey was adding the fixings to his taco as Gabriella spoke
up about the guest list to the wedding.
“Joey, I want a small wedding. In fact I want to get married at the
chapel next to St. Anthony’s, right here in Mandala. It’s a small
chapel, I called today and it holds about one hundred people.
“I like that idea. You called?” Joey asked, shocked.
“Well yes, my mother and I were talking today and she said I
should call both the chapel and Mandala Palace to check for
common, open dates.”
“Mandala Palace?”
“Well yes. Since we’re having a small wedding, I figured my
parents could afford it. My mother didn’t say otherwise when I
mentioned it this morning.”
“So they’re paying for the wedding?”
“Yes. That’s always been our understanding since I was little.”
“All right. So well, what do you need from me exactly?”
“Well a guess list silly.” Gabriella said, spooning more beef into
Joey’s second taco for him.
“Okay I can do that.” Joey said, he wasn’t trying to avoid the topic
of his family. “How many people do I need to fill my side, half of
one hundred?”
“Yes, well you don’t have to fill it, is that not enough?” Gabriella
asked, wanting to know if Joey had hoped for something different
then what she was planning for their wedding.
“No. I’m just wondering about my family, that’s all.”
“Do you talk to anyone on your father’s side Joey, like aunts or
uncles, cousins?”
“Just my grandmother. My grandfather died a couple of years ago
and my father was an only child.”
“Oh. I’m sorry to hear about your grandfather”
“And my brother is still close with my mother,” Joey said, as if he
were about to give Gabriella a birthday gift, “and she still sends me
cards and stuff for holidays, and my birthday. So I guess . . . you
can meet her.” Joey finally said.
“Really, you’d talk to her again for me?”
“Yes, but only for you.”
“Yay.” Gabriella said, unable to hide her happiness.
“Yeah. I have dinner with my mother’s whole side of the family
every month or two. They love me.” Joey said, realizing he had a
good family surrounding him, and perhaps he had been wrong all
these years not to talk to his mother.
As Gabriella started to do the dishes, Joey got lost in his
thoughts for a moment. He thought about how much he cared for
Gabriella. Thinking back to how his mother had taken his step
father’s side, he thought he would do the same for Gabriella.
Gabriella snapped Joey out of his thoughts.
“Maybe you’d like to take a shower while I do the dish’s baby?”
“Okay but after I want to take you somewhere.”
“Oh really where?”
“Just to Starbucks to see a few of my friends, I figured we could
bring your WRX. The boys would love to take a look at it.”
“Oh.” Gabriella said, feeling she had to come clean. “You know
Mark threw a lot of money into that car.”
“Did he do work under the hood?”
“Yes.”
“Well good. A new project for me. I love to tear things’ up.”
“Well, Joey, no!”
“I’ll put it back together and with good parts, even faster ones.”
“Whatever. Just go shower.”
Garbiella said, playful.
With Joey's words, she now saw her car now as their car,
and wondered if Joey would have to take over her car payments
once they were married. That gave Gabriella the thought about
getting a job, while she did the dishes and dreamed about her
career as a CEO.
When Gabriella was finished with the dishes, she went into
her room to do her makeup. Gabriella opened up the bathroom
door to wash off the makeup already on her face, so she could start
fresh, without even realizing it, she opened the door that Joey had
left unlocked. He was in the shower, and giggled to herself over
forgetting, it was she and Joey’s bathroom now. She was washing
her face as Joey called out,
“Gab is that you?”
“Yeah, sorry Joey just washing my face.”
Gabriella said back,
Joey opened the glass shower door.
“Nothing you’ve never seen before.” Joey joked, and then closed
the door.
Gabriella was brushing her teeth when Joey got out of the
shower.
“You know you at least could have joined me in there.” Joey said,
grabbing Gabriella from behind.
“Joey don’t get me all wet.”
“Fine.” Joey said, taking a step back and letting go. “Well, why
didn’t you join me in the shower?”
“Because it would take me an extra hour to get ready if I had
gotten my hair wet, plus, something tells me it wouldn’t just have
been a shower.”
Gabriella walked out of the bathroom, while Joey stayed in
the bathroom to do his hair and brush his own teeth.
“You’re wearing that?” Joey asked, when he came out of the
bathroom. Gabriella was dressed in a causal light pink dress with
an orange flower print.
“I was planning on it.”
“Oh. I was hoping you were going to get naked.” .
“Joey stop teasing me. Just get dressed you horn ball.”
“All right, if you don’t want me.” Joey said, kidding with her.
Joey was really only playing around with Gabriella, he
really wanted to get Gabriella out of the house tonight. Gabriella
ignored Joey and started on her makeup. When Gabriella turned
around, her eyes met Joey.
She checked him out quickly, in
disbelief over how good he looked. Joey was wearing a pair of
white shorts, with light blue strips, and a matching blue polo shirt,
and he had his collar flipped. His hair was done the same as he
had styled it for the club. Gabriella hadn’t seen his hair that way
since that night, and forgot how nicely Joey cleaned up. Gabriella
walked over to Joey.