[Aldo]
Andre is laying on the couch with his feet kicked off the edge. I’m sitting there tight as a spring, still reeling after my horrible discussion with Dawn.
It went in the complete opposite direction of what I wanted. Not that I expected her to be in my arms by the end-did I?-but I wanted her to understand. Instead, I just looked like an ass.
The TV flashes, and the person on the game show starts crying; they’ve just won a hundred grand.
“Man, ain’t that a way to earn your money?” Andre says. “You could walk in poor as shit and come out with buckets.”
“Don’t they pay it out in installments?” I ask, leaning back, trying to relax.
“Nah, man. Who’s gonna go on a game show to win a payment plan?” He laughs, and I join him as the co-host hands over a massive check to the crying winner.
“Well, I shoulda been on there, but I got most of them right,” Andre says, taking a bite of his burger. “You were the dud. Couldn’t get an answer right even if you cheated.”
“Just burned out,” I reply. “Preparing for the trip up north.”
Andre nods but doesn’t look away from the TV.
“Should hear back from Luca soon about the details. He’s vetting your ID and getting insurance sorted.”
“Cool, cool,” Andre says, still casual.
His attitude irritates me, and after messing things up with Dawn, I feel like redirecting my frustration. It’s a dick move.
“You don’t even seem excited to be working together. You asked me for work, and now you’re just… nothing.”
Andre nods, apologetic. “Sorry, man. New York made me pessimistic. People promise the world and never deliver. Guess I’ve built a tolerance for only believing what’s in front of me.”
“You’re not in New York anymore,” I say. “You can believe it.”
“Thanks, sweetie,” he teases. “We’re a happy family again right?”
I laugh and toss a pillow at him. “Asshat.”
He laughs, grabs the remote, and turns on the console. “You wanna play?”
“Yeah, load me up,” I say, grabbing a controller.
The NBA game starts as my phone buzzes. I check it, a slim hope it’s Dawn, even though I know I messed that up.
“Aww, man, just reply to that girl you got on the hook,” Andre jokes.
“What?” I go pale.
“Man, I borrowed your car after the party. It smelt like someone’s perfume, and it wasn’t yours.”
The image of Dawn and me in the pantry flashes through my mind-her hands under my jacket, holding me as we had sex.
“She’s obviously chasing you,” he laughs. “You’re just cruel.”
I show him my phone. “It’s Luca. He’s calling in five.”
“Then we got five to get yo ass whooped!” Andre says, holding his controller up.
I roll my eyes, but we start playing. I force the image of Dawn from my mind, but it’s been like this all week. Daydreaming like a kid, my body going haywire, getting erections nonstop.
When my phone buzzes again, I toss the controller down. “We’ll continue after you hang up,” Andre says.
I take the call outside.
“Aldo,” Luca says. “You’re on. Van’s being delivered at ten. Everything’s sorted-just make sure it gets there. Andre’s approved, and if this goes well, there’s more work for him.”
“Great!” I say.
“You’ll hand over to the Kumarin’s with a Colombino convoy. Be punctual. They don’t tolerate lateness. Land this, and we secure a major income stream.”
“Consider it handled.”
“Good. Enjoy your evening,” Luca says, hanging up.
I head back inside, picking up the controller. Andre and I resume playing and trash-talking. He manages to come back and win, then finally asks:
“So, what’s the deal, man?”
“We got three days to get the van to New York. Meet our men and then make a delivery to the Kumarin’s.”
“Kumarin’s?” Andre’s face is surprised.
“Is that bad?”
He shakes his head. “Nah, that’s big, man. Knew a couple guys from there when I was up north. Definitely hardcore. Very closed off. If you pried open a door with them, you’re doing something right. I think Sergiev is like the Iron Wall or some shit? Ex-KGB. Dangles motherfuckers off buildings for fun.”
I whistle. “That’s who Luca will meet if this goes well.” I start another game. “But you’re all approved.”
Andre nods, focused on the screen. “Thanks, man. I know I’ve been a dick about it, but I’m in a weird space. Shit’s going on. You probably heard all about it-meeting Mom and Dawn wasn’t exactly great.”
“Oh yeah?” I perk up, hoping to hear about Dawn.
“Well, I called Mom, asked what she was having for dinner. She said Salisbury steak TV dinner, but I could see her eating takeout burritos. Called her out on it. They flipped, saw me at the window and everything.” He grins, looking genuinely happy for the first time in a week.
“Then what?” I ask, knowing the answer.
“Mom started slapping me, made me sit by her chair so she could smack me and kiss me.”
My cheeks hurt from smiling at the image.
“It was good,” he says. “But I still gotta sort my shit. Moving back was necessary and convenient.”
I shrug. “If there’s anything I can do to help?”
“You already are, man. Putting me up, feeding me, giving me a job. It’s just restarting life after being out of the port for a while.”
“I get that,” I say, wishing I’d said something so eloquent to Dawn instead of fumbling through excuses about headspace and her being his sister. It doesn’t matter that she’s his sister-not when I want us to be together.
Maybe going away for a few days will give us time to cool off. Maybe we can talk after. The fire I started in her heart might be quenched by then. I know mine keeps racing.
We play for a few more hours before deciding to sleep early. I’ve got errands to run before we leave.
But it takes most of the night to fall asleep-I can’t stop thinking about Dawn. After all this time, I’m finally seeing her as a woman.
It’s just a shame she’s my best friend’s sister.
I feel lost.
I wake to my phone vibrating. Groggy, I grab it. “Hello?” The sun’s up, and the clock reads eight.
“C’mon, chop chop! Out front.”
I double-check the clock. It’s eight.
“What do you mean?”
“Van’s here. Waiting for the swap.”
I swear, ripping the sheet off and pulling on pants. My boner is pointing like a compass, so I tuck it up. “Hold on, I’m coming.”
“Good!”
After hanging up, I realize it was Sophie. What’s she doing delivering the van? Why would Luca send her?
Pulling on a shirt, I pass Andre snoring on the couch and head outside, sliding on my slides as I go. Sure enough, the van is out front, windows half-tinted.
Why was Sophie calling me?
I stop in front of the van. The window rolls down.
“Morning!” Sophie calls. “Change of plans.”
My eyes go wide. Sitting beside her is Dawn-she looks just as shocked to see me.