The surprises with her didn't stop. "Holy shit! Really?"
Alisha nodded lightly. "Yes, Alice, my co-star, and I are singing on the Broadway float."
"Well, damn, Larrington, that's pretty fucking cool," he grinned. "Biggerone—boning a celebrity. I dig it." Alisha's eyes rolled again, and he chuckled, springing forward and tackling her to the mattress, pinning her arms overhead. He smirked when the heat sparked in her eyes, her lashes lowering marginally. Lowering his head, he planted a kiss to her lips. "You going to Maggie's Thanksgiving thing after the parade?"
Alisha's lips twisted up. "I believe it's called dinner, Big. But yes, I'll be there. You?" She kissed the underside of his jaw. "Maggie told me she invited you. Color me surprised."
"Blondie's tolerating me for James's sake, but I love turkey, so I'll be there. And it'll give me a chance to watch you try and keep your hands off me for a few hours. Sounds highly entertaining if you ask me," he drawled.
"Well, I don't have to keep them to myself now, so why don't you let me have them back and I'll put them to good use?" she smiled wickedly.
"Totally hot, Larrington," he grinned, releasing her hands.
Big had just gotten home from a grueling night on the job and was looking forward to several hours of uninterrupted sleep before going over to Maggie's for Thanksgiving dinner. His stomach growled, and he poured himself a huge bowl of Cap'n Crunch and plopped down on the couch, switching on the television. The parade was on and he hit record, so he could watch Alisha later. (Whatever, okay? The chick he was banging on the regular was performing on TV. That shit was awesome.) Al Roker's enthusiasm and Meredith Viera's twatty face annoyed him instantly as he shoveled the cereal into his mouth. He was now supremely glad he didn't have to suffer through how fucking tall Snoopy was and could just fast forward through this shit later, watch Alisha and call it a damn day. Unlacing his boots and toeing them off, he stripped off his work clothes and fell face down against the couch, sleep taking hold soon after.
Sometime later, his phone blared to life on the coffee table, rousing him from his slumber. He opened one bleary eye and groaned. Picking up the annoying object, he barked a gruff "What, woman?"
"Watch your smart mouth, Jake Biggerman," Rosemary Biggerman snapped authoritatively. "And turn on the TV. That lovely and talented Jewish girl from Chicago is on the parade. Jake, have you asked her out yet? Oh, just listen to her."
Big rolled his eyes and sat up on the couch, rubbing his tired eyes. "I can't listen, Ma! You're yapping in my goddamn ear."
"Jake Ishmael Biggerman, so help me, I will reach through this phone and slap you back to New York!"
The three-name call made him wince and he turned the TV on, instantly seeing Alisha's face on the screen beside her blonde co-star as they sang It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Are you watching?"
"Yes, Ma!" Fuck!
"She has such a wonderful voice. Though I do wonder why she couldn't sing a Hanukkah song. She is Jewish."
"Because they all suck," he muttered, though he briefly imagined her singing The Hanukkah Song by Adam Sandler and stifled a snort.
"Jake!"
"Rosemary! You're missing the song by talking."
They sat quietly on the phone for the remainder of the song. He could practically hear the wheels turning in her head all the way from motherfucking Staten Island. She sure as shit couldn't know what was going on between him and Alisha. Alisha. He knew that he probably shouldn't even think her name lest he wanted his mother to zero in on his brainwaves with her Kreskin-like powers. But still, she looked adorable bundled up in her black and white coat with a red hat on her head, smiling and waving to the crowd as the camera cut away to commercial.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Mama," he told her warmly, switching the TV off again.
"Thank you, Jake. Happy Thanksgiving to you. What are your plans for today? I wish you could've come home this year."
"Me, too," he agreed. "Next year. You and Sarah going to Aunt Dinah's today?"
"Yes. I've been baking pies for two days. What are your plans? You're not staying home alone are you?"
He smiled. "No, Ma, I'm going with James to…" he trailed off. Shit.
"Going with James where, Jake?" Rosemary pressed.
"To his girlfriend's apartment for dinner," he finished. Jesus God. Here it comes.
"Maggie? That lovely girl who is friends with Jewish Alisha?" (That was her name now. Jewish Alisha.) "Oh, are you and Alisha spending Thanksgiving together, Jake?" she asked hopefully.
"Ma, please. I dunno what she's doing, I'm not her keeper. I got invited by my best friend to eat some good food and I'm going to go do that and then watch football."
"Jake—"
"I'm beat, Ma. I just got off work two hours ago. Can your favorite and best-looking child please get some sleep?"
"Of course, though I love you both equally and you're both gorgeous. Happy Thanksgiving, sweetie."
"Happy Thanksgiving, Ma. Love you."
"I love you, Jake. And ask Alisha out," she called as the line went dead.
Big shook his head and laid back down, burying his head under the pillow.
Chapter 14
"There's our little starlet," Maggie warmly greeted, looking up from the sink where she was peeling potatoes when Alisha walked into the spacious kitchen. "You looked and sounded fantastic, Lisha!"
"Thank you, Maggie," Alisha beamed, setting down the carrier of pies she'd brought with her. She wrapped her arms around her friend for a quick hug. "Happy Thanksgiving." She opened a cabinet and grabbed an apron. "What do you need help with?"
"Can you get started on the dressing? The bread is already dried out.
