“Why? What do you expect to happen?”
“You’re bringing home a boyfriend. To meet your brother and your… What shall we call Rev? Your ‘otha’ brotha’?”
Stella rolled her eyes at Naomi’s fake Boston accent and sighed. “Oh, come on! It’s not as if David is meeting my parents and asking for my hand in marriage. Meeting in restaurants and parks is so impersonal, and I live right here. It’s what friends do.”
“Yeah, keep telling yourself you’re only friends. But I’m happy for you! He seems like a nice guy. At Betty’s, he only had eyes for you. I just want you to be careful. What’re you going to do when he leaves?”
“I’m trying not to think about it too much. We’re taking it day by day,” Stella muttered.
But she had a feeling it wouldn’t be easy to let him go. With David she experienced a closeness, a bond, she’d never experienced with any other man.
The next Wednesday, Stella cleaned the house like a maniac. When Revan was around, he often left T-shirts lying around and coffee mugs or whiskey glasses sitting on the coffee tables. She wanted the house to look inviting and welcoming when David came for his first visit.
She made a large pan of lasagna with fresh garlic bread and planned to serve it with a tossed salad. It was almost six, and she was in a state of high anticipation.
When she told Luca about David, he gave her a long look and said, “He must be someone really special. I don’t remember meeting many of your boyfriends.”
“Well, maybe it’s because you don’t live here anymore,” Stella countered. But she agreed with Luca. David was special.
And it had been a while since she had a boyfriend. In Boston, she’d been lucky if she found time to have dinner with friends. There was no room for a relationship.
She checked the time on her phone again. Would David like how she lived? Would he like Luca and Revan—and vice versa? What if they didn’t get along?
She glanced to where Revan and Luca sat in front of the cold fireplace, each holding a glass of whiskey. Stella couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but she loved the low rumble of their voices and occasional laughter.
She wiped down the kitchen counter and hummed along to “Don’t Ask Me Why” playing softly in the background.
“Cinderella, any good reason why we’re being forced to listen to Billy Joel and your lovely humming?” Rev called from his chair.
“Because I want to know all the songs before David and I go to the concert in Chicago.”
“Chicago? Why not Baltimore or DC? It would be a little closer to home,” Luca said.
“David’s going to visit his parents for a few days at the end of August, and he asked me to meet him there.”
“Wait a minute! We haven’t met the man yet. You’re not going anywhere!” Rev announced and jumped out of his chair, almost sloshing his sacred whiskey.
“What’s wrong with you guys? Why is everybody acting like I’m a child? I don’t need your permission! And don’t call me Cinderella.” Stella snapped, then added in a more normal voice, “Not in front of David. It’s embarrassing.” She glared at Revan, then focused on Luca. “Are you just going to sit there and say nothing?”
“I don’t have to say anything. Revan has it under control.” Luca smirked.
The doorbell rang and kept her from giving her brother an earful. Those two could be such morons. No wonder they’re best friends. And worst of all, they really believed they were in the right. Not happening, busters. I make my own decisions.
Stella ran and opened the door before either of the jerks got there first.
David held out a bouquet of yellow roses. “Hello, beautiful lady.”
She took the flowers and put an arm around his neck to pull him close. His kiss was tender and sweet.
“Unlock those lips for a second and let a thirsty woman in,” Naomi hollered from the other side of the street.
David said to Stella, “You look amazing. I love this color on you.” She blushed and vowed to buy more clothes in shades of green.
“Shutterbug… pour me one of whatever you have,” Naomi called out as soon as she entered the house and hugged Luca and Revan. “And give those two turtledoves a moment to say hello. After all, they haven’t seen each other for a few hours.”
“How many times have I told you not to call me Shutterbug?” Revan’s grumpy demand came from the bar, where he was fixing Naomi’s drink.
Stella said, “Maybe I should apologize in advance for this trio of knuckleheads. But…” she waved her hand at them, “contrary to first impressions, they can be nice—if they want to. Why don’t you go talk to the guys? I’ll get a vase for these roses.”
“Nothing wrong with friendly banter. You should hear me and my sister.”
He greeted Naomi with a kiss on the cheek, and she grinned at him. “Hello, David, nice seeing you again. I hear you’ve been around.”
Next, he looked at Luca and said, “You must be Luca. I can see a resemblance to your sister.”
“I’m not sure why she called me a knucklehead. I haven’t said a word,” Luca replied with a laugh, shaking David’s hand. “Good to meet you.”
Stella called, “You were doing a great imitation of a knucklehead a few minutes ago.”
David turned to Rev, who handed Naomi her drink. “And you’re Revan. Pleasure to meet you all.”
He reached into the paper bag nestled into the crook of his arm. “I don’t know what we’re having for dinner, so I hope this works.” He pulled out two bottles of pinot noir and put them on the mantle. “And some Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon for later.” He handed the bottle directly to Revan. “I hear you’re a whiskey connoisseur.”
“David, my man, excellent choice!” Revan grinned and shook David’s hand again. “I was in Kentucky
