and go downstairs, fill a bowl with cereal and open Dad’s newspaper, the one he gets every day but never reads. Paging through until I get to the sports section, I read all the results and scandals word for word, not skipping any.
The house is so nice when my parents aren’t in it. I almost enjoy being here like this. With a whole day to myself I turn up the music, finish reading the paper, and then get dressed around noon to go out in search of real food that doesn’t require me to cook it.
My Zia’s restaurant isn’t too far from home and I could use a proper meal. I will get special treatment if I go there. With the radio blaring on the short drive, I sing along and generally just enjoy that I don’t have a single thing to do today. My cousin Viviana’s car is parked in the spot next to mine. There is always some family here, because we can never be too far apart from each other – it’s crazy, but it makes us who we are.
“Ciao, Salvi.”
Viv greets me, waving from where she sits alone at a table. Her twin sister did a runner and I think she’s taking it hard.
“Ciao.” I air kiss both her cheeks and give her a hug before sitting down at the table with her.
“No work today?” she asks.
“No, your crazy as fuck brother gave us a day off. So if we get unexpected bad weather you can blame him.”
She laughs, because Rain is a notorious dick to everyone, all the time.
“He’s coming here for lunch, so watch your mouth.”
She winks at me, raising her hand to wave a server over to us so I can order a drink. I thought I’d escaped Rain for a day, but obviously not.
“Ciao, you two.” Zia greets us with big hugs and kisses, squeezing us into her overflowing bosom and making a big fuss.
To them we are still ‘the kids’ and they love having us around. It makes them feel like we aren’t complete delinquents.
“Ciao, Zia.” I hug her back and sit.
“You two hungry then?”
“Very,” I say.
Viv says the opposite. “No, Zia, I am fine.”
I laugh, knowing she will get fed either way, knowing it wasn’t really a question.
“I make something special for you two.” Zia kisses my cheek again and disappears into the kitchen.
“And Rain, Zia. He’s on the way,” Viv calls after her and the old lady nods in excitement.
Family is different from customers. When we come in she is happy.
“So, you heard my brother bought a hair salon.” Viv stifles her laugh.
“Yes, for his wife. You know, because he blew her lover’s head off.”
We both laugh now. It’s not actually funny, but to us it is.
“I’m pretty sure we are going to end up doing the work on the place. He said she wants to update it,” I add.
“Ugh, lucky you. It’s a real dump. Like a 1983 time warp. Even has a neon sign.”
I know the place, we drop and collect money there often, but Viv is a lady and ladies don’t need to know that stuff. Construction on that dump doesn’t sound like fun, but I will get suckered into it, I just know it.
Three
Dark Blonde
CHELSEY
Sal wins the fight, not that there ever was one, and we spend the night at his house after having dinner at a restaurant far from my real life. There are way too many knifes and forks.
The view from the tower high in the sky is beautiful and we are all alone in a secluded little corner. Sal has his hands up my dress before the wine is poured, and somewhere between the entrée and dessert I lose my knickers completely.
Later, when the valet returns his car, Sal helps me in and makes sure I give him a good look, forcing me to slide in at an uncomfortable angle. He bares those straight white teeth and perfect lips into a grin, and I want them on me and not just for a kiss.
From the sidewalk the young man in his maroon vest can see into the car where I am seated, looking down onto my lap. Sal knows it and as he gets in he pulls my dress up, giving the guy a good look before he floors it and leaves him slack jawed in the rearview mirror. The man beside me likes to play dirty games, and I have become his favorite toy.
His home is massive. The stark white furnishings