I think it’s fine. It’s been five years.”
I sip on my beer and watch Marianna throw him the glare I knew was coming. These two usually go at it when they differ in opinion… which is most of the time.
“Why? Why? Because! That’s precisely the reason! Five years!”
Max shakes his head. “It’s not the first big match since she’s been gone, Mari.”
Marianna rolls her eyes, annoyance obviously on her face. “It doesn’t matter. It’s the fifth anniversary. He should never take part in any match on December fifth,” she responds as if I’m not sitting right here in between the two of them. It’s a small circular table, so we’re all facing one another.
I close my eyes and take another sip. Thinking I’d best say something, I take a deep breath and slowly open my eyes to look directly at Marianna. “Mari, it’s fine. I’ll be okay, and I definitely have to take part in this match. I’ve been training for it for months. I’ll be okay.”
Marianna shakes her head. “I don’t think it’s smart for you to take part in the match. I know you have built up anger because of… well, everything.”
“He’s fine, Marianna. You heard it straight from the horse’s mouth,” Max says.
Marianna turns to face Max. “I’m worried about him, Max. You don’t understand because you’re a guy.”
He chuckles. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’m worried he’s going to get hurt… or worse, hurt someone else, maybe more.”
They throw glances at me, and I almost spit out my beer. Yes, I’ve been known to have a temper. I’ve had built-up anger since Sylvia’s passing, but isn’t that natural? I lost someone who meant the world to me. It wasn’t fair. I’ve been depressed, and lost, and downright angry. It’s the main reason why I turned to MMA fighting. I thought it would be a positive way to channel my feelings. I need to unleash my inner beast. Plus, my brother has a temper too. I think every guy in my family does.
“Guys, I’ll be fine. And I won’t hurt anyone… that bad.” I give them a smug grin.
Marianna rolls her eyes while Max laughs.
“Ugh! Lorenzo! I give up with you! I’m going to have Mom talk you out of it,” Marianna says and takes a sip from her glass.
I’m about to tell her that not even Mom can convince me not to partake in the event on the fifth, but as I’m about to respond, my eyes dart toward the door.
The ringing of the bell above it caught my attention, but the woman walking in behind two other ladies is holding it. She pulls a red-and-white striped candy cane out of her mouth and keeps it in between matching crimson lips for a few seconds.
Luscious, plump crimson lips. Damn.
I shake my head and look away, but I glance back at her as she makes her way to a table.
Long brown hair cascading down her back and big brown eyes make me stare. Pink cheeks and a pretty smile that is now visible grace her face, lighting up the dimly lit bar. Wow.
She’s got a small frame, but her curves are evident as she slips her wet coat off. She’s wearing a white top and skin-tight denim jeans. Heeled boots sit on her feet.
I take a long swig of my beer. I need to think of something else.
“Really, please give it some more thought, Enz. I would hate to see something bad happen,” Marianna says. I know she’s been talking for a minute, but I’ve been distracted, and that’s all I’ve really heard her say in the past couple of minutes.
I turn my glance away from Luscious Lips and face Marianna.
Shit, did I really just give this woman I don’t even know a nickname? And that nickname?
Okay, it’s been a long time since I’ve last been intimate with someone. Sylvia was the last person I’ve been with. I haven’t had the urge to be intimate with anyone since. I don’t now either, but somehow I gave a name to this stranger.
Luscious Lips? What the hell? Yeah, she does have some nice lips that I imagine she can do amazing things with, but…
Damn, it’s not my fault. The way she’s sucking on that candy cane is really distracting. Fuck.
I shake my head and decide to answer Marianna. She’s still staring at me, waiting for me to say something. I pick Marianna’s hand up from the table and place a kiss on it to reassure her. “I’ll be careful, sis.