Though what middle of the night visits were ever happy news? Except, of course Gloria and her girls’ bid for the hot tub, that wasn’t exactly happy (for Hector) but I found it humorous.
I decided to do as asked. First, he’d just called me “preciosa” something I liked (a lot) and even though I figured I knew what that meant, I still added a call to Jet on my Mental To-Do List for the morning to see where that ranked in Spanish endearments. Second, I wanted to find out what trauma was about to befall me now so I could deal with it and maybe get some sleep before the next one.
Hector moved across the room as I put on my camisole then fought the sheets and comforter as I put on my panties while in bed. Semi-decent, I got out of bed and pulled on my bottoms.
All of this effort was for nothing. Hector was rooting around in his closet and I’d rounded the bed by the time he found what he wanted.
He joined me at the foot of the bed and offered me a shadowy piece of clothing.
“Put that on,” he ordered.
I took it, saw it was a flannel shirt and shrugged it on. It was soft and it was warm and I hoped it wasn’t Hector’s favorite because I instantly decided it was going to find its way into my overnight bag.
We walked down the stairs. The lights were on and Ren was standing in the living room with his uncle, Vito Zano, and his cousin Dom.
What in the heck was going on?
I hesitated, not knowing what to do. Even my father’s incessant training in social niceties hadn’t prepared me for a middle of the night visit from the Zano Family. In fact, I was certain sure that kind of visit could not be found in any etiquette book.
Then as I had loads of practice at dealing with whatever weird situation came my way, I made a decision and walked to Vito.
“Mr. Zano,” I greeted, putting out my hand.
He took my hand and used it to pull me into his arms for a warm hug.
“None of that ‘Mr. Zano’ business now that Seth’s out of the way, little one. I’m your Uncle Vito now,” he told the top of my head.
Well, that was just great. Now I had an “Uncle Vito” to add to my growing list of friends I never knew I had.
Did no one remember my Ice Princess? Was everyone determined to make it harder for me to cut ties and disappear?
Darn it all to heck!
He let me go, I pushed aside my mental tantrum and I looked to Ren and Dom.
Ren looked good (as usual), wearing jeans and dark brown turtleneck.
Dom Vincetti, his cousin, was wearing a long-sleeved, thermal henley and jeans, looking rough in a way that was a lot like Hector (but Hector did it better, in my opinion).
Dom had always been the wild one. He was good-looking too and usually an outrageous flirt, sometimes not in a good way, in a way my father said was crass. Now, he wasn’t looking at me like he usually did (as if he was mentally undressing me) but in a different way, intense, and bizarrely at the same time, soft.
Just like Ren was looking at me.
This time, I let Blanca’s lesson take hold and instead of moving toward either of them (which might involve some form of touching which might make Hector mad, something I wished to avoid at all costs), I moved to Hector.
Hector’s arm slid along my shoulders as I said to Ren and Dom, “Hi guys.”
Dom blinked. Ren’s eyes flicked to Hector then back to me and he grinned.
Hector tucked me in his side.
No one spoke.
I waited.
Still, no one spoke.
Finally, when I could take it no more, I asked, “What’s up?”