Edge of Glory (Friendship, Texas Book 1) (11 page)

The sound of Capra's hooves on the hardwood floor woke me.

Hardwood floor?

I jumped off the couch, realizing that I'd fallen asleep on Jay's chest.

He looked so peaceful, with his head leaning against the back pillows and his long body spread out along the leather. I wanted to curl back up with him, but I glanced at the grandfather clock. Everyone would definitely be up soon.

And I was right.

Footsteps sounded on the second floor.

Shit. Don't panic. Don't panic.

I ran into the kitchen and grabbed the first pan I could before both my parents came downstairs, arguing in Italian.

"Rosalia, you're up early," Ma said, raising an eyebrow.

"Shhh. Jay's sleeping on the couch." I put my finger to my lips before placing the frying pan on the stove.

"I'm awake," he muttered, waving his hand over the couch.

Ma looked between the two of us and before she could say something, I opened the fridge. "I decided to get up early and make breakfast. Jay, do you want espresso?"

Jay slowly stood up from the couch and sauntered over to the kitchen. He was even more adorable with his messy hair and sleepy eyes. "I've never had it."

"Never had espresso?" Ma's eyebrows shot up practically to her hairline. "I'll make you a cup. Sit. Sit. Rosalia, make the boy some food to go with his coffee."

"I can help," Jay said, taking a few steps toward the stove.

Ma put her hands up, stopping him. "If you're going to be with my daughter, you have to learn one thing: never bother a Sicilian woman while she's working in the kitchen."

Jay's face turned from a look of confusion to a slight smile before he nodded. "Okay. I can understand that one."

Dad came over, patting Jay's back. "Come. You sit with me in the dining room. We'll get the paper and the women will bring us espresso."

"I can probably get my own espresso," Jay replied.

Ma held up her coffee mug, flaring her nostrils. "What did I say? Out of my kitchen."

"Okay. Okay." Jay put his hands up.

"Sorry," I mouthed and he winked in my direction.

Mom whipped up the espresso as I got the eggs out of the fridge.

Before I could even grease the frying pan, Ma handed me two steaming cups. "Here, go take these to the boys and then yell for Sonny to get up. The snow's melting and we need to get into the restaurant."

"Okay."

"And Lia?"

I turned back toward Ma. "Yeah?"

Ma smiled. "Jay's a good boy. I just thought you should know that."

"I know he is, Ma. That's why I'm hoping he'll keep me around."

She shook her head. "It's not about him keeping you. You know you hold the power here and the way that boy looks at you, he's not going anywhere for a while."

I felt the blush creep back up my cheeks so I turned toward the dining room where Dad and Jay were in some sort of heated debate. I held my breath, afraid of an all-out angry Sicilian man, but then my dad laughed, patting Jay on the back.  "Oh, Jay, my boy, you're a funny man."

"Am I interrupting?" I set the cups down in front of each of them then sat down next to Jay.

Dad shook his head and blew on the steaming mug before he took a sip. "Not at all, Rosalia. Just talking to Jay about the trials of dating a Sicilian woman."

I nodded, my eyes roaming toward Jay who took a sip of his cup then set it down, his face twisting into a scowl. "That's espresso?"

My eyes widened. "Did Ma make it too strong?"

He shook his head rapidly. "I don't know. Whatever it is, sorry, but I'm not a fan."

Dad laughed. "You have to sip on it. It'll put hair on your chest."

"I'd have to shave it off even if it grew there."

Dad practically choked on his espresso and my eyes widened.

Could things get any more awkward?

"Hello? Is anyone home? Oh do I smell bacon?"

I winced, hearing Dana's voice carrying through the room.

Not only did Dana appear in the doorway but my brother Nicky stood behind her, his face skewing into a half-scowl, half-smirk when he saw Jay.

Nicky was a big guy. Like over three-hundred pounds. With his gravelly voice, he could intimidate anyone who crossed him, or just looked at him funny.

"Ey, who is the medigan over for breakfast? Did we get new neighbors?"

Dana elbowed Nicky. "That's Lia's boyfriend."

Jay stood up, putting his hand out to Nicky. "Jay Morningstar."

Nicky shook his hand, his eyes narrowing. "Good to meet you. Nick Conti."

I couldn't breathe, looking between my oldest brother and the guy who was currently making my heart beat rapidly.

Jay sat back down. Nicky and Dana took the seat across from him.

Nicky looked over at Dad. "So, we're just letting Lia have boys spend the night now?"

"Nick!" Dana smacked his stomach.

Ma came into the dining room, carrying a tray of espressos that she sat down at the table before giving Dana and Nicky each a kiss on the cheek. "Nicky! Dana! What are you doing here? You shouldn't be driving in this weather!"

"Don't worry about it, Ma. The roads are all clear. It's in the 50s out there and we'll probably have a lake in the yard soon," Nicky said before grabbing a mug.

"I guess since the roads are clear, I should head out." Jay began to stand but Ma was over at his side, putting her hand on his shoulder.

"Don't let my pain in the ass son scare you off. Sit. Mongiat."

"I, uh, should probably get back and practice."

"You don't like my cooking, is that the problem?" Ma asked, putting her hands on her hips.

Nicky raised his eyebrows. "You probably shouldn't insult my mother and her cooking if you plan on spending the night with my sister again."

"Nicky, stop it!" My voice came out whinier than I intended.

"What? I'm just speaking the truth," Nicky said.

Ma smacked him in the back of the head, going back toward the kitchen. "Lia, I'll finish breakfast. You make sure your brother doesn't scare him off."

I was surprised Jay wasn't already running for the hills, or maybe just the lake. There wasn't much for hills in north Texas.

"Wait. I know yous." Nicky pointed at Jay, kind of squinting. "You're that swimmer. Aren't you supposed to be training in California or something?"

Jay licked his lips, fiddling with the handle on the coffee cup. "I'm staying here to train with my coach. He has a place off FM 6, but I'll be back in California for my sister's wedding next month."

Dana squealed like a little girl. "Ashley Morningstar's wedding? The one that’s supposed to be the wedding of the year?"

I winced, but Jay smiled. "Yeah. That's the one."

"Do you have a date?" Dana asked.

Nicky looked at her open-mouthed. "Are you trying to hit on Lia's man now?"

Dana rolled her eyes. "No, I was trying to give him the hint to ask Lia, stupido."

"Actually I already did ask her. She was just waiting to ask permission," Jay said, looking up from his mug.

I held my breath, looking between Dana and Dad.

Dad slowly sipped on his coffee then set it down, wiping his mouth before he yelled, "Tonietta!"

"What?" Ma yelled.

"Come here!"

"Do you want my corniettos to burn?"

"Just come here!"

Ma groaned and came into the room with her hands on her hips. "What's the matter with you?"

Dad smirked. "Jay Morningstar wants to take our daughter to California for a wedding next month. Dana seems to think it's the wedding of the year. Do you think we should let her go?"

If I kept holding my breath, I was sure to turn purple and pass out.

"Will she miss school?" Ma asked.

Everyone's eyes went to Jay.

Jay cleared his throat. "We can make it a weekend trip so she wouldn't miss school. I have to be back anyway to train then head to a meet in Charlotte."

Ma shrugged. "I don't see a problem."

Dad nodded. "Okay. Then I guess Lia is going to California. This means you're picking up some more shifts, Dana."

I let out a breath, my eyes widened as I looked between everyone. Jay had the ghost of a smile on his lips as he squeezed my knee slightly.

I couldn't believe it. I was sure they'd say 'no'. I don't even know why in the hell they agreed to let me go. I guess with Jay sitting there they couldn't turn him down.

Now I had to go through with it too.

This was real.

This was really real.

Dana reached across the table and grabbed my arm. "Oh My God, we have to go shopping! You need something to wear and we have a free afternoon!"

I raised an eyebrow. "You aren't serious are you?"

"Why not? You're not working tonight and your lover boy said it himself that he needs to practice."

My cheeks flamed to a million degrees. I couldn't think of anything else to say, so I just took a big sip of my espresso and then sucked in a breath, looking at Jay. "You're right. This does need some sugar."

He laughed. "I told you."

"Lia never could handle her coffee," Nicky added.

And just like that, the subject was off mine and Jay's relationship and I was able to survive breakfast.

***

Jay left right after eating breakfast to practice, which meant that I didn't have any other excuses not to go shopping with Dana.

I hated driving Dallas. I also hated driving Dallas with Dana because she had crazy road rage and drove at least twenty over the speed limit on the crazy freeways. I wondered if that might go away when she had a kid with her in the car. Or at least prayed it did.

We ended up at Firewheel Town Center in Garland. Mainly because it was a lot closer than driving all the way to Dallas and Dana had to pee so bad I was afraid she was going to do it on the side of I-30.

After stopping at the restroom at Starbucks, we walked down the sidewalk through the square. Firewheel was a large plaza of a variety of shops and in the center they had a park with a kid’s train that traveled along the cobblestone path.

"So where are we going first? Should we start with Dillard’s?" Dana asked.

"Um, we could do Charlotte Russe?"

Dana scoffed. "You’re not going to an A list wedding wearing some polyester piece from the clearance rack. I know you have tip money stashed away, we're going all out."

The money I’d been stashing was for my move to California. I'd been saving since my senior year of high school and didn’t have a ton saved up, but was hoping it would be a fall back if scholarships didn’t come in for USC.

"So...Old Navy?"

Dana rolled her eyes and dragged me into some store that had the same name as a fruit.

The place was filled with dresses and other clothes that could only be described as stuff that girls who were half my size would wear to the club.

I wondered briefly if these short bodycon dresses even came in my size or what they would look like on a girl with a rack.

A petite girl with bottled blonde hair and way too orange of a tan approached us. "Hey, y'all, anything special you're looking for today?"

Dana smiled, pushing me toward the girl. "My sister-in-law is looking for a dress to wear to a wedding in California."

"Oh, California! Awesome. Anything in particular you're looking for?" The girl asked.

I shrugged. "Something that doesn't make me look like a whale?"

The girl laughed nervously. "What size? Any color? Style?"

"Black, definitely black," Dana chimed in.

"It's a wedding, not a funeral," I muttered.

"But a little black dress is always chic," Dana said, throwing her hands in the air.

I sucked in a deep breath and followed the salesgirl and Dana as they thumbed through sales racks, throwing different black garments at me before I took the heaping pile behind a curtained wall.

I tried on everything from poufy-looking things with too much sparkle to tiny slip dresses that weren't much bigger than my underwear and sports bra.

There was only one dress left in the pile. I was exhausted. Mainly mentally. I hated shopping. Nothing ever looked right on me. I was short with very full hips, a tiny waist, and a D cup. I looked like an awkward hourglass.

The last dress was one that I didn't even remember Dana or the salesgirl putting in the pile. It was long sleeve and short with a very low back. There was no way in hell I was going to be able to wear any of my bras with it.

"Well, here goes nothing," I muttered and tossed off my sports bra.

Slowly I slipped into the dress that went easily over my thighs then put my arms in the sleeves.