Rico took his seat next to me as I looked at my father. “You still didn’t give Rico an answer if he could work the opening.” I said. Normally I wouldn’t bust my father’s balls about giving Rico the gig at the grand opening but I opened my big fat mouth at the risk of hearing shit from both my dad and Rico. Rico didn’t like asking my dad for favors he didn’t need him. He was a self-proclaimed disc jockey who worked the hottest nightclubs in Manhattan. He didn’t need the work or the exposure, but I had thrown his name out to my father when I had overheard his plans for the grand opening. Initially, he sort of brushed the idea aside and told me he’d think about it. When I had told Rico that I brought up him headlining the grand opening well it caused a major argument between us that resulted in me throwing a pair of six hundred dollar Christian Louboutin’s at his head. Nothing says, “Fuck off” like being smacked in the head with a pair of red bottoms wouldn’t you agree?
So the only reason I brought it up again was to take the heat off Mikey who looked like he wanted to hightail it out of the dining room at the mention of him sticking around. I’d pin him as a flight risk, but still I decided to put my ass on the line and give him a pass. In my defense, I’ve been acting like a blithering fool since he walked in the door so what was one more thing to add to the list?
“Babe” Rico said warningly as he placed his hand over my kneecap squeezing it underneath the table. He leaned into me. “Drop it.” His voice deep with agitation.
I pried his palm off my knee and squeezed his hand just as hard before dropping his hand in his lap. “What’s the big deal Rico? You’re awesome and have an incredible following.” I looked back at my dad. “If you made Rico the headliner, he’d definitely draw in a major crowd for the opening night.”
“I said I’d think about it.” He paused. “I’m still thinking.” My dad looked at Rico. “Rico you don’t even seem enthused with the idea.”
“Well with all due respect Victor I don’t really need your opening night gig. It’s not going to change my life, whether or not you decide to have me work the mix or not. But being as it’s an important night for you and your family I’d be happy to do you the favor.”
I winced at my boyfriend’s words. Did he really just say he’d be happy to grant my father a favor? Christ. Jimmy chuckled beside my father. Even the old fool knew his words were almost comical. I glanced at Mikey, which was another mistake because the look in his eyes scared the shit out of me. He stared at Rico expressionless, but his eyes, they were calculating and spoke volumes. Did I mention I have a big fat mouth and needed to learn to zip it?
I bravely stole a glance at my dad. Ah, shit. That would be mistake number seven hundred and sixty five. I was on a roll. He gave Rico a silent lethal stare before looking back at me. I offered him my best smile, hoping the daddy’s little girl card still had some merit.
Rico stood from his chair, placing his hand on my shoulder, forcing me to look up at him. “I’m getting out of here babe got some shit to take care of. You staying with me tonight?”
My father slammed the bottle of wine back down on top of the table as the room awaited my answer. Oh Mikey, you owe me big time! “I’ll call you later.” I told Rico as he leaned down no doubt going in for the public display of affection because why the fuck not? Make that seven hundred and sixty six and counting. His lips covered mine in a kiss that couldn’t be mistaken for anything else other than a nice big ‘fuck you Victor’.
He pulled away once he was finished sucking face with me and grinned that sexy grin of his that normally would’ve had me jumping him, but under the circumstances all I wanted to do was crawl under the table and hide.
“Thanks for dinner Grace.” Rico said, looking around the table his gaze finally resting on my dad. I stood quickly noting my father was a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.
“I’ll walk you out.” I said quickly grabbing Rico’s hand and ushering him out of the house. I damned my big mouth and bright ideas to hell all the way to the front door.
I excused myself from the table and went in search for something hard to drink. Surely, the man with the custom tailored suits had an impressive liquor cabinet somewhere in his house. Victor looked like his head was going to explode and I wasn’t quite in the mood to listen to his tirade. Well, not sober anyway. I had to hand it to him, he had remained quite calm considering the way Rodrigo, or whatever the fuck his name was mauled Nikki in front of him. Aside from the veins bulging in his neck, I had to respect Victor for his self-control.
Bingo! Nestled in the corner of the living room stood a fancy wooden bar with crystal decanters set neatly on top you know they had to contain the good shit. I popped one of the fancy glass tops off and grabbed a glass from under the bar. There was no ice in the crystal ice bucket slacker, but I still poured the amber liquid into my glass. I was swirling the liquid in the glass when the front door slammed.