Page 76 of Driftwood Daffodil 3

The only thing I could think while I watched Atlee drive down Gio’s driveway was, he’s going to fuck someone in my truck, isn’t he?

NOVALEE

Messing with Memphis while he was asleep was one of my favorite past times. Memphis didn’t enjoy my dreamtime humor, but if he wasn’t such a deep sleeper, then he would’ve woken up when I stuck those glow sticks in his nose. So, it was his own fault. I lost count of how many times I did the classic shaving cream in the hand and feather tickling his face – because some things never went out of style.

While my best friend’s slumber skills were incredibly amusing, they were also frustrating when it came to waking himup. Just for school alone, he had twelve alarms set on his phone and three clocks around his room. I swear that boy would sleep through an earthquake. I kind of hated him for that.

If a fly farted in my room I would wake up. Then again I also knew what I did to him when he was asleep, so, one could argue that I wasn’t a light sleeper, but a paranoid one. Or at least that’s what Memphis called it. I called it smart. Couldn’t sneak up on someone if they would wake up to an ant walking across their floor, which Memphis knew about me. He knew everything about me. By product of growing up together.

Gio on the other hand…

My eyes roamed over the sprawled out form on the bed releasing steady even breaths.

I had no idea what would wake him up, or if I wanted to? A part of me felt like this was a trick. Not only was Gio asleep at two o’clock in the afternoon, but he was only half on his bed. His right hip and legs were hanging off the side of the mattress, and his upper body was twisted in this weird half U shape.

I’d seen some strange sleeping positions in my life. Especially, when alcohol was involved. Hell I once passed out with my face in the mud and ass in the air. I had a cramp in my back for days. That sucked, but if I had slept the way Gio was now, my entire body would be a cramp.

How much did he have to drink this morning? And did he have any left?

My eyes roamed over the left arm he had stretched out over his head, to the right hand tangled up in his half unbuttoned navy shirt. Did he fall asleep while getting dressed? That took some serious skill. I’d drank a lot of alcohol and never once passed out while doing something like that.

I looked down at the belt tossed on the floor then to the black suit laid out at the foot of his bed. Maybe he was changing? Atlee did say something about a dinner date.

Not sure what kind of date Gio had in mind—I didn’t think he was the dating type—but the suit was definitely overkill. My faded purple flannel shorts did not meet that kind of elegant dress code, nor did the giant blue stain on the bottom of my shirt. Not to mention I wasn’t the fancy type. Some fast food places were out of my league. What was Gio up to?

My eyes narrowed as I tipped my head.

What was this bastard’s plan?

I wasn’t buying his peaceful expression, even though I did find it slightly entrancing. The look on his face was such a stark contrast to the typical scowl he usually wore. There were no angry lines pulling his brows together, or vein throbbing on his forehead. There was just him. Giovanni Mancini hidden under all that hate and rage. He was so beautiful it was creepy. Where the hell was his pissed off annoyance. Sleeping or not, he should still hate me.

Well, there’s only one thing to do in this situation.

I lifted my arm, ready to swing my hand through the air, when the door was thrown open.

My hand froze in the air as Romeo walked in and cocked a brow. “What are you doing?”

Yeah, this probably didn’t look too good. Luckily for me, I was a quick thinker.

“Stupid fly.” I muttered while swatting my hand around.

I don’t know if he bought it or not. When his eyes landed on Gio, he had other concerns. “Why is he asleep?”

Was he talking to me?

“Don’t look at me.” I shrugged. “I just got here.”

But he was looking at me. Very judgingly so. If I didn’t know any better I’d say Gio’s brother was annoyed and maybe a little stressed. I recognized that crinkle in his forehead. Maw Maw got the same one every time she tried to talk to me about somethingserious. She could’ve saved herself a lot of grief if she would just give up, but no. I still got all the lectures.

“Why aren’t you dressed?”

“Damnit, did I put on my invisible clothes again.” I looked down at my flannel shorts then arched a brow at Romeo. “They should really warn you about this at the clothing for superheroes store.”

Did everyone in this house spend the morning drinking?

Romeo’s stare narrowed. “Do you think you’re funny?”

I did.

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