Page 6 of The Tempted

“You win the lottery or something?” I said before taking the lid off the piping hot coffee and sipping it slowly.

“Or something,” he ground out as he started up the truck. I placed my cup of coffee down on the center console and peered at him curiously.

“Last time I checked, I was the one burying my mother care to enlighten me on why you’re acting as if someone pissed in your cornflakes?”

It was becoming annoying to watch him and be on the receiving end of his foul mood. I didn’t want to be here either pal.

“You’ve been gone some time Val people change. You ever think that maybe this is who I am that I’m not actually in a bad mood,” he said without taking his eyes off the road.

I couldn’t remember the last time I heard someone call me “Val”. When we were kids, Anthony would call me Val all the time. That was back when my father was a God to me and Anthony and I wanted to be just like him and Victor. I actually embraced the nickname wore it proud and even thought I had the chops to be just like my old man one day. For many reasons the nickname didn’t sound so great to my ear’s anymore.

“Seems like a shitty way to live life. Being miserable and all,” I said. My words must’ve struck a nerve because anger grazed his features. If I thought he was intimidating before Anthony’s mad face would make me squirm in fact, I think I did you know maybe just a little.

“You don’t know shit about my life Val. So why don’t you do us both a favor and quit while you’re ahead,” he blew out a sharp breath and rolled his shoulders.

“Besides, you’re not really in a position to judge anyone considering the life you lead.”

I snapped my head around so quickly I thought I sprained it. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means in the last forty-eight hours. I’ve watched you screw a bitch that meant nothing to you and drink yourself into oblivion.”

“You left out the part where I had to watch my mother die.” Was he fucking serious? I’m sorry I wasn’t the jovial teen he remembered, but since my old man died, life hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park for me. I had every right to make stupid decisions. That was my story, and I was sticking with it.

“I took that into consideration, but something tells me you were living your life much the same before Maryann’s accident. Call it a hunch,” he said rather sarcastically and shrugged his shoulders for extra emphasis.

I tried to focus thinking about the days before my mother’s accident, surely, he couldn’t be right. Things may have been bad, but he was making it like I was an alcoholic who fucked random bitches to pass the days. Sadly, I couldn’t pinpoint a time when that wasn’t the case. I wasn’t always the selfish prick I am now, there was a time when I devoted myself to making my mother happy, desperate to diminish the sadness in her eyes, granted it felt like eons ago. I remember how proud she was cheering me on at my football games. I was a star player so if seeing me play made her smile, then fuck it; I was going to be the best football player out there.

I would’ve been too even scored myself a full scholarship on my football merits alone, but then I was injured during my first game. I shook my head, trying to erase the memories of the days that followed my injury. I tried to forget the doctor telling me I’d never play again, or the disappointment reflected in my mother’s eyes. Things just went downhill from there. I felt sorry for myself and began drowning myself in alcohol and random girls. I eventually lost my scholarship and we couldn’t afford to pay for school without it. I dropped out and went to work construction. Anthony was right my life was a fucking mess and I was just sailing through. The realization depressed me and I suddenly craved something, anything to take the edge off. I sipped my coffee and decided to turn the tables on the man behind the wheel.

“I didn’t know you were living the perfect life. Maybe I would’ve had you kept in touch,” I spat. “And don’t give me that played out line that the phone works both ways because I picked it up and called only you never answered. So, tell me brother tell me all about the beautiful life you’ve been leading.”

His knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel tightly. “Don’t go assuming shit Val. You have no idea what the fuck went down after your old man passed away. “

“So, enlighten me,” I nodded towards the open road in front of us. “We got some time before we get back to Brooklyn.”

Curiosity ripped through me and suddenly I wanted to know all about the people I left behind. Especially the one sitting beside me who remained silent.

“Oh come on Ant, just start with the basics. I won’t even go into deeper shit.” I ran my hands through my hair and tried to pick a starting point for this conversation. It was as if a lightbulb went off in my jaded head and I knew exactly how to get him to talk. “Adrianna. Tell me about Adrianna,” I insisted. “Tell me you came to your senses and made her yours.”

“No,” he said as if it was an automated response and I swear I saw a flash of regret overcome his stone cold features. He lowered his voice and I couldn’t tell if he was speaking more to himself or to me. “She was never mine.”

I probably should’ve tried to mask the surprise or the confusion that overcame me based on the sad yet guarded gaze he held but I couldn’t help myself. If I was a gambling man Adrianna and Anthony would’ve been my sure bet. “What? What do you mean no? That’s fucking insane man. I thought by now for sure you two would be married with a tribe of kids.”

“Just leave it alone Val,” he said in a clipped tone snapping his head to the right to eye me warningly. “I mean it. Any and all mention of her ends now,” he turned his attention back to the road.

I held my hands up in surrender, my eyes widening at his demand. “Okay, fine…,” I silently vowed to myself to uncover the reasons that Adrianna was off limits, wondering what exactly could’ve happened between them. I let out a heavy sigh before we shared a period of silence.

I stared out the window as the traffic opened and he began to drive faster along the interstate. The corners of my mouth curved as she entered my mind and I turned around to Anthony. “How’s little Nikki?”

He glanced at me for a moment remaining silent I suppose deciding what to tell me and what to omit. “She’s all grown up now not so little anymore,” he said, sounding proud sounding like a brother talking about his kid sister. “She went, to some fancy make-up school in Manhattan. Victor wants to open a salon for her, but she wants no part of it,” he shook his head showing me the faintest hint of a smile. “She definitely keeps that man on his toes. It’s kind of fun to watch.”

I tried to picture the little girl who followed Adrianna and me around begging us to include her in whatever it was we were doing I tried to picture her all grown up as Anthony described but I couldn’t.

“She’s got a boyfriend,” he grimaced when he says the word boyfriend. I raise one eyebrow curiously.

“I guess you don’t like him?” I asked inquisitively.

“I don’t trust the little fucker,” he said honestly. I waited for him to elaborate on his answer, but he didn’t. “Whatever. It’s none of my business. Victor doesn’t seem to have a problem with him and if he does, he’s never said a word to me.”

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