Page 25 of Sweet
“They put nice suits on and they drive kick-ass cars, but it’s just a gang. In the end, the mafia is like any other gang.” Spider pointed to the screen. “I promise you. All these people? They’re all gonna die or they’re gonna ruin their lives and lose everything good they ever had. Or the movie’s bullshit.”
Daisy looked at him, then leaned over and placed a soft kiss on his jaw. “Next time I’ll bring some movies, okay? Something Bill’s son didn’t pick.”
“I’m sure it’s still a good movie, you know?” Spider hugged her closer. “Important art and all that.”
“Know what else is important art? Romantic comedies.”
“Fuck yeah, they are.” He smiled. “You seeMy Big Fat Greek Wedding? Betsy had to make me watch it, but that shit’s hilarious.”
“10 Things I Hate About You,” Daisy said. “A classic of American cinema.”
“Fucking love that movie.” He stared at the screen as ominous men in stylish hats offered dire warnings. “Patrick Verona is the man. Next movie night is10 Things I Hate About You.”
“Done.” Daisy nuzzled under his jaw and nearly managed to sniff him like a puppy. “Spider?”
“Hmm?” He was staring at the screen.
“How many pillows did you own last week?”
“One.”
“And how many do you own now?”
“Fucking ninety-nine or some shit.”
Daisy bit her lip to keep from laughing.
She was definitely getting him a plant.
Chapter 8
Two months later…
Spider lounged on the bed,halfway watching the Christmas movie that Daisy had put on but mostly watching Daisy decorate the skinny Dollar Mart Christmas tree he’d brought home the day after Thanksgiving.
“Are you going to help me with this?” She glanced over her shoulder and caught him looking at her ass. “Or are you good right there?”
“Princesa, you’re asking me to give up the best view in the place.” He tipped up the beer he’d grabbed from the fridge and took a long drink. “Besides, what do I know about decorating a tree?”
He’d bought the stuff for her anyway. It had been a couple of months since they started “dating,” and Spider was still trying to figure out the rules. Being with Daisy wasn’t like any relationship he’d known when he was growing up.
She didn’t want stuff from him. Or at least she didn’t want stuff that cost money. She wanted time and attention and affection. She wanted to go way faster physically than he was willing to go.
Glacier. Slow.
When he was sixteen, he’d had a “girlfriend” down south, and it was always a challenge to keep up with stuff she asked him for. She wanted a purse. She wanted a gold necklace like her friends. She wanted a new pair of shoes, and she was more than happy to give him all the blow jobs he wanted if he bought her those things.
Spider didn’t judge her; it wasn’t as if girls who came from the neighborhood had a lot of options. His first girlfriend didn’t even go to high school; she was just trying to hustle enough that she wouldn’t have to sell sex and embarrass her family.
But Daisy? She was demanding in different ways. She still hadn’t let up on them being a real couple in public and all that. She wanted him to meet her parents, which was ridiculous and way too early. She shared all the things she wanted to change about the café to modernize it. She talked to him about his future and starting his own tattoo shop.
He couldn’t be mad because she was so damn sweet about it, and part of Spider wanted those things too. He hadn’t forgotten his talk with Bill though. He figured staying at his place with Daisy was way safer than hanging out in town and making himself a target, just in case Chino ended up being pissed at him.
He told himself over and over again:Just another week. Just another month. Just until it’s safe to breathe.
But the end of the year was fast approaching, and Daisy was going to hear about her future soon when responses to her transfer applications started rolling in.
Eight months.
