Dante

I check the time on my phone as I sit on Diana's couch.

Eleven seventeen.

I had gotten here at ten forty-five. Fiona opened the door and told me Diana was getting ready and to sit on the couch. Now I'm still waiting as Fiona sits next to me on her phone.

"So Fiona, How long do you think your mama gonna be?"

She shrugs, "Don't know. Go ask her."

Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed, I see.

I get up and go to Diana's room. I check around and see her in the bathroom. I stand behind her as she puts earrings on. She looks at me through the mirror and rolls her eyes.

"You can't just walk into my room without knocking. What if I was naked?"

"Then we definitely wouldn't be talking right now."

She rolls her eyes again. "What makes you think I want to sleep with someone like you, anyway?"

I move forward, bending her over a little on the bathroom counter as I breathe down her neck and whisper, "You wouldn't want to me to fuck you, Diana?" I bend her further, my dick slightly pressing against her ass and her breathing becomes heavier as I speak, "Someone as strong, dominant, as pleasing as me?"

She stares at me through the mirror for a second before closing her eyes, sighing and opening them again.

She pushes me off. "No, I wouldn't want someone as annoying, cocky and nonchalant as you to fuck me, Dante."

I step back as she regains her balance. "I'm not nonchalant. You just care too much."

"Not true."

"Agree to disagree. Fiona and I will be in the car." I reply and step out of the bathroom as if our little exchange never happened.

It isn't long before Diana is done. By then Fiona and I had been sitting in the car for about five minutes. I run my eyes up and down her as she walks to the passenger's seat. Wearing light blue jeans, a red plain tee shirt, and matching red and white Nikes. Her hair falling past her shoulders, nearly brushed out. It was a simple outfit, but she looked gorgeous.

How can one simple outfit have me thinking about doing unspeakable things to her?

"Stop staring at me like that. Perv." She says as she gets in the car.

"I have a problem with staring at things I want to eat when I'm hungry, my bad." I replied, starting the car and begin driving.

Her mouth goes agape in shock at my reply. "You seriously don't think before you say anything, do you?" She asks after a moment, shaking her head.

I glance back at Fiona for a second, who is still on her phone, before turning down the street.

"Fiona, isn't your mom sexy?"

"Mama is beautiful." She responds and I nod in agreement.

I see Diana staring at me from the side of my eye as I drive. I use one hand to switch to turn the air conditioner as one is on the steering wheel.

"If you're trying to compliment your way into getting me to do something for you, just spill it alright."

I glance at her, slightly offended.

"You just couldn't accept the compliment could you, Diana?"

"Well, I thought you wanted something. Why would you compliment me and not want something in return? "

I laugh in disbelief. "Your ex must have really fucked you over. I don't want anything from you, Diana. I was just complimenting you. Don't worry, won't be doing it again."

She doesn't respond, only stares out the window. As minutes go by in silence, I decide to turn the radio station on and stop when I hear my favorite song come on.

You are my sunshine was my childhood song. I grew up listening to it. Every time I would wake up in Nana's house, it would be playing. I could almost smell the bacon and hear the chatter between everyone as we gathered for breakfast as the song played on the radio.

When the hook is about to play, I see Fiona smile widely and look up from her phone in the rearview mirror, "Mama! Mama! That's t-"

Diana smiles as well, "I know, I know."

"You guys know this song?" I ask

"This is Mama's favorite song."

I turn to Diana in shock and she shrugs, "It's one of my favorites, I guess. You can change it if you want."

"No way this is your favorite song? This is mine too! I fucking love this song!" I respond and turn the steering wheel.

"Really?" she asks, finally turning to me.

"Assholes can have good music taste too." I reply, grinning and referring to what she called me.

As the hook plays, I mumble along to it and seconds later I hear Fiona and Diana mumbling along in Harmony. By the time the song is done, we arrive at the restaurant.

"What are we doin?" Fiona asks, stepping out of the car.

"Yeah, why are we here?" Says Diana.

"We're getting breakfast. Before you refuse and nag, they don't charge refills."

Diana stays silent for a moment, determining whether she wants to or not. After a moment she says, "Fine."

I nod and we all walk inside after. The waiter greets us and when he finds us a seat, we sit down. Diana and Fiona sit in the chairs across from me.

"You wanna try the breakfast burrito?" I ask, pointing to it on the menu.

"Nope. I've got my eye set on the strawberry pancakes." Diana replies, licking her lips as she stares at the pancakes on the menu.

"And I'm gettin the breakfast combo. Bacon, eggs and toast, what more could I want!" Fiona replies.

"Alright, fine. Y'all are missing out."

Soon the waiter comes and takes our order. Since there aren't many people, it only takes about fifteen minutes for our food to arrive.

Taking a bite of my breakfast burrito, I shake my head in happiness. As I am eating, I look over and see Diana is already staring at me.

"You want some?" I ask, wiping my mouth with the napkin.

"No." she replies, still staring at my burrito like she wants to devour it.

"You sure?" I push the burrito closer to her.

This time she doesn't answer, only shakes her head and I grin. Moving the burrito to one hand, I use the other to hold her chin. "Just get some, woman."

She finally agrees and takes a bite of the burrito. She groans in delight as she chews, and I smile at her reaction.

"It's good, isn't it?"

She nods rapidly. After chewing the rest of it, she says, "That was the best god damn burrito I've ever had. It's like they put their whole being into making that thing. Like heart, mind, soul, everything."

I laugh, "My exact reaction to first trying them. "

It isn't long before we are all finished and full. I hear Fiona's stomach rumble and shortly after, she gets up and goes to the restroom.

While she is in there, I take the time to tell Diana about tomorrow.

"Tomorrow should be fine."

"How are you so sure?" She responds.

"If you play the part well enough my parents nor Daniel will suspect a thing."

She leans forward and puts a hand under her chin. "What exactly are your parents expecting out of me? How did they react when you told them about us?"

I take a sip of the glass of water I had ordered before replying, "I didn't tell em."

She sits up. "You didn't tell them, Dante? Are you serious? This is only going to make it more difficult, you know."

"No it's not. I threw some hints here and there, anyway. Besides, like I said, as long as you play your part will be fine. My parents would expect someone sweet, nice and caring, all that bullshit. Everything I'm not. If my ma sees me with someone like that, she'll believe I've changed. Now my dad, on the other hand."

I regret the last part after a panicked expression appears on Diana's face.

"What the hell do you mean by that?"

"I'm just saying he might not buy it as quickly as ma. But don't worry, it'll all be fine. I guarantee if we can do this, Daniel will get off my back for at least long enough for me to come up with another idea to get him off my ass."

She sits up straighter and shakes her head. "No, no. I know how this goes. Whenever someone says don't worry, there's usually something to worry about. I'm going to show up at your house with my daughter and instantly blow it. They want someone rich and successful. Who knows what the hell they're doing with their life. I'm going to blow it. Detective Daniel is going to arrest you and probably your dad. I'm going to go to jail for being involved with a criminal. Fiona's going to go to foster care, which is the last place I wanted her t-"

I run a hand over my face and put both of my hands on her shoulders, "Relax, Diana. Relax."

She exhales a deep breath as I take my hands off of her. "It's gonna be fine. Just pretend your life's on the line. Since it technically is if this doesn't go right."

She huffs, "Thanks for the advice. It really calmed me down." She responds sarcastically.

"Yep, don't mention it. " I replied and leaned back in my seat.

Fiona then returns and after paying, we leave.

"What now?" Fiona asks as we get inside the car.

"We're gonna go to my place so I can grab a few things. I'll be going to the same area where you guys live. So after I drop you guys off, I'll go there instead of having to come all the way back."

"Where are you goin?" They both ask in sync.

They're both nosey, I see. Like mother, like daughter.

"None of your goddamn business." I respond and they both turn back to the windows they were staring out.

The rest of the ride to my house is filled with the sound of the radio. Mostly soft songs.

When we arrive, Diana and Fiona take a seat on the couch after I tell them I'll be right back. I go upstairs to my office and check around for the papers I needed Luke to sign.

Luke was a well-known businessman I had seen on billboards almost everywhere. He was a hotel manager and if I could convince him to sign the papers, I would be able to not only improve my casino, but possibly make it become a hotel as well. So far, after the opening, the casino has not exactly been hectic.

When I finally find the papers, I fold them neatly and put them in my jacket pocket. I jog downstairs and come down, only to see Fiona and Diana in a heated staring contest.

"Crap." Fiona says before blinking.

Diana smiles happily and stands up in accomplishment. "Maybe next time, pretty girl." She says, patting Fiona's shoulder.

She turns to me and grins at my amused expression. She folds her arms as she walks up to me. I look down at her as she stares at me and my eyes go to her lips. They look plump and soft, almost made to be kissed.

I matched her grin. "What's that mouth capable of, Diana?" I say, tracing my thumb on her bottom lip.

She moves my thumb from her lip and her grin grows wider and she stands on her tippy toes to whisper in my ear, "You really want to know?"

I put my hands on her waist, "Absolutely."

She leans closer, "It's very good at…"

"Say it, baby." I say when she trails off.

"Arguing." She finally responds and pushes my hands off her as she gets off her tippy toes and stands up straight. I was sure the disappointment was evident on my face.

She steps back. "You want to have a staring contest? I'm on a streak right now. I already know I will win anyway."

"Wanna bet?"

I had quite the experience of making eye contact with someone for a long time. The ladies loved it. I figured why not make some money out of it.

"Yes, I'd love to see the look on your face when you're handing me money." She replies confidently.

"I bet fifty bucks I will win."

"One hundred."

"Fine."

She holds her hand out for a handshake. "Deal. It's a bet."

"Bet." I accept her handshake, holding onto her hand a few seconds more before letting go.

I take a seat on the couch and Diana sits across from me. The judge, Fiona, stands in the middle of us.

"Don't fall for me now, Diana. My eye contact usually makes the ladies swoon." I warn as we are about to start.

"Don't worry, there's not a chance in hell I would. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy." She says, cracking her knuckles as if we are about to fight and I hold back my laugh.

"On your mark. Get set." Fiona waves a feather in between us twice. "Go!" she shouts with a final wave.

I stare at Diana's hazel eyes as she stares at me. I don't see a hint of desire or anything as I stare, which I am sure is evident in mine.

She was supposed to be the one crumbling under my excruciating gaze, but yet here I was damn near losing my mind at hers.

At that, I shake my head and take my mind out of the gutter. Leaning closer I say, "You have a booger in your nose."

Diana doesn't retaliate like she normally does. Except she remains in eye contact and doesn't come close to blinking.

"Give me a tissue, baby girl." She says and I see Fiona rush to the bathroom. Fiona quickly returns with a small piece of tissue and hands it to Diana.

I watch as Diana carefully places a hand over her nose and takes the booger from her nose with the tissue. Fiona goes to get the trash and when Diana balls the tissue up, she puts it in the trash.

When Fiona returns from putting the trash can back, she waves the feather in Diana's face. I am amazed when Diana doesn't budge. She remains in eye contact with me, not affected by anything.

Shit.

Fiona turns to me and rubs the feather underneath my nose. I try to keep cool as she continues. My eye twitches and I flare my nostrils, trying to remain sturdy. I am almost successful when Fiona is about to move away, but I inhale a piece of the feather and my nostrils twitch. I watch as I sneeze and my eyes fall closed almost in slow motion.

Within seconds Diana is up from the couch. Shouting in achievement.

"In your face, Stone! In your fucking face. Not so confident now, are you!" She shouts in my face as I rub my nose.

Screw you, allergies. I would have won if it wasn't for you.

I stand up and reach into my pocket. Taking a hundred-dollar bill out and handing it to her. I walk to the counter and grab my keys. Fiona and Diana follow behind. When we reach the car and are all seated, Diana laughs as she buckles her seatbelt.

"Ah come on, don't be a sore loser, Dante."

I shrug, "I'm not." I respond and start to drive.

"Aww, does whittle Dante need a hug?" She asks in fake sympathy. She turns to me and I can see the smile she is trying to hold back.

"Shut up. That match wasn't even fair."

She shakes her head, "Someones in denial."

For the rest of the ride to her place, I think of whether I should just give the papers to Luke tomorrow as Fiona and Diana go on about something I wasn't paying attention to.

The reality show, 'Matchmaker' comes on tonight and I had been waiting for about two months for this episode to air and I was not about to miss it.

Eh, he can wait. A little patience never hurt anyone.

Soon we arrive at their place and I suggest picking up Diana and Fiona tomorrow, but Diana insists on taking the bus after work.

I had finalized that I was just going to have Luke sign the papers tomorrow morning. When I get home, I quickly warm up leftover Alfredo from the other night, take a shower, and get in bed. Nothing topped watching hopeless people go on a reality show and try to find a partner. I usually stopped watching when they did. It just wasn't as entertaining.

One of the characters, Melissa, was getting on my last nerve. No matter how many times I yelled at the television, she never seemed to get it in her head to leave him. And by him I mean Jonathon, her manipulative boyfriend that she continued to stay with.

"He just made a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes right? He still loves me."

I throw a pillow at the screen. "For fuck's sake, Melissa! Stabbing your hand for the second time doesn't show he loves you. Love went out the door ages ago!"

•••

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