Bit of a short one but what can I say? I'm on a roll, and I like where I left off with this one.

Chapter Eleven – Chinese Food and Beer

We were laughing about a joke Rocco had told us when the buzzer rang. Since I had put my name on the order, I answered the intercom. "Yeah?"

"Got an order here for Julia Starr."

"That'd be me. Come on in," I hit the button for the door downstairs and Connor gave me the cash to pay for it, plus a tip.

About a minute later, there was a knock on the door and I opened it to see a kid of maybe seventeen holding three paper bags. "Starr?" he asked again and I nodded. "Here we are," he said, handing the bags over to Rocco who'd followed me to the door.

"And here you are," I replied, handing over the money. "It's all yours too."

"Thank you! Order again from us soon! Have a good evening!" And he practically skipped down the hall to the lift. Must've been a damn good tip Connor had given him.

"Come on, Jewel. Let's eat!" I heard Rocco exclaim as I shut the door then went over to the kitchen table where my boyfriend had already gotten out silverware, plates, and napkins, and was distributing what we'd ordered. "Damn, does that smell good! I'm starving!"

"Ya ain't da only one, Roc," Connor seconded, dumping the whole carton of moo shu chicken onto his plate and digging in like he hadn't eaten for a week. "Fuckin' hell, dat's good!" I heard him muffle between chewing.

I couldn't help but laugh at the two's antics. "I'll have to order from this place more often when I'm around you two," I commented, scooping up a hefty helping of chicken and white rice. "Might just be cheaper to cook though," and I took a bite, enjoying the savory flavors.

"You can cook Chinese?" Rocco asked, pausing a spoonful of wonton soup halfway to his mouth.

"Not very well, but I know enough to where it at least tastes good. That was the thing about living on my own. I learned a lot of things on the fly."

"Why's that?" the bushy-haired Italian questioned.

I looked at Connor for a moment then back at his friend. "I became an orphan at fourteen when my parents and younger brother and sister were killed in an auto accident."

"Shit. Sorry I asked," he looked down at his plate as if ashamed.

"No worries, Roc. I was bound to tell ya sooner or later. Besides, I learned a lot from being on my own, so it wasn't all bad. Still have nightmares every now and then though."

"I can only imagine," he replied, looking up. "Makes my troubles sound small in comparison."

"How do you mean?" I asked. I had heard the vague references him, Connor, and Murphy had made about his job choice but I never asked for elaboration. Now seemed like the right time to do that. The question was: would he tell me?

He hesitated, looking at his new roommate. "Is a'right, Roc. I trust her wit me life, so ya can tell her anyt'ing."

I turned a wide-eyed stare at the Irishman. "Well, I wasn't expecting that, but then again, I never expected to be dating you either."

"Life's full of surprises, ain't it lass?" He grinned, taking a sip of Guinness.

"Ain't that the truth?" Rocco put in. "Well, if my best buddy here trusts you, I suppose I should too." He took a deep breath before saying, "I work for the Italian mob, and you can't tell anybody, and I mean anybody about this. I may only be a minor player but saying what I'm saying could still get me whacked, so you've gotta promise you won't say anything to anybody. Not even Angelina, okay?"

Wow, I wasn't prepared for that kind of revelation and judging by how scared he looked, I knew he wasn't playing me for a fool. "Ya ain't gotta worry about anything from me, Roc. I promise I won't tell a soul; not even Ange."

"Shake on it," he said, and we shook hands. "Alright, now that that's out in the open, you know why I can't up and quit like I'd like to as I'd end up taking a dirt nap. But, I guess it's not nearly as bad as what you've dealt with." He chugged the rest of his beer then got up to grab another.

"I don't know," I said when he sat back down. "I'd rather not have the potential hit on my head hanging over me all the time, but then again, not having any parents or siblings hasn't been all that peachy."

"Growin' up wit Murph ain't been roses either, love," Connor finished his moo shu and went for the sweet n' sour chicken. "Ma always said we could box fer a livin' wit how much we fought. Got in scraps at school more den once."

"I don't doubt it," I replied, biting into my crab Rangoon. "Never had to get in a fight, so don't know how I'd fare. Probably get my arse handed to me."

"Tink if ya had ta, ya'd hold yer own in a scrap," he got a devious glint in his eye, "'specially if it was wit one of my crazy fans."

He just had to go there, didn't he? "Be careful what you wish for, Connor. If it ever comes down to it, I will knock a bitch on her arse if she's tries to jump you. Won't even think twice about it."

"Easy, killer," he held up his hands in mock surrender. "Was only messin' wit ya. Course, if da situation were reversed, I'd do da same fer ya."

"Same here," Rocco pipped up. "I may be a goofball but I can still fight if I have to."

"Cheers, gentlemen," I finished my beer but didn't feel like another. "Ya got any bottled water 'round here?" I asked.

"Certainly, love. Just a minute." He grabbed me a water along with another beer for himself then sat back down. "Reachin' yer limit already, are ya?" he teased.

"Apologies if I don't have drinkin' worked into my DNA like you and your brother do," I smarted back at him. "I'll stick to coffee and tattoos for my vices," I took a sip of my water as I let that sink in and watched with a bit of satisfaction as he almost looked crestfallen. "What? Did I forget to include you among that list?"

"Ha, ha." He shot back, his face turning crimson. "Now, ya got one in on me. Well played, Jewel. Well played."

I had to admit: it was fun to make him colour up for a change, although I should probably watch how far I push it. I didn't have an idea as to how far I could take the teasing before the Irish temper kicked in. Better dial it back for now.

"You two are something else," Rocco said, garnering our attention. "Never thought I'd see my buddy actually in love with someone again after what happened last time."

"He told me what occurred, and it sounded pretty cruel. I've seen women do some pretty fucked up things to my friends but what he told me tops them all."

"A'right, a'right. Can we change da subject now?" My boyfriend was getting pissed that we were discussing one of his past relationships. "Don really wanna talk 'bout dat dumb bitch, if ya don mind."

"Sorry, man," his friend apologized for both of us as he tried to think of something else. "You writing a new book yet?"

"Not yet but should get on it soon as it's gonna be da last one I do fer da series." He seemed to be in a better mood but I made a mental note to ask him to talk about it later. He said we'd have no secrets between us after all.

"Why the last one?"

"Already 'avin' ideas fer somet'ing else," and he looked my way.

"Do I even wanna know?" Rocco groaned at our exchange, making me giggle.

"Nothing like that, Roc. He wants to use what I do for a living as the subject of a book. That's all."

"What do you do besides the coffeeshop?"

"I'm gonna be an undertaker and a forensic pathologist. Have one degree finished already but still pursuing the other one. Just wanted to get it all done at once."

"Wow. How do you manage all that?"

I shrugged. "I manage. It's not so bad when I'm only taking two to three classes at a time. Opens up time for earning a paycheck, at least."

"Ya ever need help wit money, don hesitate ta ask," Connor offered. "Ya too, Roc."

"I'll try to remember that if I ever get in a bind," I said, finishing my crab Rangoon.

"Me too. Oh, wait. I'm already gonna be livin' with ya. Still feel like I'm gonna be in the way."

"Ya won't be, mate. Told ya, stay as long as ya need ta. Findin' lodging 'round 'ere ain't so easy sometimes. Took Murph a year ta get established wit his own place. Wasn't doin' too well fer a bit, so I took 'em on the road wit me fer a few book tours where he was me bodyguard."

"So you've mentioned," I growled a bit, and was about to say more when I heard Connor's mobile go off.

"Speakin' of Murph. Afternoon, bruddha," he answered. "Just finished 'avin' lunch. Ya done wit work?" he was silent for a minute. "Yeah, Roc's 'ere too." Silence. "Yeah, come on by if ya want. See ya soon," and he hung up. "Says he'll be o'er in a few. Bringin' Angelina wit him, sounds like."

"Fuck. Now, I'm gonna feel like a fifth wheel."

That remark gave me an idea. "Tell ya what, Roc. Ange and I can go out for a while so you guys can hang if ya want. I know it's been a while since you guys have talked."

"You'd do that?" I nodded. "Well, alright then. Thanks." He scratched his head.

"It's no problem. Been a while since me and her went out shopping together."

"Where ya t'inkin' of goin'?" Connor asked.

"Not sure. Probably walk around the clothing shops, check out some new film and music releases; whatever comes to mind." I started clearing the dishes and empty food cartons when the door buzzed again. "Must be them."

"Let's see," my boyfriend went to the intercom. "Aye?"

"Hey bro, let us in, will ya?" Murphy's unmistakable voice came through.

"If ya insist," he joked, unlocking the downstairs door then there was a knock, which he promptly answered.

"Looks like da party's in 'ere," the brown-haired twin said upon entering with Ange behind him.

"Good day at work?" I asked, finishing the cleanup of our lunch.

"Ya could say dat. Had some crazies try ta come in ta bother customers fer pence but Jamie took care of 'em."

I shook my head. "Seems to happen more and more as it gets warmer out. Same thing when it's too cold. I never minded them sitting inside for a few to get out of the weather but panhandling's another matter."

"We've had to kick out more than our fair share of them," Ange said, taking a spot on the black leather sofa. "Hated doin' it but rules are rules."

"Right? It's not like the Bean's a flophouse. There was a bit where Margot was givin' some of 'em free coffee but they started takin' advantage of it, so she had to cut 'em off. Shame to have to do that."

"Folks dese days tend to abuse charity way too much. Partly wat's wrong wit da world today." Murphy said, grabbing himself a beer. "Too many hand-outs."

"Aye," Connor agreed. "A hard day's work almost don exist anymore. And if ya do work, ya get screwed e'ery which way 'til ya got nothin' left." He lit a cigarette and his brother followed suit. "Hell, it's a wonder I got anyt'ing left after publishin' sometimes; agent takes der cut, the publishin' company, distributors; da list goes on."

I looked around the flat. "Seems like you're doing alright now though."

He shrugged and took a puff. "Yeah, now I am, but it wasn't easy startin' out. Dey know my stuff sells, so I've gotten advances on my last four books. But da money always runs out, sooner or later."

"Where have I heard that before? Sounds like a line outta a film." I tried to recall where I'd heard it but my friend beat me to it.

"Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," she smiled at me. "Can't believe ya didn't remember that since it is one of your favorite films."

"Shut it," I smarted. "One: I haven't seen it for a while, and two: I can be forgiven for not remembering since I've been swamped with everything else lately."

"Point taken."

"Sure ya two ain't related?" Murphy asked, watching us banter. "Swear ya act like me and Connor sometimes."

"'Ey! We're not dat bad, are we?" his twin shot at him.

"No," I paused to let the relief wash over them. "You guys are worse." Rocco, Ange, and myself couldn't help but burst out laughing at the scowls the MacManus brothers sent my way.

"Ya better watch it, girl," my boyfriend warned. "Yer askin' fer it."

"Ya can give it to me later. Come on, Ange." I moved from the kitchen to the door. "Let's give the boys some time together."

"Right behind ya, Jewel."

"See ya later, fellas," and we were out the door before any of them could say a word.