Chapter 12

Buffy collapsed on the couch as soon as she hit her house. She closed her eyes and realized the house was too quiet. She then realized that Julian was at school. Her body ached from her earlier shift, and she longed for a hot bath, a deep tissue massage, and twelve hours of uninterrupted sleep. The problem was she was too tired to even get off of the couch.

She opened her eyes when she felt something on her cheek.

"Hey," Antonio said. "How was your first shift, Sleeping Beauty?"

"Antonio, what the hell? What time is it? Where's Julian? What are you doing here?" she asked, confused.

"It's 12:30, he's still in school, and I just stopped in to see how you did on your first shift."

She sat up. "I guess I fell asleep," she admitted sheepishly.

"Yep. Out like a light. Must have been a bad one."

"Not too bad. Welch tried to make my life Hell, but I wouldn't let him."

Antonio smiled. He had expected nothing less of her. "Knew you'd nail it."

Buffy got up from the couch and started for the kitchen. "Are you staying? Do you want me to make you something to eat?"

"I wish I could stay, but I need to get back. I just wanted to check on you because you weren't answering your phone. Now I know why."

"I'm sorry. I sat down for a minute and the next thing I remember is you kissing me."

"It's okay. You're not used to the shift yet. You'll get used to it. I gotta go." He gave her a kiss and a swat on the butt.

"Antonio?"

He turned.

"Come for dinner?"

"Call you later," he said as he made his way through the door and through the yard to his car.

A few hours, heat packs, antinflammatories, and a hot shower later, Buffy puttered in the kitchen starting dinner.

"Hello," Marco greeted as he stepped through the door with Julian right behind him.

"Ah, two of my men," Buffy said as she hugged Julian and directed him to the kitchen table where milk and cookies were waiting.

Marco gave her a hug and a cheek kiss. "How was your first shift?"

"Long."

"But you made it."

"I did, but I'm dead on my feet."

"That's expected. It was your first shift. By the way, I'm taking Julian home with me. I just stopped in to let you know."

"Why?"

"Because Antonio asked me to."

She raised an eyebrow.

"He didn't text you?"

"He might have. I haven't checked my phone."

Marco handed her the phone that was sitting on the kitchen table. She opened it up and found a text.

Pack a bag. We're spending the night at the Palmer House. See you at 7.

"He has a room for us at the Palmer House," she said, totally surprised. "We can't afford the Palmer House."

"Relax, Buff. It's the off season. Rates are cheap. He wants to spoil you a little. Don't worry about the cost," Marco told his youngest sister.

"But Marco-"

Marco held up his hands. "Hey, he asked me if I would watch Julian. I said it wasn't a problem. Mom says it's not a problem. Go. Have fun. Don't worry about the money. If Antonio didn't think he could do this, he wouldn't have set it up."

She sighed. Marco was right. Sometimes she thought Marco knew Antonio better than she did. She assumed it was the bro code.

Marco looked at Julian. "Little Man, are you ready to go?"

Julian hurriedly finished his cookie and gulped his milk. "Ready."

"Don't forget to do your homework, and behave for Grandma," she reminded as he headed for the back door.

Marco gave her a wink. "He'll be fine. And don't worry about clothes or a clean uniform for tomorrow. Mom has them at the house."

"Of course she does," Buffy said. "She has everything for him at her house."

Marco smiled. "You enjoy your night with Antonio."