Chapter One

"Who's up for some grub?" Dominic asked as he looked around the room. Everyone began nodding their heads. "Come on, boys, let's get this started," he said as he picked me up and set me standing on the ground. He kissed my neck and smiled. Leon, Vince, Brian, Jesse, and Dominic all went to the backyard to start cooking.

I sat back down in his chair and looked at the girls. Mia smiled at me, and Letty growled and got up, walking into the backyard. Mia shook her head. "She just needs to grow up," she mumbled.

"It's not my fault, Mia," I said looking down. I played with the ring around my thumb, twirling it lightly back and forth, watching the light hit the stone set in the center of it. "Letty and I always used to compete for Dom's attention, and I never thought there would be hard feelings when someone won. And he and I aren't even together, so no one really won yet anyway. Not that it's a competition, though. I love him. She just wants to look good."

"I know," she responded looking at me. "I was around for it all, remember?" she laughed sweetly, and stood up. "Letty thought the only way to be into cars was to be a man, too. You can be into cars and still be a girl. I think that's what Dominic likes about you." She grinned. "Let's go get ready!" she said bounding up the stairs.

I ran after her laughing. We were so alike sometimes, but she was more laid back, and I liked that about her. She was the closest thing to a sister I'd ever get, and I could confide in her.

"I'll catch you outside," she said as she sauntered out of the room. She looked gorgeous, as usual. Even in just blue jeans and a t-shirt. She had a natural beauty about her that you just couldn't hide from.

I looked at myself in the full length mirror. My brown hair cascaded over my shoulders, and fell messily around my face. My light tan eye makeup made my eyes glow a lighter shade of brown then normal, and my white tank top and tight, low hip huggers, showed off every curve of my body. I smiled. 'Lookin' good,' I thought to myself. I grinned and ran outside.

All eyes stopped on me when I got outside. They were mostly smiles, except of course the always lingering scowl from Letty. I sat next to Mia and grinned. "Gorgeous," she whispered as she patted my knee from underneath the table.

"You too," I whispered back. "As always," I added as Dominic came up behind me.

He wrapped his muscular arms around me from behind, and started whispering in my ear. "You know..." he started. "When you dress that way, Addy..."

"Hmm..." I mumbled as he nuzzled his face against my neck. I looked around and saw that no one was noticing what was going on, so I didn't turn red this time as I usually do.

"Bad thoughts come into my mind," he said with a slight, low laugh. I knew he was serious, though. Dominic always had a thing for me, since I'd grown up.

"So, Adriana," Letty barked, noticing the situation between Dominic and I. "How old are you now? Ten?"

Everyone stopped their conversations and looked at Letty. Mia gawked at her, and mouthed something to her. Brian kind of chuckled. "I'm seventeen, Letty... you should know that considering I am 6 months older than you," I said grinning. I took Letty's abuse as a challenge, to see who the better talker was. It was obvious that I was.

"Funny, you don't look like you've even been out of your diapers that long," she said as she took a swig of her beer.

I threw my head back, and laughed long and hard. "Is that a nonalcoholic beverage there, Letty? We all know little girls like you can't handle their liquor," I said. I leaned over the table and lowered my voice to a whisper. "Remember what happened last Fourth of July?"

Letty got up from the table so fast and was at my side. "Listen you little bitch," she growled in my ear. Dominic stood in front of her. "This doesn't concern you," she barked.

"Nor you," he said calmly into her face. He whispered something in her ear, and she looked angrier then ever. "Sit down, Letty." Letty retreated to her seat and sat their angrily sipping her beer. The rest of us chatted along and made jokes. "Dinners on," Dom said as he set the hamburgers and hot dogs out on a plate in the center. Jesse said grace, and then everyone dug in. The entire dinner, Dominic's hand was under the table, on my thigh. Towards the end, he slid it up further and smiled at me. "You're gorgeous," he whispered in my ear.