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CHAPTER 6

MAMA FITZPATRICK

PATCH'S POV:

Day 3 after Nora. Man, this totally sucks. Just a few days ago I was in my first exclusive relationship, and yes I know it wasn't perfect but it was a huge step for me. But she couldn't stay in a relationship like the one I was offering her, and honestly, I really can't blame her. I was asking so much of her but giving her nothing in return. I made her keep us a secret, despite how awful I knew it made her feel. She hated it and she had to lie to so many people to keep the façade up, but I didn't care. Well, I did care, I just wouldn't do anything about it since I was more worried about how it would affect my life. My reasons were some that I found really hard to explain to Nora. I told her it was because I've never seen a healthy functional relationship before and that's a part of it, but the main reason is that I don't want her lumped together with all the one night stands that I've had. I was about as public as you can get with them and I don't want them to be in the same category as Nora Grey. There is no comparison. They were just sex, and Nora is more. So much more. And no matter what I say, everyone would just assume she's one of them. They would compare her to Marcie and that's far from right. Marcie Millar is nothing compared to Nora Grey, and that's something I figured out even without sleeping with her. Nora Grey is more than a guy like me could ever aspire to have. She is perfection, a true angel and I blew it with her in some misguided attempt to keep her separate from the bad parts of my life. I'm a God-damn fucking idiot.

"Man, come back to Earth. What's going on?" Dante asked me, it was Thursday morning so there was only one more day of school after this before I could stay at home all weekend licking my wounds and missing the girl that's way too good for me.

"Nothing," I told him shrugging. I needed to keep my façade up. I am Patch Cipriano and nothing fazed me. Especially not a girl. The good thing is that the only one who knows it's a girl tying me in knots is Rixon and he'd never tell anyone.

"Well good because I have a problem that I need you to solve for me," Dante told me and I sighed. Dante's problems were always girl related. He didn't have near the success with the opposite sex as I did. He was good, I'll admit that for sure, but for every one girl he's screwed around with, I've fucked three. It's just the way that it is and women still flock to me.

"What's up?" I asked him.

"How the hell did you manage to get Nora Grey to go out with you? I have to get her to but the girl is a tough one to crack," he said shaking his head.

"You've asked Nora out?" I asked him completely shocked. I had hoped his little fascination with my girl would have went away by now. I guess technically she's not my girl but whatever.

"I've tried to but she slips away from me and hides before I even have a chance to talk to her. Tell me how you got to her so I can take her out and succeed in what you failed to do," he told me.

"Why should I give you my expertise?" I asked carefully.

"Since you're my buddy and we both know she needs to be freed from that pesky virginity," Dante explained and I shook my head.

"Nah, I'm not going to give you the advice to get into her bed. Besides, it wouldn't happen anyway. You'll never sleep with her, she's firmly attached to her virginity," I told my pal trying to hide my actual investment in the issue.

"Come on man. We've got to have each others backs," he insisted.

"Nope. I didn't have any help so you don't get any either," I said and Rixon stared at me with a smirk on his face. He knew exactly why I wasn't willing to help.

"Fitzpatrick, how did he do it? You know everything about Patch," Dante demanded.

"Can't help you. I don't think this is a good idea," Rixon told him. Rixon always had my back and he knew without me even saying it that I wanted her back. I just didn't want the rest of the damn school lumping her together with all of my other conquests. For the first time ever I really regretted behaving like I have. If I hadn't slept with all those girls, I would have been able to go public with her without any problems at all. Yep, I'm a world-class idiot and a real asshole. They say that hindsight is twenty/twenty, and it's true. I never would have played the man-whore if I'd known that I would meet Nora Grey and fall for her.

~P&N*P&N*P&N*P&N*P&N~

NORA'S POV:

"I still can't wrap my head around the fact that you were essentially dating Patch Cipriano," Vee told me when she sat down firmly attached to Jule's side.

"It doesn't matter now. He couldn't give me what I need so I can't give him what he wanted either. I know he didn't want to break up, but he let me go because he knew I didn't have a choice. I couldn't continue lying to everyone," I told her.

"You really liked him didn't you?" she studied me. That was the one question she never asked, so I figured it was safe. I had to admit that I cared for him in a way I've never cared about someone before. I missed him, and it was likely that if he asked me and told me he didn't want to hide anymore I would go back to him in a second. There was no doubt in my mind about it. He was so different the times we were together. We talked and he told me things about himself and his life. It was nice having that connection with him, but I should have known that we had no future.

"I did. I think if everything would have gone the way that it was supposed to, I could have fallen in love for the first time ever," I admitted. I was really trying to be totally and completely honest with her. She deserved it since she's been by my side since the sandbox days.

"I'm sorry," Vee said meaning it wholeheartedly.

"It's okay. I'll get past it and I'll meet a guy who actually wants to be with me," I told her trying to assure her. Vee nodded and sighed.

"I just wish this would have worked out for you," Vee said sincerely.

"Me too, but it's okay," I told her again. Vee nodded and I told myself not to think about him. It wasn't good for my health.

~P&N*P&N*P&N*P&N*P&N~

PATCH'S POV:

"So, you two should be my wing men so I can ask her out," Dante suggested. Rixon looked at me and I shrugged. I had to pretend that everything was cool or else Dante would figure out that there was something off about me.

"Whatever," I said and Dante grinned and stood up.

"Watch how it's done boys," he said as he began walking across the quad to where Nora and her friends were sitting.

"Good luck," I said to him completely certain that she wouldn't say yes to him. Even I had to fight tooth and nail to get her to go out with me.

"I don't need luck. My talents are legendary," Dante said as he approached the table. Nora's eyes flared when she saw me and she stared at me questioningly. I focused my attention elsewhere, I couldn't look in those beautiful gray eyes or else I would probably give up and ruin her life and reputation forever.

"Can I help you?" she asked the three of us. I noticed that she tried to keep her gaze away from me.

"Actually yes. I think you should go out with me," Dante said attempting to be smooth. Nora's eyes widened and they flashed over to me. I stood stoically by, not willing to let my own opinions influence anything.

"You want to take me out?" she asked her eyebrows raised until they were nearly touching her hairline.

"Yeah. You'll have fun baby. I'll make sure it's the best night of your life," Dante told her laying it on thick. I wanted to gag at the way he was acting towards her but I had to keep my reactions normal.

"You're going to give me the best night of my life?" she asked. I couldn't pick anything out from her tone, she didn't sound incredulous or happy. I didn't understand.

"Sure am sweetheart," he told her and I actually rolled my eyes this time. Rixon was standing beside me trying desperately not to focus his attention on Vee who was sitting right beside Nora.

"Well then. Fine. I've already went on a date with one guy who promised to give me the best night of my life. You can't possibly do any worse," she said.

"Well good. I'll pick you up at seven on Friday," he said.

"No, I'll meet you at Enzo's on Friday at seven. Nothing is going to happen that involves you knowing where I live," she told him and I breathed a sigh of relief. She had no intention of sleeping with him which was good. But that really didn't explain why she was going out with him.

"A girl who knows what she wants. I like it. I'll see you Friday at seven at Enzo's," he said and motioned for us to walk away.

"Hey, it really doesn't mean anything that she's going out with him," Rixon told me as we walked back a little ways behind Dante.

"She's going out with him. That is not a good thing," I told my best friend around the lump in my throat.

"Do you want to hear what I think..." he trailed off.

"Fine, shoot," I told him.

"I think she's trying to make you jealous. I think she wants to push you to declare your feelings for her," Rixon said.

"Maybe, but I don't think that's it. I think that she said yes because she's trying to get over me," I told him and Rixon shook his head.

"That's not it," Rixon said as we sat down. I wished I could approach her about it, but I couldn't. We were over and I had no one to blame but myself.

~P&N*P&N*P&N*P&N*P&N~

NORA'S POV:

"I'm going out," I called to my parents Friday night.

"Where are you going?" they asked me before I left the house.

"To Enzo's with Olivia," I told them which wasn't technically a lie. She was picking me up, taking me there and waiting for me to be done. She was going to be there the whole time, just not at the same table as Dante and I. I couldn't believe I said yes to Dante Matterazzi. I couldn't stand the guy but I still said yes. I knew I only agreed because Patch was standing behind him and I was trying to prove to myself that I was over him.

Which, by the way, I so am not. One just doesn't get over Patch Cipriano. I suddenly feel like one of those girls who he's slept with and dumped aside from the fact that we've never slept together.

"Have fun," my dad called. He was back to implicitly trusting me, something that I was happy about. My life finally felt like it was going back to normal after the Patch Cipriano debacle.

"I won't be late," I told them before leaving the house where Olivia was waiting. I got in the passenger seat of her car and shut the door before she pulled away from the curb.

"I still can't believe you're going out with Dante Matterazzi. Are you going after Rixon next?" she asked me but I knew she was teasing.

"Nope, I'm only going out with Dante because he asked me. I have no interest in him and I really should have said no," I frowned.

"But Patch was standing there and you had to show him that you were over everything," she finished for me and I nodded my head.

"Exactly," I said.

"I can understand that," she told me as we drove through town.

Dante's car was already there when we pulled up as was Patch's motorcycle.

"I guess he needed his wing-man tonight," Olivia noted.

"Apparently. That is going to make this so much harder. I can't look in his eyes and pretend to have fun with Dante. I'm going to fail miserably," I sighed audibly.

"He probably won't be at the same table. He'll probably just be sitting at the bar watching Dante and you," Olivia told me and I nodded. I could do that. I could go through with a date that I didn't want to be on and I could ignore the only guy I wanted to date. I could do it. I knew I could. I walked inside and immediately found Dante sitting at the same table Patch and I sat at on our first and only date. The difference of the two occupants was comical. Both were good-looking but Patch was so much more than only his looks.

"You came. I was beginning to think you weren't going to show," Dante said as I sat down.

"It's a woman's prerogative to be late," I told him inserting a smile on my face. I wanted to show Patch that I was over him and I was moving on one way or another.

"I suppose it is. So I promised you the best night of your life and I'm going to deliver," he told me and I continued smiling no matter how fake it was. Patch was far enough away that he couldn't hear our conversation but maybe if he saw me smiling and appearing to have fun he would just assume I'd moved on.

"Oh you are are you? You have high expectations of yourself don't' you?" I said rolling my eyes while continuing to smile. The smile had to stay on my face or else Patch would see right through me.

"I do. I'll do so much better than Patch did. You'll actually wake up in my bed tomorrow morning," he told me and I rolled my eyes.

"Oh you think so do you?" I asked him fighting myself on just walking away from this date now, damning the consequences. I did not want to be here. I really didn't want to be here. This was the worst decision I ever made. Bad idea Nora, very bad idea.

~P&N*P&N*P&N*P&N*P&N~

PATCH'S POV:

Okay, I've seen enough. I've spent the last hour here watching her smile at him and seeing his confidence rise further and further. I was still convinced that there was no way in hell that she was going to sleep with him but I didn't like the way she was smiling at him. He wouldn't be afraid to take her out on another date. He didn't like her enough to care about what it would do to her reputation. Nora was the girl who I would never have again because I fucked it up. I drained my beer that I got thanks to a little bit of flirting and stood up leaving a ten on the counter.

"Dude, where are you going?" Dante asked.

"I'm done here," I told him as my phone started ringing. I saw Rixon's name and answered it.

"What's up?" I asked him.

"I'm rescuing you from pining after the girl on a date with Dante. Come on over. Mama brought home food from the restaurant for dinner and we too much. Since you know it's only me and her..." He told me.

"Done. I'll be there in ten," I said.

"Good. My mom told me if I don't get you here she was grounding me for life. I will never understand why she likes you more than me," he said and I could practically see him shaking his head.

"It's because she doesn't have to see me everyday and she didn't give birth to me. Ten or more hours of labor sometimes makes you dislike someone more," I reminded him.

"Yeah yeah. Get here soon, mama won't let me eat until you're here," Rixon said before hanging up on me.

"Gotta go. Mama Fitzpatrick brought home food that she's sharing with me," I told Dante before walking away.

When I pulled up in front of Rixon's house I got off my bike and walked right in the house without knocking.

"Mama Fitzpatrick," I greeted her with a smile when I walked in.

"Hello dear. Come on in. Rixon is getting impatient," she told me reaching up on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek. Rixon's mom was like a surrogate mom to me. She always made sure to make me feel like one of her own since she knew how shitty my home life was.

"I'm sure he is. He's a growing boy," I laughed.

"Stop talking about me and just come and eat," Rixon called from the dining room. Mama Fitzpatrick was a tall, curvy woman with curly black hair that fell down her back. She was the complete opposite of my mom and I loved her all the more for it. She owned the most exclusive fine dining establishment in Coldwater which she prided herself on her fairly reasonable prices. It was 'the' date destination of Coldwater due to the soft lighting, plush decor and candles creating a romantic atmosphere.

"Yes yes, I'm coming," I told him as Mama Fitzpatrick and I walked into the dining room where Rixon was seated waiting.

"Take a seat dear and tell me everything that's new with you. You haven't been around in a couple of weeks, I was beginning to worry," she told me as she allowed me to dish my plate first. I grabbed my food as I pondered what to tell her. I didn't want to tell her I was completely into a girl when there was a chance that she would never see the two of us together. I was more apt to introduce a girl to Mama Fitzpatrick before I introduce her to my own family.

"Patch is in love," Rixon interjected and I shot him a death glare.

"You're in love? You met a girl? Aw that's so sweet. I'm so happy for you. Tell me all about her," she said her blue eyes shining happily at me. I always felt loved when I was in that house. Rixon's mom raised five children by herself after her husband walked out after their fifth child was born.

"I'm going to kill your son. I didn't want to tell you because nothing is going to come of it," I told her and watched her face fall.

"Why?" she asked me.

"He's too scared to be exclusive with her," Rixon shot in again with a smirk on his face. Those two had a really bad habit of talking about me like I wasn't there. But I knew they did it out of love for me.

"Patch, you have nothing to worry about. You have so much to offer a girl, especially one that you love," Mama Fitzpatrick told me.

"It's too late now. She's on a date with Dante Matterazzi," Rixon told her and I shook my head. His mom was going to know the whole story before too long including how I only wanted her because I wanted to sleep with her. The worst part was that I wasn't going to be the one to tell her any of it.

"Oh Patch dear, Dante Matterazzi has nothing on you. Don't let him steal the girl that you're in love with. What's her name?" she asked turning to face Rixon again.

"Nora Grey," he said and I shook my head again. Neither of us could keep secrets from Mama.

"Ooh, Vee's best friend. I see why you endorse that relationship," she enthused and I had the pleasure of seeing Rixon's face go beet red.

"Yes, ironically enough," Rixon allowed.

"Now Patch, do you really care for this girl?" Mama Fitzpatrick asked and this time Rixon didn't answer for me.

"I do," I admitted.

"Well then you should do everything in your power to get her back," she told me.

"How do I do that?" I asked.

"Well first you have to tell me why the two of you aren't together," she told me and I sighed.

"Alright, well we went out but you know me, I don't do exclusive relationships. I was only with her and I never cheated but I also demanded that we keep it a secret from everyone. I didn't want anyone to know. So she told me that she couldn't do it anymore and I told her I couldn't go public. The end," I gave her the quick version of our relationship.

"Why wouldn't you want to be public with the one girl you actually care about?" she questioned.

"Because I don't want her lumped in with all the other girls I've taken advantage of. I don't have a good past and my reputation is repulsive. I didn't want any of that to rub off on her," I explained.

"That's noble of you but very very stupid. You deserve to be happy and you're free to change your reputation. You just have to want to do it. If Nora wants to be with you she won't let your past get in the way of that. She will help you show everyone what a good man you can be," Mama told me.

"See, that's what I've been trying to tell him," Rixon interrupted.

"You can go do the dishes Rixon," she told him and I laughed at the expression on his face. I loved watching her put him in his place. It was hilarious because he always obeyed without any argument. He respected his mom and it showed in the way he treated her.

"But Mama, this is an important conversation involving my best friend," he whined.

"Nope, go do the dishes," she said pointing to the kitchen. He sighed and gathered up the dishes while she focused her entire attention on me.

"But I already burnt that bridge. She won't want to have anything to do with me," I frowned.

"Not necessarily. You just have to try. Give her no choice but to go on a date with you. A real date where you go somewhere in public and show her off," she smiled at me.

"What would you suggest?" I asked.

"If it's something you'd be interested in I will get you a table in my restaurant," she told me.

"It's booked up for something like six months out isn't it?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Yes, but that's the perks of being me. I will get you a table for next Friday at six thirty to seven. That'll give you enough time to get her to go out with you," she assured me.

"You would do that for me?" I shouldn't be surprised but I was.

"Absolutely. You're like one of my own and I want to see you happy," she squeezed my hand.

"Thank you. So how do I get her to go out with me?" I asked. This was going to be the hard part, I honestly didn't know how to do it.

"Just show her how sorry you are. Buy her flowers tomorrow at school. Roses are best," she counseled me.

"Nora's not a rose person," I knew that already.

"What kind of flower does she like?" she asked me.

"Daisy's. She loves flower that appear to be wild," I told her.

"So do that. Show how dedicated and attentive you can be. Make sure everything you do is not in private but in public. You don't want her to think that you only want her hidden or in private again," she instructed me. I nodded and listened to everything she told me knowing I would need all the help I could get.

"You can do this Patch. I have total faith in you," she smiled.

"Thanks Mama, but I should head home. I'm going to need to be mentally prepared for tomorrow," I told her.

"You'll be fine. You have to promise me that once she's your girlfriend you'll bring her by. I want to meet the girl who's captured and tamed my favorite guy," she told me and I smiled.

"Of course. Your approval means more to me than my own families," I said seriously. She smiled at me and summoned Rixon from the kitchen.

"Your friend is leaving. Say goodbye," she said.

"See you at school tomorrow," he smirked.

"Yeah. Dante doesn't stand a chance now. I'm going to make her mine."

One more chapter down and lots more to go for these guys :)

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