Chapter Seven
Beaut
Letty and I have been up all night peeling potatoes, stuffing six turkeys, and preparing every side dish so it can go in the oven at the right time. We invite the whole neighborhood over for the holidays and everyone donates the food we are preparing. I love living in a community that comes together like this.
The real problem we have is fitting all these turkeys into our and Letty's oven. We had two in each when Dom offered to get the gas turned on at their old place so we can cook them. That was three days ago and we literally had to deep clean not just the oven, but the entire bottom floor before I would bring food inside.
I'm currently in the Toretto kitchen basting my birds for the final time when I hear, " it smells delicious in here ". Before two large arms circle around my waist.
" You guys already finished setting the tables and chairs up? " I ask still basting the turkey.
He kisses the side of my neck before saying, " yeah I got a bunch of racers to do it in half the time it would have taken me and your dad. "
" Innovative. " I chuckle.
He laughs too and backs off to turn the tap on before splashing his face with cold water.
Smiling I lean into him and sigh. " I'm so tired. "
He hmms in my ear. " You were up until three A.M. cooking and got up at eight. Of course, you're tired. "
" I don't know how my mom used to do this with energy to spare. " I say tiredly.
He chuckles. " Your mom was like superwoman. I remember she always had your house clean, food on the table at five P.M. sharp, took you to wherever you needed to be, and still found time to take care of herself. You remind me of her in that way. "
" I miss her. " I say sadly.
He kisses the side of my head softly. " She's with you, Beaut. You just can't see her. "
" I know... " I say trembling a little. " There are so many things I wish I could talk to her about. Not having a mom and going through changes and not understanding has been very hard for me. "
And it has been. Waking up in a pool of my own blood two months after she passed was not fun. If it wasn't for Letty's mom telling her about menstrual cycles I'd have had a breakdown before having to tell my dad.
" Come here. " He whispers as he pulls me into his chest.
This is heaven. I've never had someone comfort me like this and knowing it's him makes it ten times better. This is a feeling I can get addicted to.
" We have to get out here before they send a search party. " He murmurs in my ear.
Reluctantly, I let him go and smile up at him. He smiles back and leans down to plant a firm kiss on my lips. Reaching up I attack his lips once more before grabbing a set of potholders and holding them out to him.
We get the turkeys back to our house and Letty gives me a dirty look. " You said you would only be gone fifteen minutes. It's been double. "
" Sorry I got caught up. But the birds are done and ready to be carved. " I tell her setting the fifth bird on the table next to the sixth.
She sighs in relief. " Good. That means I can go home and shower before everyone arrives. "
She'd have had time to get ready if she hadn't slept in until ten. " Okay, Mia and I can take it from here. "
...
The festivities are in full swing at the Graziano house. There must be at least sixty people in our back and front yard at the moment. Beer is flowing everywhere and we're all just about to take our seats so my dad can bless the meal.
Before he can, Edwin, one of the racers, reaches for a dinner roll.
" Ah, ah, Ed. You reached for the food before the blessing so now you have to say it. " My dad booms from the head of the table.
Edwin looks scolded but bows his head anyway. " Dear Lord, thank you for the beautiful day you gave us and the good food we are about to receive. Bless the Beautiful hands that made it, amen. "
" Very good Ed. " He says smiling proudly. " Dig in everyone. "
I reach out for the green bean casserole but get interrupted.
" Wait. " Dom says making everyone including me, groan. " I'd like to start by telling you what I'm most thankful for this year. "
Dad nods his head. " Good idea, Dom. Go for it. "
" I'm most thankful this year for having a family that loves me no matter what. Family is everything. " He says firmly and surely.
I lift my glass of Dr. Pepper. " I'm most thankful that you made it back to us in one piece. "
Dad lifts his Corona. " Here, here! "
Dom leans close and whispers, " I'm also very thankful for the Beauty next to me. "
Blushing I stuff a dinner roll in his mouth. He takes a bite out of it and winks at me. Letty kicks my shin and I look over to see her mouth " tell me everything ". I mouth back " later ".
" Mmm, mmm, mmm! You put your foot in this meal B! " Edwin says as he puts his arm around me. in a side hug
Dom pushes his arm off and shuts him down real quick. " Yeah, my girl is great in the kitchen. "
" That wasn't necessary. " I sing to him as Edwin walks away in defeat.
He gives me a booming laugh. " I don't need any greasy racer thinking he can come up and do that. "
" Do what? " I ask a little offended.
He changes his tone. " Stake claim, babe... In the racing world, it means he wants other men to know you're off the market. "
" And that's not what you just did? " I accuse.
He rubs the back of his neck trying to figure a way out of this. " Yeah, well, you are my girlfriend. "
" Touche. " Or douche is more like it.
He's lucky I'm not more of a feminist or I'd slap him. He lifts me up and we kiss passionately for a few moments. I vaguely hear cheers from behind us before he puts me back down. Blushing, I avoid all the racers staring. I can't help but notice the skanks who are all glaring at me though.
Hmm. Maybe this whole " claiming " thing has its benefits.
After the last person leaves, Mia, Letty, and I do a speed clean-up because I'm beat. Once the kitchen is decently clean I go to head down to the basement when Mia and Nina come into the kitchen.
" Hey. " Mia says clearly startled.
Looking them over, I say, " hey. What's going on?"
" If I tell you... You can't tell Dom. " Mia says after a few moments.
I give her an unbelieving look. " You're my sisters, Mia. Sisters keep secrets. "
" Okay... We're going to meet Jacob. " She says not able to look me in the eyes.
I'm clearly confused but motion for them to lead the way. We head outside and walk around the block to the parking lot of the community center. A suped up Barracuda pulls up seconds later and Jake steps out causing my entire body to tingle in relief.
" Jake! " I cry out before the three of us launch ourselves into his arms.
He wraps his arms around all of us and I can't help the tears that flow. I've really missed him. We all detangle and I can't help but ask, " what happened? Where are you living? Please come home. "
Mia nods and wipes at her eyes. " We miss you, Jacob. Why did you leave? "
" Wait- " he chuckles. " First of all, I'm okay. I've been traveling a lot and working. I missed all of you more than you know. " He says before leaning down and lifting Nina into his arms. " You've gotten bigger Nin. "
She wraps her arms around his neck and this is the first time since he left that she has bee truly happy. " Please don't leave again, Jake. "
" I have to, Nin's. I gotta go back to work. I promise I'll be back though. We're family and family doesn't stay gone forever. " He promises.
I can't help but ask, " will we see you for Christmas "?
" I'll do my best, Beaut. " He promises. " I gotta go. I just wanted to see you all before going back on the road. Take care of my sisters, B. "
I nod and we all hug him again. " I promise. "
...
We get back and I head straight down to the basement. Every night after my dad goes to bed I sneak down and get some precious alone time with my man. We usually end up just cuddling and kissing until I get tired and head up to bed. Knowing I promised Mia, I won't bring up that we saw Jake tonight... I don't like keeping things from Dom, but I also don't know what's going on either so I'll keep my promise.
When I get down I hear his little tv playing lowly. He's laying flat on his bed staring at the ceiling. So I don't scare him, I say, " hey ".
" Hey, come here. " He says making room for me on the full-size bed.
I climb in and he wraps his arms around me. " How did you like your first holiday home? "
" It was great... Almost felt like my dad was here. " He says sounding like the itis.
I miss Uncle Jack. Especially on holidays. So I know he and Mia feel his absence today more than anyone.
" He was. " I say implying the same thing he did about my mom. " He's proud that you're home and on the straight and narrow now, I know it. "
Sighing he sits up with me balanced in his arms. " He wouldn't have wanted me to do what I did. I don't see anything about me that he would be proud of. "
" Are you kidding me? " I ask rhetorically. " You did your time, Dom. No, he wouldn't have liked what you did, but it doesn't matter anymore. You aren't the same person. Right? "
His head snaps to the left and the next thing I know I'm being thrown over his knee and his palm comes down hard on my left cheek. " Right... How about we finish what we started earlier? "
Oh yeah, we had another little non-penetrating romp in the middle of the festivities earlier. It was surprisingly easy to sneak back down to his house for twenty minutes for a naughty make-out session. Everyone was busy drinking and talking to notice us missing.
" Are you sure we should? My dad could come barging in at any minute. " I say not wanting him to get kicked out.
See, kissing is one thing. My dad wouldn't be too upset walking in on that. If we don't have any clothes on... He'll be ready to murder.
He laughs. " That's half the fun, besides, he's cool with us... As long as I don't cross the line. "
" Yeah, that wouldn't be a good idea. Especially in his house. " I say seriously.
Sighing he says, " I'll be glad when I get the house back into shape. Once we move back in we can have some real alone time. "
" That sounds amazing. I'll make dinner for your and Mia's first night back. " I promise.
That way we'll have some warning if my dad barges into the Torretto house. More like I'll have enough time to shimmy down the drainpipe and hide.
" Spaghetti and meatballs? " He asks like he didn't just eat a mountain of food.
It is his favorite meal though. " Anything you want. "
" What if I want you for dessert? " He asks naughtily.
Smirking I say, " Well... I did say anything. "
The look on his face goes from heated to smoldering. " Oh, Sweet Face, you are going to love every minute. "
" Just... " I say feeling a pang of fear go through me.
A look of concern flashes on his face. " What? "
" I've never... " I try. " Just be gentle with me, I'm not one of those loose girls from the races. "
Realization beams on his face. " Beaut, you are nothing like those girls. I know you value yourself and so do I. I promise that when the time comes, I'll treat you like the goddess you are and worship your beautiful body. "
" Mmm. Yours isn't so bad either. " I say sneaking my hands under his shirt to cop a feel of his hard abs.
He grabs my hand and stills it. " Good to know that you like it. Although, the most impressive part is a bit lower. "
That shocks me into silence. Being that I'm a virgin that has never really been too popular with the boys, I've never actually seen a... You know.
" Don't get shy now. " He says huskily.
Just thinking about seeing that particular part of him has butterflies soaring in my stomach. " I just... I wouldn't even kno- "
" We'll go slow. " He interrupts. " You being comfortable is the only way I'll be willing to do this. "
Wow. Where did that come from? " When did you get so mature? "
" When I got a quality girl to give me the time of day. " He says with a true smile.
My heart swells at his words and I'm rendered speechless. He thinks I'm a quality girl... And why shouldn't he?
" I should head back up... " I say after a few minutes.
He gives me one last kiss before saying, " okay ".
I get up and head towards the stairs when he says, " oh, before I forget, I can't take you to DQ tomorrow after school. "
" Aw man you know I love the sugar rush. " I joke.
He laughs again. " Well tough, I have to head to juvi and pick up Vince. "
Oh, shit!
Author's Note: So Jacob has made contact after being banished from the family...