Chapter Eight - Friendship

If somebody makes you feel, Let them. ~reyna biddy~ Lia They say friendship is a relationship of mutual affection between people. But I will say affection is a trepid term for how I felt about these bunch. They were my friends. My family. My own pack. I would give up any of my organs for any of them, and the most significant part is that they would do the same for me. There is great joy in knowing I'm loved as much as I love. Shoving myself out of my trance, I looked around at them, trying to speak at the same time, especially the youngest. "Hey!" I said. They didn't hear me, but Luc did because he turned his head to me, giving me a crooked smile and a wink. The rogue! The gorgeous rogue, I said inwardly, determined not to get lost in his green gaze. It was time to cook. I planned for dinner and tomorrow's lunch because I wanted us to have one final meal together before everyone left. I would miss them terribly, especially when Luc left, whichever day that was since he had refused to tell me. Luca and Zion knew how to cook more than anyone of us. It was like a natural gift even though they got a few lessons from our moms, especially baking. I remember Zion backed Serena's fourteenth birthday with supervision, of course, but it was a beautiful white creamed cake. I teamed up with Luca while Serena teamed up with Zion; he was right when he said she didn't want to cook. Serena was a terrible cook, worse than I was; her mom, Mia, was also the only one with no culinary skills whatsoever. "What do you think we should cook?" Luca asked me; I shrugged insouciantly without looking at him. I didn't know what we would cook; I assumed he knew. "Want me to decide?" I nodded, and he let out a cheeky laugh which was swallowed by Sienna's commanding voice, baiting Nate again. "Are you afraid I might be better than you?" she taunted him, Nate gave her a bored look, taking Zion's beer, but my brother's reflex was spot on because he grabbed it out of Nate's hand before he had a chance to take a sip. "Are you out of your f*****g mind?" Zion hissed, glaring at him. "Jamie, let me take a sip," He exclaimed, looking at Zion as if that was reason enough to let him drink. "Well, I'm not Jamie. What are you doing trying to drink beer at fifteen?" Zion added, glowering at him. Jamie didn't seem fazed; he grimaced right back at him in what could be described as a glowering match. "You started drinking before you turned twenty-one; I have seen every person in this room take alcoholic drinks, even Zippy here." "Don't call me that!" Sienna angrily shot back. Then she added, "Nate, you're different from us." it was the first time Sienna had spoken softly to him, endearingly calling him by his nickname, and he noticed. He turned slowly, his eyes narrowed like he expected to find mockery in her gaze, but he found none. "What does that mean?" Luca cupped his neck, lovingly shaking him a little the way he did Nicolo, and then bear hugged him before letting him go, "it means we protect you." "I don't need your protection. I've got bodyguards to do that," he responded, sounding like a petulant child. None of them said a word because, someday, Nathan Joseph Ocean would find out exactly what having their protection meant; in the meantime, they needed to start dinner. "No, beer, Nate." Alyssa beat me to it when she got out of the couch to pull Nicolo to the kitchen. "Nic and I are in charge of vegetables, she said, standing next to him." "That leaves Sienna and Nate," I said, moving my eyes between the two. "I don't want her," Nate exclaimed, and Sienna forgot the soft tone she'd used a few minutes ago to replace it with a scowl. "You have no choice, dummy," she grumbled, standing up and making a show of pulling down her proper-sized sweater top. "You're the dummy," Nate said. These back-and-forth insults were becoming unbearable, I thought, clapping and announcing should all head to the kitchen. Although I was nervous about my new relationship with Luc, I enjoyed their visit, the bickering, and the yelling reminded me so much of home. It was wonderful growing up and experiencing life with my best friends. When we all assembled in the kitchen, Zion went ahead, put his beer bottle on top of the fridge before opening it. Silently thanking Matteo for having had the foresight to add some groceries when Zion placed lettuce on the kitchen aisle, and carrots, "S and I will bake chicken," he announced, placing potatoes beside the others. "Alyssa and Nico can cook pasta while Lia and I cook the vegetables." "What about us?" Nate asked, looking like he thought we had forgotten them. "You're in charge of dessert." He nodded, turning to look at Sienna waiting for her cue. Her lips stretched into a smirk, looking her pretty eyes over at him. "I could make Piña colada too, " Serena said, rubbing her hands together with excitement. "That's the only think you know how to make," Zion said sotto voice, washing his hands on the tap, gloving his hands, and then started working on the chicken. "I heard that," Serena responded, handing him a knife. "Let's begin too," Luca told me, and I nodded. I stood beside him, picking up the potatoes from the kitchen aisle while he peeled carrots. I didn't let him see how much I was enjoying standing beside him, my arm touching his, the way his breath reached my face like a lovely breeze. We talked while we worked, and Serena told us how nervous and excited she was about her upcoming meeting with Clèment Dubois of Gucci. "If I get the job, I will meet Luc often." She squealed with glee. "How? You're based in London; he is in Italy." Alyssa interjected like Serena hadn't thought of it. I wondered how it felt to be so popular and extremely good at what you did brands wanted to be associated with you. That is exactly what I wanted with my career. "If I get this job, I will announce to everyone who cares to listen that we are family." Luca laughed a sweet yet throaty chuckle that had my heart skip several beats, getting lost in his beaming face. My fingers trembled with the need to touch his face, to explore the perfectly trimmed stubble, kiss his wide beautiful mouth, and get lost in his arms. Our kiss changed more than our relationship, it changed how I felt about him. Maybe it's because I hadn't been kissed or kissed anyone in almost a decade. I wanted to kiss him again, perhaps make love to him, if only to experience the pleasure again or just slake this hunger that filled me every time I glanced at him. After cleaning the potatoes, I put them in another bowl and placed it beside Serena's Piña colada ingredients. "Nate, this you can drink." Serena enthusiastically said, switching on the blender. I took one carrot from Luc, and took a bite before picking up the lettuce to wash them too. Zion took the potatoes, arranging them around the perfectly seasoned chicken, and put them in the oven without any help from Serena, who was still excited about her drink. "Don't be stupid," I heard Nate tell Sienna; I didn't even glance their way to know what was happening with them; I was getting used to their jibes against each other. "Sienna is far from stupid," Nic said from the corner of the kitchen, a piece of carrot hanging from his mouth. "She hacked that Truther dude about a month ago." We all raised our eyes to Nic. "That blogger who hates Luc?" I asked in shock "Yap. What kind of a name is truther anyway? Couldn't he have come up with a better one?" "And here I thought he just happened to have a change of heart and started liking me." Sienna snorted. "He hates you." "You're blogging in his stead." Luca had finished cutting up carrots. He was leaning against the sink, looking at Sienna. "Yes. But I will be closing it down soon," she added. "He has been posting on social media how he got hacked and lost his account." "Not everyone likes me, Sienna. You cannot silence everyone who happens to hate me." Luca told her in a gentle voice. Sienna shrugged, took a swift breath and said, " I agree. It's okay to dislike someone, but nobody has the right to be venomous to you. They don't know you to be that nasty." "So, what's your plan? Hack everyone who hates me?" "No. Hack everyone who is vicious." I knew she was still young and optimistic, but I wondered whether knowing you cannot protect everyone you love came with age or should we, as older siblings say something before the world decides to push her into a fire and watch her burn into ashes. “Honey, you cannot protect Luc from every jealous fucker out there,” Serena said in a comforting tone. I guess the world wouldn't be getting a chance to break her heart, I thought, eying her while nodding to support Serena. “I could try.” She replied in a soft tone. “You can try.” Her sister agreed with her after staring at her for more than a minute, kissing her forehead. Maybe she realized that protecting Luc was part of Sienna’s love language. Everyone deserves to show love in their way. “That said,” Nico began. I knew he was about to drop a bomb on us by the expression on his face and his tone of voice. “I've decided to drop out of school.” I thought he was joking; my lips curled up into a smile, suddenly disappearing when I saw his sombre face. “Are f*****g kidding me?” Serena’s tone was calm, too suspiciously calm. “Run before she explodes,” Zion told Nic. Her head tilted to the side, her eyes shinning with vexation. “I don't like school; why do I have to go?” Nic continued, hiding behind Luc. “How do you expect to survive in this world without education?” “I can run a business.” He argued. “Which business?” “Family business.” “Which family business?” There were too many; however, unless he wanted to be a janitor, he needed an education. “They didn't go to school either.” Although it was said in a whisper, we all heard him. “Lia has comprehensively covered that comparison; let's not rehash it.” I looked down when she said that because I was yet to apologize to Zion. “Zion dropped out of school too; why can't I be like him?” “And you see how unhinged he is.” Serena didn't even blink when she said it, but Zion chuckled, perhaps because he knew it was true. One of the reasons why he couldn't be the head of the family, not that he wanted the title, was because he didn't care how he got something as long as he got it. He was quick to anger, competitive, but gentle with us, mainly with Serena, but he was also extremely smart with numbers, like uncle Rom. “Finish highschool, Nic.” Luca said, sounding gentle and commanding. Nic had no choice; the boss had spoken; whether he liked it or not, he had to finish high school. I could see Serena wanted to add something but then changed her mind and went back to making her drink. I stole a glance at Luc to find his on me, it took everything in me not blush. I excused myself and left the kitchen, almost running to my bedroom. Opening the door, I rushed in, forcefully closing it, and leaning back against it, a hand across my chest as if I was trying to calm my heart. But my heart racing wasn't my only problem; my p***y was throbbing too. Damn Luc! Damn him to hell and back. I couldn't believe my body was choosing this time to act as if it was starving. You know what? I was going to have fun. I was a grown-a*s woman; s*x was part of it. Glancing at my phone contacts, I scrolled down looking for the one doctor I knew would guide me on how to go about birth control. “Dr. Orsini. I said when she picked up after the second ring,”hallo, Lia.” I felt a thrill at knowing she had my number. I liked her. “I need some advise...” I paused, wondering how to approach it. Also, I didn't want her to judge me. “I need advise on birth control.” I said, making sure my voice held no embarrassment. She let out a small laugh, “I'm an obstetrician, Lia. It would help if you had a gynecologist. My job begins when contraceptives don't work.” I knew she was an obstetrician; she delivered all of us, which reminded me she was about to retire. “But you would know.” I insisted, sitting on top of my bed after locking the door. I didn't want Luc to walk in while I was having this conversation. “How about I write you a referral to one of the best Gyna in Chicago?” I was silent for a second or so, mulling it over, and then decided to agree. It wouldn't hurt to have one so close to where I was. “That sounds fantastic,” I finally said. “Good. Text me your fax number.” “I will. Thank you, Dr. Orsini. “ “You're most welcome. And don't worry, I'm obligated to keep this conversation a secret.” I chucked, then said thank you. Afterwards, I felt excited, eager, and frightened. I was ready to have s*x with Luc again. Thank God everyone else was leaving tomorrow because I couldn't wait to play house with him. Thank you for reading. Please remember to leave me a comment.