All Grown Up (19 page)

"Oh, he is only a multi-millionaire," Mina practically shouted. "He doesn’t just run the label
, Chloe, he owns it! He is like one of the youngest millionaires." She had grabbed my arms and was shaking me with her excitement.

"He’s
a what…huh?" I was shocked.

"Holy shit
, Chloe! You landed yourself a sugar daddy!" Roni giggled and smacked my back.

"I did not!" I was insulted.

"He’s not technically old enough to be considered a sugar daddy, I guess," Mina shrugged.

"How old is he?" I spit out. He hadn’t looked or seemed that much older.

"I would say that he is in his late twenties, probably like twenty six or something." She shrugged.

"So
. he is around six years older than me?" I sat on the edge of the tub just trying to absorb everything.

A knock on the door drew us from our conversation.

"Yeah?" Roni shouted out.

"Can I come in?" Judith shouted through the door.

"Of course," Mina yelled back.

The door opened and we didn’t hear or see Judith.

"In the bathroom, Judith," Roni yelled. Judith appeared in the doorway with a large white box. "What is that?" Roni asked as she took it from Judith’s arms.

"It came for Chloe a few minutes ago," Judith turned to look at me. "I don’t know who delivers things this late at night or what kind of person sends things to someone this late."

"Oh. My. God." Roni spoke loudly. Mina and I rushed to Roni’s side. No one could speak.

In a large white box
, lay at least a dozen deep purple, single stem orchids with, at least, a dozen deep blue peonies. The arrangement was huge and gorgeous, the scent that was penetrating all of our noses was exquisite. There was a cream colored note with gold-leaf trim.

Chloe
,

It was a pleasure to ‘bump’ into you this evening.

Please join me for dinner tomorrow evening.

Domenico

He had also included a business card with his business number and a hand written number on the back.

"Oh my
God! Chloe!" Mina started jumping up and down, holding onto my arm.

"Well, I guess it’s tall, dark, rich, romantic and fuck me
." Roni smirked.

"Veronica," Judith shouted. "Watch your language," she scolded
, though a smile hinted at the corner of her mouth. Then she turned to me, "Chloe, who is this man?"

Mina went into overdr
ive and told Judith everything.

"Well…" Judith finally spoke when Mina was done, "I think that it’s late and we all need some sleep." She smiled
and hugged me before leaving the room.

Mina ran out of the room after Judith
left. Roni sat down on her bed.

"So, are you going to call him?"

"I’m not sure. I mean, I just met him." My head felt like it was underwater.

"How are you going to get to know him if you don’t call him?"
Roni laid down on her side with her head in her hand.

"Good point," I la
id back onto my bed, staring at the ceiling.

Mina appeared back in the room with a vase half
filled with water. She put the flowers in the water and set them up on my desk.

"Jesus, where do you get flowers this late at night
? Let alone, these kinds of flowers?" Mina lied down next to me on my bed. "I’m beyond jealous." She wrapped an arm around my waist as she lay face down. It didn’t take long for all of us to drift off to sleep.

The morning arrived quicker than I would have liked
. But, when you sleep next to Mina, you get up when she does. After breakfast, Mina was on me instantly about calling Domenico.

"Mina
, it’s only eleven in the morning," I took another bite of cereal from my bowl. "I’m sure he is at breakfast or something."

"Chloe
, you are going to wait too long and then you are going to miss out," she huffed. "When you do call him, I want to know about it and I will help you get dressed." I nodded. Mina’s phone rang. "Hello" "Mhmmm.." "Okay, I’m coming." She closed her phone. "Mom wants me, so I have to go," I lifted my hand as a wave goodbye. "Don’t forget to find out where you are going tonight!" She shouted as I heard the front door close.

I was washing out my cereal bowl when I heard the phone ring. Two minu
tes later, Judith yelled for me.

"In the kitchen
." I turned around as she walked in with the cordless.

"You have a phone call
." She smiled at me.

"Who is it?" I whispered and covered the mouthpiece.

"Domenico," she whispered back, quickly leaving the room.

I cleared my throat and took a deep breath.
"H-hello?"

"Chloe, how are you this morning? Did you sleep well?"

"Umm..yeah," I barely got it out of my mouth. He was a little persistent and I was slightly nervous.

"You received my thank you?"

"Oh God. I am such a jerk. Yes, I got them last night. Thank you!" I felt like an asshole. I didn’t even think to thank him for the beautiful flowers.

"
So, then, you got my invitation to dinner?"

"Uh, yes.
I uh—"

"You aren’t interested?"

"Um, no. I mean that’s not it…" I slapped my hand to my forehead. How did he make me such a nervous wreck?

"Chloe?"

"Yeah," I mumbled with my head against the wall.

"Would you accompany me for dinner tonight?"

"Yes."

"Great. I will ha
ve the car there to pick you up—"

"Wait, what car?" I stood up straight
, confused.

"My car.
I will have it come by around seven to pick you up at your parent’s house, I have a meeting that I have to be in or I would come pick you up myself. Do you have a preference on the restaurant?"

"You don’t have to send a car. I can just meet you."

"No, no, I will have the car pick you up around seven. Do you know the Italian restaurant in Port Angeles?"

"Yes
, I do."

"How about we head there for dinner?"

"Okay, sounds great."

"I’ll see you at seven.
Until then?"

"Bye," I hung up and ran upstairs.

I grabbed my cell phone and called Mina with all the details.

"Come over now. I’ll meet you in my room!"

Before we even hung up, I was heading out to the tree house.

Mina decided we needed to go shopping and no
ne of the arguing I did could stop the trip once Roni was on board too. We finally got back to the house after four hours of shopping. I climbed into my bed to take a quick nap before my date. It couldn’t have possibly been more than an hour before Mina was shaking me viciously to wake up.

"Come on
, lazy ass! Get up! It’s beautification time!" I pulled myself out of bed and let Mina drag me over to her room.

I allowed her to attack me with straightening irons, eyelash curlers, tweezers and even high heels. I was
finally finished and about to head out toward my house to wait for the car when there was a knock on Mina’s door.

"Come in," she yelled as I hugged her.

"Hey, Mina, we're going out for dinner and want—" Leo stopped and looked at me. I smiled lightly and turned my eyes away quickly.

"Thanks
, Mina," I said as I left for the balcony.

"I want details tonight
, Fisher. Especially of the hot and steamy variety!" She yelled as I crossed the tree house path. I laughed.

It was seven on the dot when the doorbell rang
. Impressive. I answered the door and there was Domenico. I smiled and then bit my lip.

"I thought that—
"

"I couldn’t stand the thought of not being the one to see you first," He smiled and offered me his arm. I took it and he led me to his car. The driver opened the door and we climbed in the back seat.

Leo

The minute I saw her with my mother, I felt sick. There she was. After all this time. I was an asshole for ignoring her for so long but I just couldn’t take being kept at arm’s length any longer. She acted like she wanted me yet continued to distance herself. We were both young but I knew that I wanted something serious, more substantial. After a while, I just didn’t believe that she wanted the same kind of serious that I did. Staying away from her was far from easy. Our connection was so strong it could physically incapacitate. The only way that I felt I could break away from her, from us, was avoidance.

Glendaly was beautiful and sweet and open. She never held me at arm’s length and she was very receptive about how I felt and she let me know how she felt. There were no games. After a couple of months I knew that I loved her, she was fantastic and things had been going better than I could’ve imagined with anyone.

Then, there she was. I knew she would be here, our families were so close. Though, I didn’t expect to feel so awful when I saw her. I expected her to be cold and distant. Instead, she was friendly and warm, even if we had only spoken briefly. And, while we hardly spent the evening in direct company, it was impossible for me not to notice how she had become Domenico’s company for the remainder of the party.

W
hen I walked into Mina’s room and saw her in that blue dress, her hair half-pulled up, exposing her full face, I was stunned.

Had I really forgotten how beautiful she was and how one look into her eyes could melt my soul? I guess I had
.

As soon as she saw me
she turned away quickly and left the room. Then Mina yelled to her about wanting details.

"Details?"
I raised an eyebrow as I stood behind Mina, who was looking out the doors to her balcony.

"Yep.
She’s going out tonight with—" she stopped suddenly and turned to me. "What did you want?" she raised her eyebrows.

"Oh, we are going out for dinner and wanted to know if
you and Oliver wanted to join us." I shrugged, fighting everything in me not to look at Chloe’s retreating form.

She had a date tonight.

"Where?"

"Port Angeles," I said vaguely.

"What restaurant, asshole?" She tilted her head to one side and rolled her eyes at me.

"I was thinking Italian
." I watched as her face shifted into panic. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Nothing, how about we do
Mexican instead? I really want—"

"Sorry
, Mina, Glenda picked Italian." Something was up with my baby sister, I just couldn’t figure out what.

"Umm…okay," she held her finger up for me to wait.
She quickly darted into the bathroom. When she returned, she grabbed my arm and se headed downstairs.

After getting everyone rounded up
, we headed outside to the cars. While I was helping Glenda into the car, I noticed Mina huddled with Veronica and Oliver. I crept up behind them.

"So what do we do?" Roni asked in a hushed tone.

"Do about what?" All three of them jumped and turned to me in surprise.

Mina hit my arm. "That shit isn’t funny!" She stomped off and climbed into a car with Oliver. I chuckled at her behavior.

We got to the restaurant and were told they were booked. I tried to work my smile; it was a no go. I looked over the hostesses shoulder and saw that there were empty tables.

"What are all those tables then?" I was getting a little irritated.

"I’m sorry, sir, the restaurant has been rented out for the night." She gave a fake smile and then looked back down to the book that was in her hands. As I was turning around to leave, Mina stepped forward.

"You mean that someone paid for the entire restaurant
…for the whole night?" Mina’s face was part excitement and part awe. The hostess rolled her eyes and nodded, then went back to her book. Mina looked to Roni and they congregated into a huddle of whispers and giggles.

Everyone climbed back into their cars to head to another restaurant. That was when a black car pulled up to the Italian restaurant and parked. I smirked because they were about to be turned away as well.

"Should we tell them about the restaurant?" Glenda asked me while she laced her fingers with mine.

"Nah
, they’ll find out," I turned the key in the ignition.

"But
, you know him, don’t you?" I looked up and, sure enough, I did. It was Domenico. I sighed and nodded to Glenda.

I stood halfway out of my open car door.
"Hey, D!" He turned to me quickly.

"Leo?"

"Hey, man," I pointed to the restaurant, "their tables are taken for the night."