Chapter 1 - Reese

“GET THE FUCK OUT, YOU TINY DICK FUCK! OH, AND TAKE YOUR TOOTHPICK WHORE WITH YOU!”

 

Yes, I am that woman throwing her cheating piece of trash boyfriend and his skank unceremoniously out of her condo butt-ass naked.

Yes, all my neighbors are poking their heads out to see what is happening. Yes, I’m sure the crone across the hall is calling the cops or, worse, my mother.

Why would she know my mother? Because my mother got me into this luxurious Manhattan, so not me, building and the crone is head of the condo association.

The girl at least has the sense to be ashamed of herself as she hurried to get her dress over her head.

“You said this was your place and the woman in the pictures is your sister.” She’s hissing at Trevor, shooting daggers with her eyes.

“Shut up, Veronica…” Trevor growled, using both hands to cover his junk. He doesn’t need one hand to cover that tiny thing.

“Stop talking, Trevor! Get the fuck out! Out of MY condo! Out of my building! And Out of My life! I ever see you again, and I will have you blacklisted even from getting hired at legal aid.” I threatened.

I do not like to throw my mother’s name around or use it like this but fuck this guy. Scratch that. Don’t fuck this guy. It was terrible. A woman shouldn’t need to turn to her vibrator right after sex to get off.

As I throw his clothes at him, Veronica is already jumping into the elevator.

“You wouldn’t dare! You can’t blame me for looking elsewhere. We haven’t had sex in weeks!” Trevor tried to defend himself.

“Because sex with you was terrible.” I threw my hands in the air, fed up with this.

“I had to use a vibrator anyways, so why should I waste time on your tiny dick.”

Trevor’s face turned bright red as some of my neighbors watching this train wreck started snickering. He shoots angry looks at them as he does us all a favor by putting on his pants. I know his dick may be tiny, but his ego can be seen from space.

“Fuck you, Reese. You’re a giant bitch, and I mean that literally. You are lucky I gave you the time of day. No man wants to be with a woman the size of an NBA center or NFL linebacker! I only dated you for your connections.” Trevor flipped me off.

“You’ll die a spinster because no man will ever want to marry a freak like you.” He scoffed, walking away with what little dignity he could muster.

I should have shouted back. Gotten the final word, but the bastard threw my greatest fear in my face, and I choked.

That was the last time I saw Trevor, thank fuck. But also the last time I called that condo my home. The crone got me kicked out for being a noise issue and a nuisance to others. All because I threw my naked ex and his lover out of my condo.

So I ended up back in Brooklyn with my dad and Mãe. Just what every twenty-seven-year-old woman wants to do, move back home.

It could be worse. I could have crashed with my twin brother in his bachelor pad or with my mother in Boston.

And I love my dad and Mãe; they are great people who love me. And Mãe is a fantastic cook. But there is a big drawback to coming home.

I cringe as I hear the thuds and moans from above me. Pulling my blankets over my head, I try to think and focus on anything that isn’t my parents’ active, loud, and incredible sex life.

Cause of course, even in their fifties, my parents are fucking like their twenties. Maybe I should have gone to my mother’s.

I wouldn’t be hearing her and Michael going at it. They have a bland marriage and schedule sex. Seriously who has a sex schedule? My mother, that’s who.

I had no idea when I managed to fall asleep. I know that the thuds of their bed didn’t stop till almost two in the morning.

It’s only been one night, and I know I can’t stay with my parents anymore. After a shower and getting changed into jeans and a sweater, I put on makeup to cover the dark circles under my eyes from not sleeping.

“Bom dia minha filha.” Mãe smiled brightly, offering me a cup of coffee exactly the way she knew I liked it.

I want to grumble about her smiling and chipper, but I can’t. I can’t begrudge her for having a happy marriage that includes terrifyingly loud sex.

Someone in this family needs to be getting laid. It’s certainly not me, and for all Clay likes to boast, he’s not either.

“Manhã Mãe.” I smiled, having to lean down so she could kiss my cheek as I took the coffee.

“Thanks for making me coffee.” I added, sipping my cup and letting the hot liquid slide down my throat.

I sighed, sliding onto the stool at the kitchen island. I couldn’t stop my smile as a strawberry and Nutella crepe were set in front of me.

“Thank you, Mãe. You didn’t need to make my breakfast too.” I sighed.

She smiled brightly at me, waving a dismissive hand and putting another plate and cup down as my father entered the kitchen.

“Good morning, Reese.” He greeted, kissing the top of my head like I’m still a little girl. Though I suppose to him, I always will be.

“Did you sleep okay?” he questioned, moving around the island to kiss Mãe hello.

I sighed forlornly as I looked at how happy and in love they were. I want that. I want what they have. I want what my Aunt Artemis and Uncle Shaw have. I want what my cousins have with Riko.

I wouldn’t dare dream of getting three men as Riko did. I’ll be lucky if I can get one. But it’s still nice to think about.

“I slept about as expected. Thank you for letting me stay. I promise it won’t be for long.” I assured, digging into my breakfast.

“Minha filha, you are always welcome here. I still can’t believe the apartment association committee moved to have you kicked out. It’s horrid. It’s not your fault that toad boy was trash that needed to be taken out. They’re the busybodies who decided to poke their noses out their doors.” Mãe huffed.

Dad scowled over his cup of coffee.

“Dad… don’t break the cup. He’s not worth you getting angry about. And neither was the apartment association committee. I didn’t fit into that building anyways. That’s more… mother’s style than mine.” I assured them.

Dad didn’t stop scowling. If anything, he scowled more at the mention of my mother. I raised an eyebrow and glanced at Mãe, who quickly made herself busy. Oh, they know something.

“What aren’t you telling me? Please tell me mother didn’t call you.” I sighed.

Dad did that, avoiding eye contact thing he and Clay do when they don’t want to lie and don’t want to tell the truth.

“Just tell me. I’m a big girl, in every sense of the word. I can handle it.” I assured him.

Dad let out a long heavy sigh and came around the island to sit next to me.

“Your mother did call. She’s upset about you being kicked out of the building. She knows people there, so she heard all the ‘sordid’ details.” Dad rolled his eyes as he impersonated my mother’s aristocratic Boston accent.

I snickered at his impersonation. It’s so weird to hear him talk that way.

He spent seven years as her husband, five that I was alive for. He had to force himself to conform and fit into her neat, polished lifestyle.

Anyone that’s ever met my dad would tell you he doesn’t fit into many things. He never fit into the suit and tie-wearing, caviar eating, champagne drinking snob world my mother enjoys. He towers over everyone being nearly eight-foot-tall and built like a brick shithouse.

He’s built for construction. Work boots, dirty jeans, and flannel are his style. And he’d rather have a good slice of pizza and a cheap beer any day of the week. I still can’t believe my parents were even married for seven years.

But after my mother broke him and Mãe up during high school and Mãe had to return to Brazil after her time as an exchange student, dad resigned himself to being with my mother.

I know my mother and some people think Mãe caused their divorce. And while Clay and I were young when it happened, we still remember how unhappy dad was in the marriage.

And dad never cheated on mom. He didn’t start dating Mãe until after the divorce was official. And then didn’t marry her till a year later.

I’m glad my parents got divorced. I know not something many kids would say. But dad has been so much happier with Mãe than with my mother.

And mother, I don’t know if she’s happy or ever has been happy. But she has the life she wants with no one to muck it up.

Well, no one except her kids. I know Clay and I have mucked up her life for over twenty-seven years. She hand-selected, like getting kicked out of an upscale and elitist apartment building.

“I’m sure she was thrilled that I threw my ex and his whore naked out of my apartment.” I rolled my eyes.

“What did she expect me to do? Just accept that he was a cheater? Let him treat me like a doormat?” I scoffed.

“You should never let anyone treat you that way. You are an intelligent, funny, beautiful young woman full of life and love. You deserve someone who will see what your Papai and I see and love you for it.” Mãe gave me a sympathetic look.

“Thanks, Mãe. No man is going to want a woman my size. But I’ve dated enough men on this island to know there isn’t one. They see my size and run away. And don’t bring up Tia Artemis. I know she landed Tio Shaw, but they knew each other since childhood.” I sighed but smiled.

“You will find someone. It’ll be when you least expect it. But I am certain that there is someone out there for you. If my sister and I could find our true loves, so can you.” Dad sighed, putting an arm around me.

“Thanks, dad. Not sure it’ll happen, but it’s a nice dream. So what else did mother say? I want to know before I go apartment hunting.” I shrugged.

“Well, that’s the thing. Sophia wants you to come to Boston. She wants you at the office there with her and Shaw.” Dad frowned.

I furrowed my brow. Mother wants me to come to the primary office?

“This is her wanting to keep tabs on me. Fuck my life.” I groaned.

“You don’t have to go. You’re an adult, Reese. So unless she has a legitimate business cause to request you to transfer offices, you can stay here in the city.” Mãe snorted.

“I know. I’ve exhausted the dating pool around here and found an island of frogs. But maybe moving will be good. Maybe prince charming is in Boston.” I shrugged.

“And it would put me closer to Riko and the kids.” I smiled, thinking about my little cousins.

“Oh, and my cousins. But more importantly, I could see the kids more.”

“As long as it’s for reasons you want. Then we’ll support your move. This time don’t let your mother pick your apartment. Find one for yourself. I have work today, but Dionysia could take the train with you if you both wanted to apartment hunt.” Dad offered.

Mãe smiled, raising a dark brow at me. Apartment hunting in Boston with Mãe certainly sounds better than looking with mother.

“Sure. Let’s make a day of it, Mãe.” I agreed.

This is how I found a fabulous two-bedroom apartment a stone’s throw from Boston Common with a view of the Charles River from a private terrace.

The tall ceilings sold me on the place more than anything. I am all for a place where I don’t feel I could touch the ceiling if I stretch.

And now that I’m officially moved in, I can attend the waterfront lights festival with my cousins. I can’t wait to see them. I miss Hikari, Akio and Saki. And oh, I can’t wait to get my hands on Ryū.