The Quarter Mile (Fast and Furious)

.6.

Sunday's were my favorite day of the week. I loved them because it was truly a family day. The hectic work schedule and heated moments of the week never transferred over on Sundays. Sundays were blissful days. Family days. Days where we got to reflect on what was important....how much we cared for each other and how much loyalty meant to all of us.
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"Way to show off sis." Mia gawked at me as I came downstairs from my apartment and into the show floor where she was waiting.
I spun in a circle as she admired my new top and jeans. The shirt I wore was black and sheer. I had a black tie top underneath. The jeans flared at the bottom and I paired then with a pair of chunky heels.
"Ready to cook?" I grabbed my bag from the counter as I closed up the shop.
"You sure you can cook in that?" Mia glanced me up and down skeptically as we approached her car.
"Sweetheart, I can cook in anything."
She gave a chuckle as I dramatically tossed a section of hair over my shoulder.
We got to Doms house an hour early to prepare. Letty, Jesse and Leon were already there when we arrived.
Dom grilled, like he always did, making bbq chicken and ribs for today's veg.
Mia and I worked on sides; potato salad, mixed vegetables, rolls and corn cobs.
We also had a double chocolate cake for dessert. Everything was going very smoothly and peacefully. I soaked in the conversations and laughter that emerged all throughout the house. It wasn't very surprising when Brian pulled up to join us as well.
I knew Dom had respect for him and could see him becoming a new member of the team; whether Vince liked it or not. Vince was the only one that hadn't arrived yet and to be honest I wasn't really upset about it. I cared about him as a member of the team but I was done with his harassment and dog-fighting that he did; particularly with Brian.
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"Come on girls! Chickens getting dry." Dom called out to Mia and I as we grabbed the last few things and headed outside.
"Way to grab the door for us guys." I scoffed at Leon and Jesse who were standing and drinking right next to the back patio.
I kicked the door with my and pressed my back against it so Mia could get out first.
Mia was carrying the last tray of rolls, a stack of napkins and a 2-liter of Diet Coke. I was carrying a side salad we made, as well as, extra plates and a few cups.
The guys both shrugged as Brian came over and took the salad from my hands.
"Thank you." I added as he gave me a wink.
"No problem."
Mia and I sat down everything on the table as Dom came over and kissed us each on the cheek.
"My beautiful girls." He smiled before gesturing towards seats. Letty set next to Dom and I sat between her and Mia, across from Brian. Jesse was next to Dom on the side and Leon sat on the other side of Brian.
After we all sat down Jesse immediately dove into the chicken, shoving one piece in his mouth and two others onto his plate.
"Hey, hold up." Dom called out and Jesse froze immediately, "Since you were first to reach in and touch the chicken, you can say grace."
We all connected hands and bow our heads.
"Dear heavenly-uh"
"Spirit." Leon offered.
"Yeah, spirit, thanks." Jesse added before continuing on.
I couldn't help but smile to myself as Jesse fumbled through his prayer. I shook my head lightly as my gaze shifted from the table and towards Mia. Her eyes were closed tight but she had a large smile. When I shifted my gaze down I made eye contact with Brian who was smiling lightly as well. His smile grew a bit wider as Jesse thanked God for NOS. I couldn't help but chuckle a little at his gratitude.
We all said "Amen" in unison my has had shifted from Brian to Jesse as we closed but I could still feel Brians gaze on me.
"Not bad." Dom gave Jesse an approving smile.
"He was praying to the car gods man." Letty nodded with a smile as she raised her beer in a toast. As we all began to dive into the meal we saw Vince coming into the yard.
"Look who it is. Old Coyotes R Us." Leon called out as Vince approached us, his hands shoved deeply into his front pockets.
"You know I gotta eat. Vince nodded towards him before looking back at Dom.
"He's always hungry." I nodded towards Vince with a smirk before taking a sip of my cola.
"All right, sit down." Dom waved towards the end of the table where Vince could have a seat.
Vince gave Letty a fist bump as he came around the table. He squeezed my shoulder as he moved past me, "Hey Charlie." he gave a light smile and I returned it. Mia stood up to give him a hug as he walked past her. I'm glad Vince seemed normal and hopefully he'd be civil since it was Sunday. I suppose I should throw up a prayer for peace. Hopefully, God has enough sympathy to grant this small request. I just wanted to get through one day without insanity.
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"Need a hand with anything?" I heard Brians voice come up behind me from my place at the kitchen sink where I was doing the dishes.
"I'm alright, thank you though." I gave a light smile but he came forward to help anyways.
He grabbed a dish towel and began drying the things I just washed.
"Where I come from the cook doesn't clean."
I let a out a light chuckle, "Well, I'd like to go there sometime."
I continued to rinse and scrub off the second to last plate that remained in the sink as I felt his gaze shift from my hands and back towards me. There was some silence and tension before he dropped an atomic bomb.
"I think we should go out sometime." I nearly dropped the plate as his words sent a wave of shock and anxiety through me.
"Sorry," I tried swallowing my nervousness but it was failing, my throat felt dry and coarse as I tried to poorly explain, "I don't date any of Doms friends. To much like family."
"Guess I'll have to kick his ass then." I let out a light scoff as shook my head. The anxiety wasn't going away anytime soon.
"Good luck with that."
I glanced over my shoulder as someone stumbled into the kitchen and began tampering with the microwave. It was Vince.
"Wash my car when you're finished." He ordered, sounding halfway intoxicated.
"Excuse me." I furrowed my brow at him and placed a hand on my hip.
"No, Charlie. I was talking to the punk." I rolled my eyes at his remark.
"And where your favorite dress when you're done because I'm putting you out on the street where you belong cutie."
I could tell Brian was trying to avoid getting upset. I tapped my foot a few times before having enough something insane suddenly came over me, "Hey Vince. What was the name of that Cuban restaurant you wanted to take me too?"
"The one with the candles?" He inquired while pulling his plate out of the microwave.
"Yeah, what's it called?"
"Cha cha cha..."
"Great." I beamed a seductive smile at Vince before turning back around towards Brian, "You can take me there Friday night. That good with you?"
"Perfect." Brian smiled at me warmly his bright blue eyes gazing deeply into my hazel ones. I could feel my cheeks glowing as his gaze flickered from my lips and back up to my eyes. What did I just get myself into.
"DAMN IT!" Vince cursed as he stormed out of the kitchen in a fit of rage. I bit my lip and shrugged casually which made Brian chuckle.
"I think he's a little jealous."
"Yeah well.." Brian began as he glanced at the door way before giving me a once over, "He's got good right to be....Him and Dom both do."
My cheeks flushed a little. I fixed my eyes on the empty sink before looking back over at him, "I think there are better ways to get women than petty dog-fights."
"Awe, then that takes all the fun away." He teased lightly as he brushed his hand over my arm.
"Yeah, well you guys are lucky it's entertaining otherwise we wouldn't acknowledge it all."
"Oh really."
"Yeah." I smiled brightly and turned to grab myself a beer from the ice chest.
"Some of us do find it slightly entertaining."
"Thats good to know then. At least our efforts aren't all in vain." He smiled a bit cheekily and I shook my head.
As we left the kitchen and went back outside, I felt his hand slowly caress the small of my back. Thankfully, Dom was preoccupied in a conversation with Letty, who was sitting on his lap. Leon, Jesse, and Mia were in a poker match and I hadn't the slightest idea where Vince stormed off too. Good riddance I suppose. So much for Sundays being sacred.
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