Blood In The Water

38

"I'm coming!" Chris called out to the knock on his front door, smoothing out his shirt and patting down his fly-away hairs as he scurried to the door and swung it open

"..Hi, there."

"Hey, Killer.." James stood in the doorway, with confidence that doubled him in stature. With a smile, placing both hands on Chris's hips and pulling him into an eager kiss 'hello'

"You look real good.."

"So do you.. m'sorry I'm late.. hadda take care of a couple things.. but I'm all yours, now."

"Well, how the tables have turned.." he smirked, looking back out across the hall to the elderly woman, stood, staring from her doorway "what the hell are you looking at, Mrs. Rosenberg? Go back inside."

With a disapproving glare, the neighbor stepped back into her apartment and closed the door

"Jesus.. old bat's always snooping on me.."

James laughed, pecking another kiss on Christopher's lips

"I thought you were supposed to be a nice fella."

"I am a nice fella! 'Till the pensioner across the hall started opening up the door to stare every time I have a date over..."

"You're real cute when ya yell at old people."

"I know, that's probably your fantasy, isn't it?"

"Aw, hush.. I'm a nice fella, too."

"You are, huh?" Chris smirked

"Mhm.. when I wanna be.."

"Well.. come on in. Pizza will be here, soon.. maybe Mrs. Rosenberg will stare at him, too."

"Wouldn't that be a sight for her, three men in one apartment..." He strolled in with his hands in his pockets

"Nothin' she ain't seen before." Christopher snickered

"Mr. Thomas.. you naughty thing" James scolded with a grin

"I'm kidding, I'm not that popular.. though I suspect you are."

"You wouldn't be too far off.."

"Really..?"

"Mhm." His smile stayed fixed on his face

"..two fellas or two ladies?"

"..all of the above." He smirked

"Wow.. I'm impressed. And a little jealous, I must admit."

"Mm, what can I say, I'm a popular man. Though, I'm perfectly happy havin' you all to myself... don't like to share" He smirked "What kind'a pizza you get?"

"Pepperoni.. is that okay?"

"Perfect.. maybe I'm a poor excuse 'fer an Italian, but I love a pepperoni pizza."

".. I never realized you were Italian."

"...you know what I do for work, don't'cha?"

"Yes! I just- I didn't think about it.." Chris began to giggle "The Italian thing comes pretty secondary to the whole 'organized crime' thing."

"Fair.. I'll have ya know, I am a full-blooded Italian.. not one'a those halfsies who don't even speak the language.."

"Is that impressive?"

"Not impressive, per say.. but important, in my circles."

"Strange.."

"Why strange? It's the Italian mob.. kinda a requirement to be an Italian."