My Mob Wedding

Chapter 9 - Exploration

Recap:

"I'm here to pick you up. I'm Co-"

"Colton!?" I gasp. This is my worst nightmare. I have to marry a ginger. I could die.

+++

"No! No! I'm Connor! Colton's half brother. I'm picking you up for him. He had some uh, business to tend to," Connor hurriedly tries to explain.

I am overcome with a huge wave of relief. I would much rather become a nun than marry a ginger.

"Oh, okay, sorry, it's just-uh, nevermind," I say, deciding at the last minute not to offend this guy right off the bat like so many others that have come before him. That's usually why I don't end up having friends other than Jared. I say the first (usually stupid) something that pops into my head and then they automatically hate me.

"Okaaay. Well, let's get a move on it, shall we?" Connor asks a little too enthusiastically for my taste, but he takes my carry on and drags it along for me so I don't complain.

I don't think to wonder if he actually even knows Colton until after I'm already in his iridescent, silver Audi. Eh, I guess I'll find out soon enough if I'm raped and killed.

Connor makes small talk the entire way to wherever and I find it extremely hard not to like him. He's just so happy and bouncy and completely oblivious to my attempts to be sullen that I can't not like him.

"Here we are! This is Colton's apartment. This is where you'll live," he says, pulling the keys out of ignition and getting out.

I follow suit and stand staring at the gargantuan edifice towering before me. It's surprisingly nice for a guy in a gang. He must have a pretty great front to be able to afford this place.

"You coming?" Connor asks, looking back to me from the door. I run-walk to him to catch up.

The man at the desk raises an eyebrow at Connor. "He's not in right now."

"I know. I'm here to drop her off," he says, pointing to me.

The man looks me over as if I'm a new flat screen TV. "Not what I would of pictured for him. But not bad." The man comes forward to shake my hand. "Vic Harrison," he introduces himself. Instead of making eye contact like a polite person is to do when shaking hands, his eyes are about 8 inches lower than my eyes.

I let go of his hand and smack his chin, knocking his head upwards and an offended look onto his face. "Diana Saunders. Nice to meet you," I say, smiling sweetly.

Connor chuckles behind me, "C'mon, chica. You've got some unpacking to do, you can come assault Vic later."

I laugh and follow Connor to the elevator and hop in with him. It's hard not to be happy near him. Even though I was just undressed by Vic's eyes in the lobby, it's very easy to not care when I'm trapped in an elevator with probably the most joyful man in the world. I decide that I like him.

When we get to the top floor, the elevator dings but doesn't open until Connor slides a key into the hole next to the button he pushed to take us up here. The doors slide open and a surprisingly large, surprisingly nice apartment emerges. It's modernly furnished and has boxes stacked in random places which I assume to be my things that were flown in earlier.

Connor walks in and leans my carry on against the black, leather couch. "Did Hunter tell you about the party later?"

I nod.

"Well, Colt might be back by then, but if he's not, then Hunter will come and pick you up. Well, if he's over here by then. If they're both not back by then, I'll come pick you up. I put my number in your phone."

"Okay."

"Do you want me to stick around and help you start unpacking or are you good?" Connor offers, the perpetual smile still plastered across his face.

I smile. "No thanks. I'm good. You probably have plenty of things to do and I can manage around here, but thanks!"

He nods and smiles. "Someone will be here around seven to pick you up."

"Thanks!" I say again as he presses the elevator button.

"Oh! I almost forgot to tell you!" he says, turning back to me. "It's somewhat of a formalish party. I'm not saying like meeting the queen kind of outfit or prom. I'm talking more of a shower host," he unsuccessfully tries to explain.

"A shower host?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Yeah, you know? Like a baby shower of a bridal shower or something? Just not as elderly."

I try not to laugh but fail. The face Connor is making looks like he's trying to explain calculus to a five year old and he's making all these weird irrelevant hand gestures.

Once I can contain myself after my horrid fits of laughter subside, I look to him with an apologetic smile. "I get what you're saying. Nicer than Saturday attire but not so far as a ballgown."

"Good, you got it. See you later!" Connor says, smiling all the way until the elevator doors close and probably after that.

I head to the first box I see and rip off the tape that seals it. It's full of random personal items. There's a few stacks of pictures, some jewelry, and an abundance of hair accessories. All things that I have no clue what to do with as I've only set foot within a three foot radius around the elevator.

Adventure time! Much like a ninja would, I hop down the hall from room to room stealthily. A bathroom, a closet, an office, another closet and a bedroom. Great, one bedroom. I slink back down the hall and into the living room. I head through an archway and enter the dining room/ kitchen.

My stomach growls as it reminds me that I still haven't eaten. I search every cupboard with a vengeance, but no jars of peanut butter prevail. That will have to change or else I shall wither and die of peanut butter deprivation. I settle on a frozen pancake, well at least I hope it's a pancake. It's basically just a freezer-burnt, disc-like, hopefully edible thing really. But for argument's sake, I shall call it a pancake.

Since I still don't know where I should put my stuff. I lay down on the couch and turn on trash TV (which consists of a Lizard Lick Towing marathon) and slowly drift off to sleep. I need a nap. It's been a very long day.