Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux by Latrivia Nelson (the beach read txt) 📗

“Well, why didn’t you invite your father and I to stay,” Liz asked meddling with her son as she slid on her Armani glasses.

“Because, I figured you two would want a little quality time together.” Nicola winked at his father.

“Please, your father and I spend quality time no matter where we are,” Liz scoffed.

“It’s what keeps the magic in the marriage,” his father said nudging Santo.

“Honestly, pop, we don’t want to know,” Santo said shaking off the thought of his parents having sex. “The things people tell their kids.”

***

After lunch, Nicola dropped his parents back off at the hotel to get some rest and took his brother to his place to settle in for his stay. As usual they had hundreds of things to talk about including Nicola’s new love interest, Rachel. He didn’t have pictures of her yet, but he had arranged for her to meet Santo later in the week. It occurred to Nicola as he pulled up in front of his home that his brother had never seen where he lived and had no idea of how he lived, so it was up to him to give the right first impression. For once, he felt inferior. His brother lived in a mansion in South Beach and here he was comfortable in a three-bedroom condo with barely enough room for him and his new sons. Opening the door, he took a deep breath and smiled. Grin and bare it, he thought to himself.

“Welcome to casa de Agosto,” Nicola said turning off his alarm. “I’ll show you around, and then you can make yourself comfortable in the guest bedroom.”

“Sure.” Santo put down his bags. “Well, it looks nice from what I’ve seen so far.”

“Please, this is a bachelor’s pad and probably the wash room of your house.”

“Like you couldn’t have the same,” he said half grinning. “You still have an interest in marketing?”

“No. I follow it from time to time through Ad week magazine and some other stuff, but mostly I’m too caught up in criminal justice.”

“And you didn’t get a degree in criminal justice?”

“Nope. I guess at one point, I really thought that I would return home, even after I had told pop that my place was here.”

“Well, he still thinks that your place is in Miami, but he respects what you do here. For that matter, we all do.”

“Yeah, well, enough about me. Come on; let me give you a tour so I can wrap up being the thoughtful host.” Although it gratified Nicola to here such distinct approval from his brother it made him feel a little uncomfortable to have the spotlight shining on him.

“So what does a single man like yourself do on a Saturday night?” Santo asked hinting to his brother that he hadn’t planned on being pint up his entire stay.

“Um, there are a few clubs I frequent. Then, there is the Peabody place, which is great to catch a movie and Beale street of course. We can to the Tacky Jack’s Taco Shack on Poplar. If you like martinis, we can go downtown to Swig. It’s really what you want to do man?”

“What about gentlemen’s clubs? Even in Miami, they talk about this place here called the Black Tie.” Santo licked his lips. “I’m here to have a good time. I don’t give a damn about movies and dance clubs.”

“Yeah it’s famous worldwide. I go there too from time to time.” Nicola didn’t want to lead on about the Black Tie being his second residency.

“Well, let’s go tonight. I feel like shelling out a couple of dollars to see a few nice young women get extremely friendly.” Santo rubbed his hands together. Girls! Girls! Girls!

“What time is it?” Nicola asked looking down at his watch.

“Almost five. Why?”

“I’ve got to call and make reservations for us.”

“You mean you have to have reservations to go to a strip club.”

“The strip club in Memphis, man. Every Saturday night it’s packed to capacity.”

“Damn, are the women that fine?”

“Well, let’s just say that your first experience at the Black Tie will definitely be like no other.”

“Good, I can’t wait. You just don’t know how long it’s been since I had a little extra-curricular activity in my life.”

“You mean you came all the way to Memphis to have a fling. Hell, you could have gotten that in Miami.” Nicola laughed and grabbed his brother’s bag to show him his bedroom. “Wait. Scratch that last statement. You can only get Memphis women in Memphis.”

***

Grey sat quietly across from Ivy watching her enjoy her dinner at their favorite little hangout, Side Street Grill. Sitting out in the open air, they both enjoyed the breeze and company of other professionals having cocktails and smoking cigars. Inside a great band was playing and a few people frolicked happily on the dance floor.

Ivy had made plans to spend the evening with Grey after she was fitted for her dress with her bridesmaids and Trina, but he had made plans to be alone. It was a clear, hot Saturday night and he still had the urge to be with his friends and enjoy a good weekend of carefree fun. However, the closer they got to the wedding, the less time he had to himself, which pissed him off more than Ivy would ever know.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Ivy asked trying to talk over the band.

“I don’t know. I just don’t have anything to say.” He looked away visibly annoyed.

“Well you’re acting like something is wrong,” she said recalling his attitude all evening.

Grey rolled his eyes and looked down at watch before he replied. “Well, it’s not.” He knew that his response would hurl Ivy into a fit and it would only be minutes before they were forced into a heated argument.

“Bullshit,” Ivy said