Not Even Close (A New Generation) by Elizabeth Reyes (books to read in a lifetime txt) 📗

“You’ll get used to them.” She winked at Byron as she opened therefrigerator door. “Even her dad. As long as you don’t do anything silly likebreak her heart, you’ll live.” She smiled big as she pulled what looked like aboxed pie out of the fridge and closed it.

Byron chuckled nervously. “I’ve been warned about that already.”

Her aunt laughed at that looking back at him. “That doesn’tsurprise me. More like threatened, I’m sure. Just tread lightly and you’ll befine. But fair warning, whatever threats you’ve gotten so far won’t be thelast.”

Great.

“Come on out.” Her aunt motioned toward the back door her unclehad walked out of. “Everyone’s out there. You got one more to meet but he’s theeasy one.”

Savannah’s laughter in reaction to that felt a bit nervous. Siennahad since walked outside so the three of them made their way out. Byron bracedhimself to meet yet another uncle. But he wasn’t buying for a second that meetingany of Savannah’s uncles would be easy.

Savannah slowing almost to a halt, had Byron turning to her inquestion. She was staring at a group of guys sitting at one of the tables asanother guy approached Byron and Savannah quickly.

“No one told me anything, Vannah,” the guy said as he leaned inand kissed her on the cheek. “You look good. How’ve you been?”

“Thank you, I’m good.” She nodded but something had obviously warpedher usual cheery demeanor and it unnerved Byron. As if he wasn’t already onedge. She turned to Byron squeezing his arm. “Byron this is my cousin Sal, buteveryone calls him Chavita.”

“Chava,” her cousin clarified. “Nice to meet you, man.” Heshook his hand before adding. “Or you can call me Roman, my middle name. Sal’s mydad’s name. It’s why everyone in the family calls me Chava but outside thefamily I go by Roman.”

Her cousin walked inside, and the introductions continued. Moreaunts and out-of-town family members. Her Uncle Eric, who interestingly seemedmore amused by Savannah having brought a guy to the gathering, than annoyed.But then Byron knew this was her uncle by marriage and not one of her dad’sbrothers.

“You met her dad already, right?” he asked smiling broadly asByron nodded. “God, I wish I would’ve been there for that.”

“Oh, he’ll be back out here in a few.” Aunt Sofia shook her head.“You’ll get to enjoy enough of Alex’s brooding then.”

As they made their way through the throng of family members, itdidn’t go unnoticed that Savannah skipped the table with the guys where hercousin Chava now sat. It made Byron wonder what he’d meant when he told her, noone told him anything, first thing. But he barely had a chance to give it muchthought when it was time to meet Uncle Sal. Even worse, he was standing with UncleAngel. Wonderful. It’d be a double grilling.

Like she had with her Uncle Angel she greeted Uncle Sal first,then turned and did the introductions. Biggest difference between her Uncle Saland his brothers is he actually smiled when he was introduced. His questionsalso felt less intrusive somehow. Probably because he asked more about lessunnerving topics like Beast, Byron’s black belt, and even about the shop.Clearly, someone had filled him in on everything her parents and siblings haduncovered from that one dinner they’d had with him.

“I heard you’ve done some fighting yourself.”

“I did,” Byron said glancing at her Uncle Angel who crossed hisarms in front of him and listened intently. “Never boxed professionally but Idid go semi-pro in cage fighting. Until I got injured one time too many. NowI’m a backup youth trainer for 5th Street on my down time. Haven’tdone it in a while but I’m thinking of going back to doing so soon.”

Byron glanced at Savannah who was looking up at him all dreamyeyed. Normally he’d love it, and as much as it made his still too insecureheart beat wildly, he wished she’d take it down just a notch in front of thesetwo. Her uncles standing there scrutinizing him, had him sweating enough. HerAunt Sofia’s warning was still very much on Byron’s mind. He didn’t need anythingmore feeding into her uncles concerns over their young niece’s older boyfriend playingwith her heart.

Thankfully, her uncle Sal turned the questioning onto Savannah,asking her about school and then about her new dormmate. “She’s great.”Savannah said smiling big. “I lucked out.”

The conversation stayed on Savannah for a few until Sienna approachedthem, wrapping her arm around her sister’s. “Whoever ordered more dry ice it’shere.”

“I did,” Angel said putting his beer down.

“You’re good, Uncle Angel,” Sienna said holding her hand out.“Chavita and Richard got it.”

Angel paused peering at Sienna for a second then turned to Sal.“Richard? Little Rich?”

Sal smiled. “Yeah, Chava’s buddy from way back is here. He’s notso little anymore.”

“No shit,” Angel chuckled. “I hadn’t seen that kid in years.”

Relieved the subject veered off him at least for now, Byronturned to look when Sal pointed at who they were talking about as he walked outinto the patio with Savannah’s cousin, carrying a large ice chest. But therelief in tension was short-lived. Byron did a double take when he noticed Savannahand her sister’s odd, almost worried exchanged glance. They both turned towhere the two guys were setting up the ice chest under the patio.

“Let me go tell them what my parents wanted to do with it.” Angelsaid turning back to Byron. “But we’ll talk some more in a bit.”

“Yeah, the wife’s waving me down now too,” Sal addressed Byronnow also. “But it was nice meeting you, Byron. And yeah, I got some morequestions for you about your brother’s boxing days. Particularly about thematch with Stefano.”

Byron nodded with a smile, only his attention was back on theguys under the patio as soon as her uncle walked away. It’s when it hit him.Savannah said she’d known her first everything, Richard for a long timebecause he was her cousin’s friend. Chava’s comment when he greeted them today,them skipping the table where they sat, as he and Savannah had walked around,and now her and