Chapter 3- Help Papi Get his Grove Back

We provide a list when we sign up for this. It’s a list of names of your family and friends, so you are never matched with them. I ensured both my cousins' names were on that list, but not Giovanni Caputo. The color drains from my face as the possibility settles in, and my heart pounds loudly in my chest. Could I have slept with Mr. Caputo? I clench my thighs together as last night flashes in my mind. No, no, it’s not him; it can’t be him. Mr. C is goofy and corny; I imagine sex with him would be sweet and romantic. Last night was not sweet, nor was it romantic. Mr. C can’t possibly f**k like that, can he? My core moistens the more I think of last night. I grip the sink.

“Stop it; it’s not him; it’s just a coincidence.” I jump at the sound of someone knocking at the door.

“Brandi, are you alright?” My core throbs at just the sound of his voice. Stop it, Brandi, it isn’t him. This is Mr. C, G’s father; you are not attracted to him. He is off-limits.

“Brandi?” I inhale and exhale, then walk to the door and open it.

“I’m…” The smell hits me again, and the memory of me spread wide comes to mind, sending waves of moisture between my thighs.

“Bra…” I bite my lips and shake it away.

“I’m fine, Mr. C. I’ll be right there.” He smiles at me and pats my head. See, he doesn’t even see me as a woman; he wouldn’t. Well, if it’s him, he probably doesn’t know it’s me. Shit, what would he think? His daughter’s best friend, a part of that world—f**ing any unknown men in hotel rooms to get my kicks off? How would he feel about me and Gigi’s friendship if he knew how much I enjoyed being defiled?*

“Glad I didn’t poison you.”

“Well, there’s still time.” He laughs and walks away; I follow him at a safe distance, my body still conditioned to react each time I catch a whiff of that cologne. We arrive at the dining room.

“B, are you okay?”

“She’s okay. It wasn’t my food,” Giovanni replies, grinning as he takes a seat at the table.

“I asked Brandi, Papi, not you.” I take my seat and plaster a big smile on my face, hoping to hide my growing lust.

“I’m fine, G. Stop badgering your dad. Now, what were you guys talking about while I was gone?”

“Dad may have a girlfriend.”

“Oh…” I reply, trying to act nonchalant, but secretly I’m relieved. If he has a girlfriend, then he probably wasn’t the one f***ing me last night.

“That’s great, Mr. C. How long have you two been dating?”

“I do not have a girlfriend.”

“Then why were you out until 4:00 am last night, sneaking in?” 4:00 am? I choke on my drink and cough uncontrollably. I was a bit out of it, but I’m sure the man from last night left after 3 in the morning.

“Brandi!” Mr. C jumps up; I hold up a finger as my coughing subsides.

“I’m fine, I’m fine.” I take my glass of water and drink it, hands shaking; I’m a nervous wreck. It was the early hours of the morning when that man left; I don’t know the exact time since I didn’t have a clock. Shit, shit, shit, my heart pounds in my chest.

“You were out all night?” I finally manage to get some words out.

“A business meeting.”

“Oh.” I hope it was a business meeting and not a meeting between our private parts.

“He’s lying. What business meeting runs until 4:00 am? Come on, Papi, tell us who she is,” Gianna whines.

“It was really just a meeting,” he says, but it doesn’t sound convincing. Shit, I need to know the truth because this is driving me crazy.

“Mr. C, that’s a nice cologne. Is it new?”

“Gianna got it for my birthday last month. Do you like it?” I swallow hard as I nod my head, pouring myself another glass of water; I drink it and pour another.

“It’s nice.”

“See, Dad, I told you. I had to force him to wear it yesterday. Now everyone has been giving him compliments. I bet that woman you met last night liked it. Come on, tell me who she is.”

“I didn’t meet anyone, baby girl,” he replies, and I really hope it’s true—for both of our sakes. But something deep down is telling me, well, my throbbing core is telling me, it is not.

“Fine, don’t tell me. I won’t tell you about Carlos,” Gianna replies, pouting. Carlos? Who is Carlos? I wonder. I’ve been so out of touch; I don’t even know who she’s dating.

“Who is Carlos?” She glares at me and scowls; from that look, I can tell she did tell me about him. Okay, think, Brandi, think. Which guy did she mention? But the moisture between my thighs distracts me.

“I told you about him last week; we met at lunch.” Her mentioning this reminds me of the guy she told me about.

“Oh, the food truck guy? I didn’t know it had become more than a cute doctor you met at lunch.”

“Well, it has; he’s become very important to me. I’m in love.” I roll my eyes and take another sip. She falls in love every three months. I can’t keep up with her.

“It’s been a week, G.”

“It was love at first sight.”

“You said that about Troy…”

“Well…”

“And Bradley. And Nicholas.”

“Why are you bringing up the past, B? Just support your bestie and her new love. Plus, he has a cute friend.” I groan. I knew this was coming.

“She’s been insufferable all week; she’s in love, so now everyone around her has to be too,” Mr. C chimes in and chuckles when he sees my face.

“Hey, I want you guys to be happy. Dad, it’s been 10 years since Mom, and I’ve never seen you with another woman. When was the last time you, you know…? If you were actually at a business meeting last night…” I choke on my drink again; G knocks my back.

“Brandi, what is with you today?” I stop coughing as I furrow my brows.

“Huh?”

“You’re usually reserved and calm, but you’ve been acting nervous and jittery all night. Is something wrong?” Other than the fact that I may have slept with your father, everything is peachy. But I can’t say that, so instead, I take another sip more slowly.

“Uh, long night last night.” My eyes lock on Mr. C, which makes my core throb again. Oh man, this isn’t good. Luckily, Gianna doesn’t notice me lusting after her Papi and smiles.

“Hmm, okay. Get some rest when you get home.” I nod, stuffing my mouth with more food as she turns to him.

“Papi.”

“One second.” He pours himself a full glass and downs it all at once.

“Papi, stop being dramatic. I’m simply asking when you’re going to get a girlfriend. It’s been years since Mom.”

“I know, sweetie, but your mom was one of a kind. I haven’t met anyone who can take her place.” I smile at his words. This is the Mr. C I know—the sweet widow who is a great father. He couldn’t be the one who was so skillfully dipping his tongue in my honey pot last night. I moan softly at the thought, then look up nervously, wondering if they heard me, but luckily, they did not.

“What’s your type? Maybe me and B…”

“Leave me out of this.” I have no interest in Mr. C’s sex life, other than possibly being the last person he had sex with. I groan as Mr. C mouths thank you and Gianna scowls at me.

“Come on, B, let’s help Papi get his groove back. Sex is necessary…” she begins, which makes Mr. C bolt out of his chair.

“Okay, I’ve heard enough. I’m leaving.”

“Papi!” He grabs the bottle of wine and heads out of the room.

“He’s so uptight; I’m just trying to help.” I stuff my mouth full of pasta to avoid any conversation. If Mr. C is the same man from last night, I’ve done more than my share of getting his groove back.