Page 42 of Regal Queen

“So,” she tilted her head, a teasing look in her eyes. “Gumpy?”

I exhaled a small laugh. “Yeah, he’s called me that since I was a kid.”

“How long have you known him?”

I tried to think, “I can’t remember. I think he was my mother’s gynecologist when I was born, so, forever, I guess. She used to bring me to him when we would visit New York.”

“And?” She prodded. “Gumpy because?”

“I was a serious kid.”

“Of course.”

“And he used to call me the little grumpy king.” I shrugged a shoulder. “It eventually evolved into Gumpy. I think he was teased me about it to try and lighten me up.”

“I see.” She nodded. “That makes sense.”

She kissed my shoulder, then lay her head on it, humming softly and played with the straw wrapper as we waited for the pizza.

It was a moment of such domesticity that it made me pause, reveling in the warmth inside me. Is this what it felt like to be a 'normal' couple?

I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her to lay next to my chest, watching as she made a spit ball with the paper. Then she put it into the end of the straw and, before I could stop her, it shot it across the room.

I stilled as it hit one of Luca’s men. Horror shot through me as the man straightened, then he turned around, a scowl on his face.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” Rose laughed, trying to apologize through her laughter. I could tell that her reaction had surprised him and, instead of being angry, the man grabbed a napkin, tearing off a strip, then made a spit ball of his own, lobbying it at her.

It landed on the table with a plop, she she tsked her lips, shaking her head.

"You need to take a deeper breath."

Oh hell, was this really happening?Was she really teaching one of Luca’s guys how to shoot a spit ball?

All his friends had turned to watch and I kept my eye on them carefully, but they all seemed intrigued by the woman on my side and her interaction with the man, who now shot a second spitball across the room.

It landed right on my cheek, and I closed my eyes for a moment, gritting my teeth, disgusted.

Despite the fact that some man's spit was now on my face, it would a bad decision to retaliate on Luca’s own men.

The room fell quiet, and growling, I opened my eyes and picked up my straw wrapper, not looking at anyone.

Once my spit ball was complete and in my straw, I blew and, at the last minute, lobbed it right in Rose's face.

Her mouth dropped open as it landed right on her cheek, her eyes wide with incredulity. “What the hell?”

The men across the room roared with laughter, quickly loosing interest in us as Rose narrowed her eyes, glaring at me.

I returned her gaze with a cocky grin of my own. "You deserved it."

"I didn't spit on you."

"But you did spit it on one of Luca’s top capos."

She let out a shuttered breath and her eyes darted towards the man. Her mouth snapped shut and she shook her head.

"Don't worry," I bumped my shoulder into her. "I think he liked it."

"Mmmm," was all she responded, still watching them carefully.

---