Savage Pride

26

Aldo’s lecherous gaze drifts down my body, my skin itching with the invisible stain of his touch. “I’d give you all sorts of things if you asked nice enough.” I desperately want to slam the door in his face, but I know I can’t. “Time. All I need is a little time, and you’ll get your money.” “Suit yourself. End of the week, no more extensions.” He winks and turns away, calling over his shoulder. “I’ll be in touch.” He doesn’t have a car in the driveway, but he could have parked it down the street to catch Mom off guard. Or maybe he jumped the wall around Tuxedo Park, and that was how he got in. All I know is I’m glad he’s gone. I shut the door and bolt it, leaning back against the aged wood and sliding down to my bottom. My knees bend up toward my chest, and I hug my legs as though I’m a little girl again. I feel like I could be. These mounting problems weigh too much for my shoulders—as though I need an adult to come rescue me. But it’s an adult who got me into this mess. My own mother. Now, I have to find a way out for all of us. OceanofPDF.com I need to find Gia and tell her what’s going on. Forgetting all about my coffee, I throw on some clothes and start toward the back door. It feels safer, like Aldo might still be waiting for me out front. And with that thought, I detour to my parents’ bedroom and grab one of my dad’s pocketknives. I can’t be too cautious where Aldo is concerned. f*****g creep. I open the back door and almost pass out when there’s someone on the other side. Nevio’s fist is raised as though he were about to knock, but my already frayed nerves elicit a momentary panic that I’m about to be attacked. I shriek and flinch, slamming the door shut in his face. Recognition registers seconds too late, and when I open the door to apologize, poor Nevio is still wearing a look of shocked confusion. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” I start to laugh at the absurdity of my morning. “You okay? I didn’t mean to startle you.” He flashes that signature smile, brows drawn up good-naturedly. “Yeah, I’m totally fine—just didn’t expect someone to be standing there.” And now that my brain has caught up with real time, I process that Nevio has come by the house. Not only has he stopped over for an unannounced visit after years of not seeing each other, but he’s come to the back door, which all strikes me as a tad unusual, but not totally out of the question. When we were kids, we always let ourselves in and out of the back of our houses because it was easier than walking around to the front, and as children, we weren’t encumbered with a need for formality. But we’re adults now, and as far as I know, Nevio hasn’t been to our house in ten years. “I thought I’d stop over to visit. I would have called, but I don’t have your number.” “You’re right. I don’t think we’ve ever exchanged numbers.” I pull out my phone. “What’s yours? I’ll shoot you a text.” He reads off the digits, and I’m hopeful we’ll stay in better contact. “I was about to walk over to your house in search of Gia. You can keep me company on the walk.” “Absolutely.” I make sure to lock the door behind me before following Nevio into the grass. “I didn’t get a chance to ask before. How long will you be staying at Hardwick?” “I suppose that depends on a couple of things,” he muses. “Like what?” “Like how long you’ll be here.” The honesty of his answer startles me, and I’m not certain if he’s sincere or merely being his flattering self. “Oh, yeah?” I glance over to find his warm brown eyes already watching me, and I can’t help the smile that creeps across my face. “Surely, I’m not the only factor in that decision.” “You play a bigger role than you might think. I spent a lot of years trying to get you out of my head, but after seeing you again, I’m not sure what I was thinking.” My stomach bottoms out with his words. Am I reading into his meaning? Did he mean to imply he had a thing for me back then? That he has a thing for me now? I’m stunned speechless for a solid minute. “Nev, what are you saying?” We slow to a stop, my eyes searching his face for a semblance of understanding. Growing up, we’d been close, but it never went beyond anything but friendship. When he left for boarding school, I didn’t have a cell phone of my own yet, so we couldn’t text, and we didn’t call or write very often. I missed him, but my life was full with friends and school such that I moved on quickly. It never occurred to me he harbored deeper feelings for me. I don’t know what to say. Ten years is a long time. I’m not as idealistic as I was as a girl, but he still seems to be the same carefree playboy he’s always been. That’s not exactly the type of man I go for at this stage in my life. Maybe back then, if I’d known how he felt, but now … I’m not so sure. Nevio raises his hand and gently guides a lock of hair behind my ear after it escaped from my hastily plopped bun. “I’m saying I’ve missed you and would love to spend a little more time with you. I normally don’t like coming home, but with you here, I don’t want to leave.” I smile and look anywhere but at him as I’m engulfed in an ocean of awkwardness. “I’ll only be here for a couple more days.” “It’s a chance to reacquaint ourselves. That’s all I’m asking.” He eases us back into our walk, which is not overly hot now that a line of clouds has overtaken the sun. “I’d love to hear more about your life in the city. Where did you end up settling down?” “Over in Brooklyn. I’m finishing my degree in English lit at St. Joseph’s. I’m a little older than the average student, but I’ve been paying my own way, so it’s taken me some extra time. Not to mention, I got a late start.” “Hell, I’m impressed you went after what you wanted and are achieving it. Not everyone can say they’ve done that.” He smiles warmly at me. “I remember how much you loved reading. English lit sounds perfect for you. Are you wanting to teach one day?”