Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
I figured, once she got the place as clean as she liked, she could start in on the decorating and organizing. Plenty of tasks to keep her occupied and therefore ease the transition from Balm Harbour to the city.
I knew it wouldn’t be an easy one.
But she’d told me herself that La Flora had once felt like a sanctuary to her, but ever since the men in the back room, and the threats from Jameson, it felt more like a source of anxiety than peace.
Now she had the choice not to go back. She wouldn’t need the money. I made more than enough. But if she wanted that source of independence, there were plenty of shops in the city where she could work. Even just part-time.
The bigger concern, I was sure, was Vega. Namely, the lack of her. The one person who had always been around to ease Mere’s anxieties, to coax her at times to step out of her comfort zone.
I hoped, eventually, that Mere would be able to find all of that in me.
But I knew that missing her cousin was going to be the hardest part of this. Even if we did end up going back to my place in Balm Harbour to visit often.
Mere had the entire contents of the closet spread across the floor when there was a knock at the door.
It wasn’t uncommon for family members to drop in, so I thought nothing of it as I pulled the door open.
To find Vega herself standing there.
A few feet behind her was a surly-looking Gav who seemed to be playing valet to Vega, because he was carrying no less than three bags, plus a rolling suitcase.
“Vega,” I said, jerking back. “What are you doing here?”
“My case is finished. I’m in town to visit,” she said. Then, leaning forward, she glanced around, looking for Mere. Not seeing her, she went on, “I figured that it might help ease this transition if I am here for a little bit. Not here here. Like in your apartment,” she clarified. “I just need to stay for one night. I have a reservation for a hotel tomorrow. But when my man Gav here told me about the dinner party tonight, I thought that maybe you might need some reinforcements.”
“She’s really anxious about it,” I admitted. “She’ll be happy to know you’re here. And you’re invited to dinner, of course.”
“I am down for some genuine Italian food. Maybe I will meet my own hot mafia dude. Not this one,” she said, waving a hand back at Gav. “He told me that my ass isn’t big enough.”
“No, the fuck I didn’t,” Gav said, looking a little outraged.
“I directly asked him if my ass looked fat in these pants. And he said no.”
“I thought you wanted it to look smaller!” Gav objected.
“When is a small ass ever the goal?” she shot back, rolling her eyes.
Gavino looked at me, eyes lost, looking for some help.
“You fucking kidding me, man? You want me to help you against a lawyer? Fuck no. You’re on your own,” I said as Vega breezed into my apartment, leaving me to take the bags from Gav.
“I was stuck in a car with her for ten hours,” he declared, face grim. “You fucking owe me.”
“Come on, how bad could it have been? What?” I asked when a pained look crossed his face.
“She listens to death metal and Taylor Swift, literally fucking nothing in between. And she sings it. All of it. But she can’t sing. Oh, and she flashes people for fun, and demands to stop for coffee every fucking forty-five minutes.”
“She was probably fucking with you on purpose,” I told him.
“Yeah, well, mission accomplished,” he said. “I’m going home to sleep for the rest of the day.”
He never did make it to dinner.
And, thanks to a little help from Vega, and the eagerness of the women of the family to welcome someone new into the fold, Mere had lost most of her anxiety within fifteen minutes of walking into the door.
My aunt, the one who was particular about things like how to vacuum, was even keen enough to invite Mere to help with the clean-up after dinner.
“It was just like the movies,” Mere declared later as she walked toward the bed where I was already waiting for her. “Better, even. But louder,” she added.
“Eventually, you’ll be used to the noise and will get through the night without a headache,” I assured her, reaching to rub one of her temples as she curled up on my chest.
“I kind of don’t want to get used to it,” she told me, taking a deep breath.
“Why not?” I asked, feeling myself tense.
“Because then it will feel like I’m taking it for granted,” she said, her fingers moving out to trace the edges of one of my tattoos. “And I don’t want to do that. You have so much love in your life, do you know that?” she asked, turning her head up to look at me.