AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I chuckle at that question, “I wouldn’t say I'm in love. I mean, I do love the guy, but romantically, I’ve never loved anyone that way.”
She sits up, her eyes curious, “Never?”
I shrug as I stand, “I never had any interest in it. Love makes you vulnerable, open to attacks that you may never return from.”
I walk around the couch and head for the kitchen, needing coffee before answering any more of Lexi’s questions, which seem to dig deeper and deeper into me. It reminds me too much of Maxine. She used to bug the crap out of me about finding someone and settling down, growing old with a partner - she was a sap like that - but she was never satisfied with answers. Truth be told, I never wanted roots nor attachments with anyone, especially with the lifestyle I live. Would it be fair to whoever I build a life with if I were to suddenly die on them, or worse, have them open to attack because of a target on my back? The answer is and always will be no. It’s not fair in the slightest, but for this thing with Lexi and Gio…I’m afraid I’m in too deep to pull back now.
“Coffee?” I ask Lexi, who sits on the couch still, her chin sitting on the backrest of the sofa as she watches me move.
“Yes, please.” I turn back around and pull three mugs down since I know Gio will be up soon, and the guy is a grouch without caffeine.
“So how long have you been interested in Gio, mister I-don’t-love-anyone?”
I grin to myself, appreciating that she’s not pushing the love topic.
“Since meeting him,” I answer. “I was making a store run for my Ma, picking up some medicine for her, but I didn’t have enough money. The pharmacy clerk was being a total prick with me, not at all willing to do a payment plan, which is something they offer customers, but I guess he stereotyped me because of my tattoos.”
“Asshole. What’d you do?” She asks as she comes to the kitchen, hopping up on the counter and taking the mug I hand her.
“Well, I tried pleading, telling the guy that my mother was battling cancer and needed the medicine, but when that didn’t work, I was going to pull my gun and really give his stereotype some validity. But then this proper looking kid comes over and slams down some money.”
I chuckle, remembering Gio’s words as he stood beside me in stark contrast to me. His skin was clear of tattoos and he wore khaki pants with a fucking polo shirt. He looked like a kid from Manhattan rather than the Bronx.
“No way! Gio paid for the medicine?” Lexi’s eyes get all misty, making me chuckle.
“Well, he put what looked like money down then told the guy to walk into oncoming traffic before taking the meds and whispering for me to run.”
“What?! Why?”
“Cause I gave the asshole monopoly money,” Gio says as he comes into the kitchen, pulling on a t-shirt, “Ma was never able to get her medicine from there again, but it was worth it.”
Lexi laughs, the sound doing funny things to my chest; she doesn’t laugh enough, and judging by the grin on Gio’s lips, I can tell he likes her laughter a lot too.
“Remember the security guard?” I ask.
Gio barks out laughter, “No, shit, I forgot about that!”
He imitates the overweight and underpaid man running with his hand on his hip like he had a gun, “Freeze you little shits!”
Lexi bursts out laughing at his antics, all of us enjoying this moment of happiness that isn’t tainted with the oppressive worry that Alan is hiding around the corner waiting to hurt our family. I only wish Maxine was here to see this, to know that I’m smiling.
“I wish I could have been there.”
Gio shrugs, “You’re here now.”
He leans in and kisses her before scooping up his coffee and taking a deep drink, my eyes on his Adam's apple as it bobs with his swallow. I wasn’t sure how last night would go, or how he’d act around me today, but I’m grateful the awkwardness isn’t there. As strange as this new chapter will be for us as we learn how to navigate this relationship, I really don’t want it to be different. That’s part of the fun in my opinion. Of course, I’ve never been in a relationship so I wouldn’t really know, but anything with these two will be worth the hurdles.
“Maxine told me you were living on the streets when you first got here.” Lexi says, and the sting of my sister's name burns through my heart, but I’m grateful that she still says it. I may not be able to right now, but I appreciate Lexi keeping my sister involved in daily conversations because it makes the reality feel less real. I still feel like I’ll get a call from her, or she’ll come barging through the door with her arms laden with bags from her latest shopping spree.
Gio nods his head, leaning against the counter as he answers, “Yeah, I had five thousand dollars my,” he clears his throat before continuing, “that my mom left for me, but I didn’t want to waste any of it, so I just crashed in parks.”
I elbow Lexi, “Looks like we’re into hobos, huh?”
Lexi giggles while Gio rolls his eyes, “Don’t go bustin’ my balls cause this hobo is the one who got your mom’s medicine.”
I chuckle along with Lexi, “I told Ma how he got her medicine, and she never let him sleep in the streets again.”
We enjoy our coffee after that, only making small talk about our schedules for the day, along with Lexi griping about the flower shop being sold. She’ll find herself hands deep in something new soon, she just doesn’t see it yet. It’s the most relaxing morning we’ve had in a while. There’s no looming cloud of worry eating away at our peace, and the fact that I no longer see stress tightening Lexi’s shoulders makes me entirely thankful we finally have the motherfucker in our hands now.
