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“A bet. You drove like you were being chased down by the fucking Russians, because of a bet?”
“Yep.” I keep my answers simple.
“Fucking hell, T. You need to grow the fuck up already. How do you think you’ll take over this family, if you’re still running around like a child?”
“I’m sure I’ll manage. Besides, you have plenty of years left in you, Pops. Plenty of time for me to grow up.”
“You’re about to be a husband. And hopefully, not long after that, a father. You need to grow the fuck upnow.”
“Yeah, about that. Care to tell me why this marriage is so important to you?”
“All you need to know is that it is. Don’t fuck this up, Theo.”
“Wasn’t planning on it.” The phone cuts out; my father refuses to end a call with a normal gesture likegoodbyeortalk later. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“For what part?” Holly asks.
“All of it. I don’t know how to do this, Holly. I’ve never wanted to dothisbefore. I need you to be patient with me. If I come across harsh or act like a dick, know that I don’t mean to.”
“You got the dick part right.”
“Again, I’m sorry. Tell me how to fix it. What do I need to do?”
“You don’t need to do anything. We’ve known each other for two days, Theo. You don’t owe me any apologies.” She turns to face me. “Drop me off at my place. Then go and get your head looked at—that really is a nasty gash. Although, I’m sure you’ve had worse.”
“Okay,” I tell her. I have to give her time. I have to give myself time. I actually have a list of shit to do if I want to find a way out of this fucking arrangement.
“Thank you.”
Half an hour later, I pull up in front of her building. I park and go to get out of the car, when Holly’s hand reaches over and grabs my arm.
“I don’t need you to walk me up. Thank you for the ride home. I’ll, um, I’ll see you later.” Her eyes don’t meet mine. Where is the fiery woman who was just telling me and my cousin off?
Placing my fingers under her chin, I lift her face until our eyes connect. “Holly, I need you to remember one thing for me.”
“What’s that?”
“You are mine.”
“But you’re not mine, are you, Theo? You can’t really be mine until you get out of whatever this marriage thing is.”
“I’m yours, Holly. I will always be yours. I have some shit to do, but I’ll be back later, okay?”
“Okay, I’ll see you later… maybe.”
I lean in and gently kiss her lips. “No, notmaybe. You will see me later, dolcezza.” I watch her walk up the stairs and don’t pull away from the curb until she’s inside her building.
* * *
Someone has to fucking know something. I just need to torture the information out of the right asshole. I don’t care how long it takes, or how many fingers I need to break.
I down my glass of whisky. “Another.” I nod to the bartender.
“Do you think that’s wise? Maybe you should call it a night. I’ll give you a lift home.” Neo stands and drops a pile of hundreds on the bar.
“No, I gotta go to Holly’s,” I slur as I slide off the barstool.
“Ah, maybe you should sleep it off and go see her tomorrow.”
