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“It’s okay,” I whisper. “I’mokay.”
“No,” he grunts. “Nothing about this is okay. You need to go now, angel. Otherwise, I won’t be able to do my job.”
“I’ll talk to you later?” I ask hopefully.
He nods, kissing me with surprising gentleness on the cheek. “I’ll text you.”
* * *
Is everything okay there?he texts a few hours later.
I’m lying in bed, Mom snoring across the room from me. We’ve decided to take the room with two singles. Mom passed out almost as soon as we got here. I’m glad she was sleeping when all the mayhem happened and didn’t have to experience any of it.
Yes,I reply.Everybody’s in bed. What about with you?
As good as they can be. Russel has checked in with his goons. They bought it.
Was it difficult to make him do that?I ask.
I’m not sure you want to know that. It might make you feel differently about me.
I know you have to be tough,I tell him, my thumbs moving so fast.I know you have to be brutal sometimes, but I know you’re a good person, too. You use your toughness for a reason.
Then yeah,he replies.It was surprisingly difficult. I think he’s staked everything on this. He got overconfident. He’s sobered up a little now and clearly regrets it.
What’s the next step?I ask.
Finding out how many copies there are, where he’s stashed them, and how to delete them all.
I know cheating’s wrong. I’d never do it. I swear, Elio. I only want you, but would it really ruin the Family?
Men in this life are old-fashioned, he replies.They take a dim view of a woman being unfaithful. It will make Dad look weak, weaker than he already appears. If I were don, not just acting don, maybe that would be different.
Then become don,I tell him.You can do that, can’t you?
Not soon enough. There are procedures. We’d need to gather the men. I can’t waste time until this video is gone. It’s disgusting to even think about. A video of my mom…
I can’t even imagine,I reply.I’m so sorry you have to go through this. I’m sorry any of it happened.
You don’t need to apologize for anything. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have found out what this lowlife piece of filth had over my mom. If it weren’t for you, we’d be lost.
I don’t think that’s true,I type.Anyway, the main point is that now you’ve got to handle this mess. I know you can do it, Elio. You’re strong. You’re capable. You’re experienced. You’re all the things I ever dreamed my boyfriend could be.
Did you used to dream about having the perfect boyfriend, then?he asks.
One of the downsides to texting is not being able to hear the person’s tone. However, I don’t have to hear him to know he’s probably sounding pretty bitter right about now. The stuff with his mom has got him thinking about ourrelationship. It feels so amazing—not to mention surreal—to think of it like that. Even if I’ve told him I would never cheat, maybe the concerns are still there.
I didn’t have time to think about relationships,I text.I was too busy working, stressing, trying to help Mom. When I did think about it, I always just figured it wasn’t for me. I never felt anything for anyone. Anyway, high school boys are so immature.
Some would say you would be better off with one of them,he texts.Your own age, no criminal connections… There’s a lot to think about.
Are you saying you’d end things with me?
No. Never. I don’t want that. I want you, Scarlet.
Then stop implying it,I type.I’m happy being with you, even if this has been the craziest couple of days of my life. Even if it shouldn’t make sense, it DOES. We make sense. Tell me I’m wrong.
You’re not. I feel exactly the same, but I’ve got twenty-three years on you. I’m a forty-two-year-old man. Some people would say you’re not in the best position to make an informed decision.
