Page 70 of Something New

We chat about her future and all the potential that working in a place like that will bring. I applied there. I remember they told me they weren’t looking to hire anyone right now. But I don’t tell Hayley that. She is my best friend, and I want the world for her. I want everything good for her.

After our coffee we walk the long way to the park, enjoying the city energy and taking our time, just filling the day with nothing.

The vintage market is beautiful. There are so many fun treasures to look at, for a little while I forget about everything that happened and how broken my heart is.

But that loneliness creeps in as the afternoon grows late.

I think again about how I want to message him but knowing I can’t.

I’m empty, even spending time with such an amazing friend, because the only person I really want to be with right now is Tuomo.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Tuomo

For two days I was locked in that basement underneath the warehouse and for two days my brothers visited me, taking it in turns to convince me I should change my mind about her. They were begging me to ‘see reason.’ But what reason is there to convince me of.

I love her. She is incredible.

I don’t care what her mother did for a living or where she was born and what her blood line is. I love her and that is all that matters.

My stubborn commitment to her infuriates them but I won’t let go. If this is some kind of test of my love for her, I won’t fail it.

It is just past lunch time on the second day when Celso comes in carrying take outs and two beers.

He unlocks the holding cell and walks inside, sitting down on the floor near me.

“Dude, I don’t even want to talk about your girl.” He sighs, reaching into the bag and pulling out a burger and fries for himself - then handing me the bag.

It smells great. He hands me a beer. Ice cold.

I eye him suspiciously.

“What is this? Good cop bad cop?” I ask, wondering what games he is playing. “Some kind of manipulation?”

He shakes his head, his mouth full of burger.

After chewing his food, he shakes his head again. “No, man. I just don’t get what the fuss is about. Who the fuck cares who you fall in love with?” He shrugs, taking a swig from his beer. “They act like who we marry is so important. It’s not.”

I twist the cap off mine and take two long gulps. It’s ice cold and refreshing as it rushes down my throat.

Celso doesn’t speak much while we eat our burgers and drink our beers and after a while I believe him. This isn’t a tactic. He doesn’t give a shit about Nerissa and I being together. I know that the bigger picture is all about power — I should marry for power, to make the family stronger. My father probably has a wife picked out, the way he chose Leora for Mas.

“And dad? How has he been?”

“Ah fuck man, you pissed him off. He wants to kill you. If I was you, I would stay away from him for a while and give him a chance to calm down. You’re safer in here than anywhere he can see you.”

I snort a bitter laugh. “Like I have a choice. I’m locked in a fucking basement like an animal. Besides one of you three will piss him off soon enough, and he will forget I hit him.”

Celso nods his head from side to side, crumpling the empty burger packet and standing up.

“Maybe. Maybe I will be the idiot who pisses him off next.” He walks out of the cell, not looking back, but he says. “Maybe I was the idiot who forgot to lock the door.”

He walks up the basement stairs and disappears from sight.

I can’t believe it. Did he really just do that for me?

I leap to my feet and run for the door. I don’t know if this is a trick - for all I know Rufino might be waiting up there to slam his fist into my throat and take me down again - but I don’t care. I have to try. I need to see her.

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