Page 52 of Knot in Their Wildest Dreams: Part 1

“Hi Tony, how are things?” I asked, glancing around at the store. It looked the same as the last time I was here, many years ago.

“They just got much better.” He said, looking like a weight was off his shoulders.

“Question for you. How is the debtor’s till?” I asked.

In this community, most people lived paycheck to paycheck. Some families would buy food and have an account with the store’s layaway option, the debtor’s till, paying off their debt bit by bit. It was a way to still eat without having enough money on hand. But so many could never pay their debt, leaving them in a constant cycle of owing.

“Well, funny you ask, it’s just been wiped clear!” He said, holding his hands up and shrugging.

“What a coincidence.” I said, rubbing my chin as I watched Celeste through the window, looking at the various hot pies for sale. “Have a great one, Tony.” I said, waving at him as I left the store.

I joined Celeste, watching her as she strolled through the market, as if she belonged here, in this little town. I bought a few fresh juices from one of the vendors, and surprised Celeste when I handed her one.

“Should we sit?” I asked, gesturing to a bench nearby, under a large tree.

“Yes, it’s hot today!” She took the fresh juice as we sat down. “Mmm, this is incredible!” She exclaimed after sipping the drink.

“It’s a local specialty. Fermented fruit juice, sugar and cinnamon over ice.” I explained as I watched her. Every little movement she did just drew me into her like catnip.

“Well, it’s delicious. Refreshing, too.” She said as she sipped. I watched her closely.

“You’ve been in this area before, haven’t you?” I asked, and she took another sip, then looked around.

“Not in this exact neighborhood. But I’ve been near here, so this area isn’t unfamiliar to me.” She said nonchalantly.

“You paid the debtors till.” I said, knowing it to be true. She looked up at me.

“At the store? Yeah.” She shrugged.

“Why?” I asked. She hadn’t known I was watching. And she wouldn't have known to do that unless she’d been in this type of area before. Celeste’s face registered a slight surprise.

“Are you telling me you think I’m so selfish I’d never pay off a debtor’s till?” She asked with incredulity. “I watched my father do it when I was younger, and continue the tradition any time I’m in a place where they have one. It’s not like I never ventured out to these areas, Vigo.” She sounded slightly offended. “Or, did you think I’d never step foot in any place that doesn't have valet? Come on, I have to visit most of our locations for business. I’ve been all over, not just the good areas!”

I was shocked at her admission. She turned, looking at me out of the side of her eyes

“Wait, you thought for our outing you’d take me somewhere you thought I couldn't handle? Is that it?” She asked. I felt my face heat. She’d caught me, and I deserved it. I’d made a judgment - one she clearly didn’t deserve.

“Okay, fine,” I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck. “I figured you hadn’t spent much time outside the polished parts of town. Thought maybe you hadn’t really seen the places where life feels a little more…raw. Where the real people are.”

“Real people?” She asked with a cocked brow.

“The people who do most of the unnoticed work. The ones who provide our food, energy, and do the lower paid labor that keeps us in comfort.” I said. Celeste looked at me strangely.

“Why this area?” She finally asked.

“This is where I grew up.” I answered, looking out at the town square. “Right here, with my family. We scraped by, and it was considered a dream to get even a fraction of what I have now.”

Celeste was quiet for a moment. “Your family lives near here?” She asked, and I nodded.

“Yes, my father worked for one of the local politicians. My mom was a cleaner at one of the factories. I only made it out because I met Liam, and then Dante. We were young when we found each other, but we were driven.” I said, thinking back to the days when we first decided to make something of ourselves.

“I never knew. But then, I never asked.” She said as she took another sip of her drink, inching closer to me. I felt her quick forgiveness of my assumption, and took the risk of letting my arm drape over her shoulders. It felt right.

“And I never asked if you’d been out here before. I’m sorry that I didn’t think much of you.” My words came out, and I realized I’d had my own prejudices of her. But how could she be who we thought, this woman who paid off debts, who had seemingly been working toward many of the same goals my pack had. The two versions of Celeste could never reconcile in my head. Speaking of which, she leaned into me, resting against my side in the shade.

“Well, I’m glad you brought me. I never really did have time to spend just living like this, outside of the pressure of being who I am, without my uncle or a bodyguard around telling me to hurry up.” She said.

I considered her words. If she really wanted to explore more, I could help her with that. And I surprised myself with that idea - that I really did want to help Celeste. Right now, everything felt perfect - like how things should be. Was this my biology talking, or could there actually be a future with her?

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