I know that.
I’m banking on that.
Bobby is desperate, and he doesn’t know she heard everything he said earlier. It wasn’t my intention to make her upset, but the truth of the matter is Bobby is ugly. Everything he’s done to her has been for his own benefit. Meirna was not going to reap any well-intentioned acts from my brother.
Only me.
“Let him.” I pull her hand up to my lips. “He’s not going to change your mind.”
Pressing a long and gentle kiss to the top of it, I tuck both of ours in my pocket as a chilly wind picks up around us.
“I don’t want to see him.”
That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.
However, Meirna isn’t bought on me yet, and if you threw me and my brother in a box, you could pile a bunch of fucked up things we’ve done to her.
I just don’t want her killed by the mob or drowning in financial ruin.
“You’re going to have to when you get to New York eventually.”
“There are a million people in between us.”
“And he knows exactly where to find you. Pull him out of his element, Meirna. He won’t have a leg to stand on when daddy isn’t there to tell him what to do.”
“Isn’t that what you did to me?”
I glance over at her with a dead stare. “No. I didn’t bring you here, marry you, then keep you away from everyone. I gave you your phone. You could’ve booked a flight already.”
“You pulled me out of my relationship, married me, then expect me to be okay with it.”
Since I’ve been used to the idea of all this, my first reaction is to roll my eyes at the dramatics.
However, this is fresh and impulsive. To some women, it could be categorized as reprehensible and too deranged.
“I never said I was the sweet version of Bobby.”
“Then what are you?”
“The insatiable one.” Then I narrow my eyes and say, “We’re not the same.”
Meirna lifts her chin, a telltale sign that she’s going to attempt to hand me my ass.
And my feelings.
“I’d say you’re the insane one,” she offers blatantly. “Bobby would never do something like this.”
I snort. “Because he doesn’t have the balls.”
“But I do. And I say, I should get on a plane right now and sort my life out.”
Looking ahead, we pass a small beer hall where a few men linger outside talking. She’s trying to draw out my crazy to see what she’s dealing with. If she should be scared, on guard, or in safe hands while she’s worlds away from home.
“Then I’d say good luck getting on the plane,” I manage finally. “Because I have until New Year’s.”
“You can’t seriously think that I’d?—”
“Be in love with me?” I steal another quick look at her, already finding that she’s been studying my every move. “You sure about that, Daydream? Think of your happiest moments. Your favorites. And, ask yourself, who was I with?”
