Every now and then I reach out and run my fingers over her hair and she hums or leans back against me. Other than that, she’s very focused on her work.
When she finishes, she stuffs her books and notes into her backpack. “Do you have a computer I can use?”
“Not here, babe.”
She chews on her bottom lip. “I should have brought my laptop.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I need to submit an essay to one of my teachers.”
“Can you do it in the morning?”
More lip chewing. I press my thumb against her chin to get her to stop. “Yeah,” she finally answers.
I pat the cushion, inviting her to sit next to me. A playful-smile flickers over her lips.
“I want to talk to you seriously.”
Her teasing smile disappears replaced by nervous lipbiting. Once she’s sittin’ beside me, I take her hand. “I like you a lot, Karina. Want you to move in here.”
“What?”
“Did I stutter? I want you here. Like havin’ you around. Like your cooking. Love fuckin’ you. Idon’tlike you living in that neighborhood by yourself all the time. Or walking to school through that neighborhood by yourself.”
“But I need to get to school.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“My father—”
“Your father lets you fend for yourself. He’s gone long stretches.” I reach out and trace her cheekbone with my finger, sliding down to cup her chin. “Baby girl needs to be looked after.”
Those are the magic words. A hiss of air rushes through her parted lips, her pupils dilate. Next to me, her body trembles like crazy.
“Yes,” she finally whispers. “I’d like to be here with you.”
“Ain’t gonna lie to you, sweetheart, there’s times I’ll be out on a run and not here for long stretches. But if you’re here I won’t be takin’ as many runs for the club as I do now.” I’m fuckin’ plannin’ to make Hemi take as many runs as possible. Keep that asshat far the fuck away from my little bitch.
“Okay.” She hesitates. “Dante? What about school? In the fall, I’m planning to go to State, live on campus…”
I shrug. “Campus is what? Forty-five minutes away? I’ll come see you or you’ll come home.”
Relief spreads across her face. “Oh, okay.”
“I ain’t gonna stop you from goin’ to school, babe.Besides, this might not work out.” I hate sayin’ it, but it’s the truth.
Her face falls.
“Babe, come on. You might get to campus and decide an old fuck like me ain’t worth wasting your time on.”
Her lip quivers and she shakes her head. “I don’t think so.”
CHAPTER NINE
Karina
By Tuesday afternoon,I’m all moved into Dante’s place. It’s not like I had a lot of stuff to bring. But there was enough to fill half of the bed of his truck. I leave a brief note for my father letting him know I’ve moved out and give him the number of the cell phone Dante pressed into my palm when he picked me up from school.
