“The guy behind the counter looks vintage,” I giggle.
Anton looks up. He grins. “Roger the Dodger. He used to race cars back in the day. Damn good driver, actually. But he’s very much an introvert. He prefers when customers come in here and don’t speak to him,” he muses. “Better for me when I’m trying to stay out of sight,” he raises his brows.
Anton purchases two records. One, I think, he only buys because I got so excited when he played it and I knew the words; one of Rodriguez original tracks from his first album ever released.
After the record shop, he takes me for pizza. It isn’t at some fancy restaurant with flashy decor and waiters in tuxedos; no, it’s at a food truck parked near the water overlooking Belle Isle.
“It’s where I come when I need to think,” he says, gesturing over the views of water, boats and open skies.
“It’s gorgeous,” I reply.
We sit huddled together on a bench, taking bites of greasy pizza with cheese dripping off it while we watch people coming and going and make up stories about their lives.
When the pizza is gone, he slips his arm around me, pulling me even closer.
We watch the boats floating along the water, and he twirls his fingers around a strand of my hair as I lean my head against his shoulder.
I can see why these places help him escape and clear his mind.
Some distance away from us, a girl walks alone with her hands shoved into her coat pockets. She leans on the railing and watches the water.
Suddenly, I realize that she is me. I’m usually out exploring places on my own. Not many people can keep up with how often I drift from one place to the next to try to escape my brother. Man, I love that guy, but he's annoying with his constant urgency to get me back home.
I glance at Anton, who is looking straight ahead.
For the first time since I met him, I realize something else. I don’t want to escape. There have been so many opportunities to do so today, and I haven’t even thought about it.
I slip my hand beneath his jacket and let it rest against his side.
A gorgeous smile stretches over his lips, and we sit quietly together, enjoying each other’s warmth.
Chapter 15 - Anton
She’s teaching me something about life that I haven’t ever had the chance to learn, or I was never given the opportunity to understand.
She’s changed the way I experience the small moments. She’s illuminated my life and shines like a light, making each day more beautiful.
Something as simple as making breakfast is suddenly something fun and filled with laughter.
Things like sitting on a bench doing nothing at all out near the harbor—in the past, it was where I went to plot or think or plan my next move. But with her, I was just in the moment, not worried about anything at all.
When she’s at my side, the entire world comes to a stop, and all that matters is enjoying that single breath of time.
Being number one doesn’t matter. Having the most power doesn’t matter. Status, money, business, growing clients, reaching further, being stronger, and overpowering my enemies or getting revenge…none of it means a damn thing suddenly.
It’s like my whole life, I’ve had these blinders on, and now, in a flash, they’ve been removed, and I can see what life is really about.
It’s about connection.
In fact, everything that came before her is somehow meaningless. Like it was all just in preparation for the day I found her.
I’m on my way back from work, and already I’m smiling as I near the mansion. I wonder what she’s doing. She’ll tell me about her day or the new book she’s reading. She’ll show me herlatest drawing, or I’ll find her in the kitchen trying to cook up something she’s never tried before. She might be rearranging the artwork or the living room furniture. With her, it’s impossible to guess, actually. It could be something normal, or something totally out of the blue. It’s one of the things I love about her, being so unpredictable.
I park the car and my smile grows wider as I climb out and take the steps up to the front door two at a time. Pushing the door open, I call her name.
“Iz?” I call out into the house.
The first place I check is the living room. Usually, she has a fire going already, but it’s cold and empty this evening.
