Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56378 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Me: I need to save more money. I want to travel to Europe. Or maybe even go on an African safari. I haven’t decided on specifics yet, but it’s a dream of mine to travel, take photos, see the world, grow as a person.
Nico: Alone?
Again, just one word, leaving me with all the room to speculate about his intent. Is he implying that he wants to come with me? Or is he relieved that I’m not dating someone else? Maybe he doesn’t care, and he’s just being politely interested like any uncle. The difference is we’ve already kissed, already touched. But we’re trying to go back to the way things were.
Me: Yes. The only person I could think of asking to come with me is Lilly, but she’s in college and, anyway, she already told me she isn’t interested in taking time out of life to travel. I can respect that. We’ve all got different paths in life.
Nico: Traveling alone in Europe isn’t safe for a young woman.
Me: You already knew I was planning this.
Nico: I know, but it wasn’t my place to give you the brutal facts before, Arriana.
Me: Why is it your place now, uncle?
I’m being petty. But I don’t care. He’s acting like he has any right to tell me how to live my life.
Nico: Maybe it’s not. But it’s still a fact. I know you want to build a career for yourself, and that’s fantastic. The world is a dark, nasty place, though, Arriana. I’m not saying don’t go, but be careful. Do your research. Don’t think you can disappear in another part of the world and automatically be safe.
Me: I’ll be fine. When I make my decision about where I want to go, I’ll take all the precautions. Please let me know more details about this girl you want me to help. Uncle.
Again, I’m being petty. Calling him uncle—but he is my uncle. I’m just using it as a weapon, a way to remind him. I do my do-not-disturb routine, putting my phone on my desk, getting into bed, and using all my willpower not to check it.
When sleep finally comes—it takes a long-ass time—my dreams put me back in the car with him. He’s got his hand on my core, but this time, he’s under my pants. He’s rubbing hard, sparks lighting up my body. I wake in a sweat. Know what’s crazy? I wake with my hands between my legs, too. That’s never happened to me before.
Grabbing my phone, I read his last text.
Nico: I can arrange a meeting tomorrow, around three pm, if you’re not busy.
Me: I fell asleep, but I can do that, yeah. Send me the address. I’ll make my way there.
Nico: Public transport? he texts, not leaving me in suspense this time. I smile at the image of him waiting up all night for my text, growing anxious when I don’t text back, thinking about coming over here, climbing into bed with me, holding me. I’m sick. It’s wrong. I still smile.
Me: Yes. It’ll be fine.
Nico: It’s one of the safest ways to travel, believe it or not.
Translation—Enzo won’t risk doing anything stupid on a bus surrounded by witnesses.
At breakfast, I tell Mom and Dad, “I read a news story about a mugging earlier. It was really scary. You two need to be careful, just in case anything happens. These muggers are clever. They trick people. Apparently, it might be a racket run by the mob.”
Dad narrows his eyes at me. Mom looks at Dad. I see the expression flash quickly across her face. I’m always watching people, mostly imagining a camera in my hand—a byproduct, I think, as I’ve become half decent at reading them.
The look of panic on Mom’s face says She knows.
Do they know about the mob? Are they hiding something from me?
“We’ll be careful, sweetheart,” Mom says. “Don’t worry.”
They go back to trying to act normal, but I spotted it. I’m sure I did. Mom definitely looked at Dad as if I’d stumbled into a secret. Maybe that’s why Nico didn’t want to tell me everything. Could it involve my parents? God. What am I even thinking? But I can’t ignore my instincts. There was something there. As we eat breakfast, I try to tell myself I imagined it. But I can’t.
This maze of lies is becoming too easy to get lost in.
CHAPTER 12
NICO
Iwait in the public park with Destiny. She absentmindedly braids her hair, looking across at a group of other kids around her age as if they were a different species. Destiny doesn’t come to this area of the city much. She rarely leaves the few blocks of her apartment building. I thought it’d be good to give her a change of scenery, though.
“Is this lady legit?” she asks.
“She’s a skilled photographer,” I reply.