“You and your friend have a good time tonight.” Lou laughed and shook his head as he left the garage.
We headed out, and I let Victoria do the talking all the way to the sushi place until we sat down. The nerves churning my insides made it difficult to hold a conversation, and her looking this gorgeous didn’t help.
I never thought I’d complete an entire comic book, and I had the beautiful girl sitting across from me to thank for it. She believed in me enough to push me. When I’d seen the flyer in the Comic Cove’s window for a contest right after I’d finished, I’d entered before I could think of all the reasons why I shouldn’t.
“So, when do I get to read the rest? I’m a little insulted that you didn’t show me.” She raised a brow as she plucked the last piece of sushi from the wooden board.
“I was in the zone and had to finish. Another writing thing I think you’d understand.”
Changing the subject and snatching the book from her hands when she tried to look wasn’t a permanent solution. Eventually, she’d see, and I’d have to explain myself—and it would all change.
“I hear you. My last piece for the semester was like that. I couldn’t do anything with it for weeks and then I finished in one night. Maybe I need to be desperate to be creative.” She laughed, the red sweater she wore stretching over one shoulder and giving me a teasing glimpse of her collarbone.
What I would give to be able to be close to her, to bury my head into her neck while she melted into me.
There was no doubt in my mind she’d graduate from NYU and find some dude who would have no problems giving her everything she wanted, everything she deserved.
That dude wouldn’t be me, no matter how much I wished it could be.
“Anyway, thanks for pushing me to come out tonight. I doubt I’ll even place in this contest, but—”
“Don’t say that. And if it doesn’t then, you’ll figure out another way to get your work seen. Point is, you’re showing up. That’s half the battle right there.” She leaned her elbows on the table as her dark hair spilled over her shoulders. I drew back in my chair an inch on instinct because I didn’t trust myself to be that close to her without touching her. Her face fell, and while I hated that, it was for her own good.
Lou wasn’t the only one at the shop who noticed how close Victoria and I had become and commented on my thing with “Baby Falco.” There was no way it hadn’t gotten back to Josh. He hadn’t said anything, but the concerned glances he’d shoot us from time to time didn’t go unnoticed.
From the time I met Victoria, she was never my friend. She was everything I wanted but nothing I could have.
“That sounds wise.” I smiled before I could help myself, and I reached into my pocket for my wallet. I handed two twenties to the waitress and told her to keep the change.
“Anthony, you didn’t have to do that. You already treated me at the diner and plus for all the coffee you buy me I was hoping to treat you.” Her lips pursed. Red, full, soft. At least they looked soft. I’d bet they were, and that they tasted even better.
Cut the shit, Anthony. Look away.
“You got me out when I was too chicken, like you said.” I smiled when I met her gaze. “Thank you.”
A slow grin creeped across her lips. “You’re welcome.” We headed outside into the frigid air. The Comic Cave was only across the street, but we froze our asses off until we stepped inside.
“Diaz!” Howie at the front desk called out to me as soon as we closed the door behind us. “You actually came back, I didn’t think you had the nerve.”
Christmas lights, the colorful blinking ones that were reminiscent of a seizure, were draped over every shelf. A tiny tree and menorah sat in the corner, but otherwise they didn’t go too nuts on the holiday decorations. It was the same sea of endless comic book shelves and cases of collectible statues.
“He almost didn’t, Howie. I had to give him a push,” Victoria said behind me before jabbing my arm. “So, how many are in this contest?” She peeled off her gloves and blew on her hands.
“Casing out the competition?” I whispered in her ear. The right thing to do was to step back as I usually did, but after gauging everyone’s reaction to a beautiful girl in a comic book store, I stayed right by her side.
Nope, she wasn’t mine, and other guys could have her.
But, not tonight.
8
Anthony
“I’ve seen your comic, or what you let me see.” Victoria pursed her lips at me before turning back to Howie. “I’m sure there is no competition.”
“So far, five,” Howie answered her. “And those special edition Wonder Woman comics you asked me about last time?” he motioned to the right with his chin, “They came in yesterday, if you want to take a look.”
“They did? Not that I could afford them, but sure I’d love to take a look.” She grabbed my forearm, her eyes wide and dancing with excitement. I wished I could buy her that whole case. “Excuse me for one second.” She rushed over to the new display, and my jaw clenched at the chuckle behind me.
“Got something to say, Howie?” I asked after I tore my eyes away from Victoria.
“Nope,” He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose before lifting his head. “Has she read the whole comic?” He nodded in Victoria’s direction.
Howie needed to review all the entries for the contest, so I stopped by on my lunch hour to let him read. I knew he’d noticed what I wouldn’t let Victoria see.
“Most of it.” I shot him a glare before glancing back at her.
“What I figured.” His smile faded as he sifted through the pile of comics on the counter. “How’s Mario? Have you spoken to him lately?”
I shook my head. “He’s upstate now, all the way by Albany.”
He was still technically inside but was part of a work release program and was able to get out during the day. As far as I knew, he still spent his nights in prison.
It seemed like a lifetime ago when Mario and I would drop by the comic book store and sift through whatever Howie’s father put on sale back when he managed the store.
Even then, Mario had a knack for attracting trouble and then sucking me into it. Despite everything that happened, I missed him. But the best thing for the both of us was to stay separated after he was fully released. Following him the last time had almost cost me everything. Starting from zero was something I only wanted to do once.
Victoria grazed one of the plastic wrapped comics with the tip of her finger with a reverence that made her even more adorable than she was already. A guy looked her over from the back, but I wasn’t sure if he was checking her out or impressed by her intense interest in what she was looking at. When he opened his mouth as if he were about to talk to her, his gaze stumbled onto mine.
I was tall and fairly built from all the time I spent working out while in prison and then when I moved back to Queens. Appearing intimidating, no matter how scared shitless I may’ve been on the inside, was a skill I had no choice but to master—quickly. When I crossed my arms over my chest and aimed my best scowl in this dude’s direction, he backed away with his hands up. I guessed I still had it. A smile ghosted my lips at his retreat.