Chapter Text
The drive started with a click.
Not of a seatbelt, or even the engine. But instead of Mafioso’s blinker. I guess he signaled out of habit, because he was turning into a void.
There was no music, and no words. Just me, him, and four adult-ish men who were probably threatened with execution if they exhaled too hard. I dunno, I wasn’t there when Mafioso pulled them out of the room and told me to sit tight.
Me?
I was stuck sitting stiffly in my seat, hands properly folded across my lap. I couldn’t stare anywhere except the dashboard. I was trying to quiet as possible, but something inside that damp garage place’s air was caught in my throat.
I kind of had to cough—the worst kind. The trapped, traitorous kind that builds and builds until it explodes out of you like a soda bottle someone shook too hard.
Between stifled grunts that sounded like a mouse going through puberty, I stole a glance at Mafioso. His hands gripped the wheel firmly, like it was the only thing keeping him alive right now.
So, he looked calm.
But to be fair, I noticed this same expression while his goons zip-tied a customer to the front doors of the pizzeria. It meant nothing.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. The silence was too much.
I considered saying something, anything! I mulled over the options in my head.
”Nice night out.” No. Too mushy and sappy. We aren’t there yet.
“What kind of mileage does this thing get?” Definitely no. Way too nerdy, and this ‘thing’ might have more of a backstory than even Mafioso.
”So! Been kidnapping anyone else lately?” Jesus! Okay, maybe talking isn’t for me.
I cleared my throat instead, loud. The kind of cough that sounds like you took a bite of the crunchiest apple.
Behind us, someone let out a tiny, involuntary squeak. Probably Soldier. Then, nothing again. It was so quiet I thought the vents were on mute. Gosh.
It was kind of like driving through purgatory. We all know what’s coming, but for some reason nobody seems to have anything to say about it. The kind of silence that makes you think.
My knees were pressed together like the strongest magnets. Mafioso hadn’t looked at me since we started the car, not once. I probably would have been thinking about that, if I wasn’t actually spiraling right now.
Why did I say yes?
Was that a date invite? It sounded like a date invite. I think I just agreed to a date with the loneliest mafia boss.
But he untied me. That was nice. Right?
He looked so worried. Like, actually worried. I think he would’ve punched someone if I asked him to. Maybe even if I didn’t ask.
Why this made the butterflies in my stomach multiply, and flutter their wings harder than industrial fans, I don’t know.
I was interrupted when Mafioso sighed. Loud. But it was probably barely audible anywhere else. Too bad this car was the equivalent of a sound-proofed recording studio right now. His sigh echoed off the matte leather seats, and reverberated like thunder. I flinched.
”Are you okay?” God, of course he is okay! I was screaming at myself and had the urge to climb out the window.
“…Yeah,” He said, softly. Almost like a whisper. “Just concentrating.”
On what? Driving? Me???
I couldn’t stop the words before they came rushing out. “Cool. Yeah. Same.” I blurted, I might have sounded like I was on my millionth push-up in a row and tried talking on the next. What was I supposedly concentrating on? The windshield? The road? Mafioso??? Yeah.
There was shuffling behind me, and maybe some whispering too? They were good whisperers. Before long, I’m pretty sure the four of them were playing patty-cake simultaneously. Mafioso’s eye twitched and he glanced over at me.
Oh god, what do I do? I should smile. I’m actually kind of happy to be noticed, so this is nice. And also because I don’t want to accidentally kill one of the guys back there by seeming upset.
Mafioso’s eyes flicked back to the road, and he grunted like he was embarrassed. He shouldn’t be, this was sweet. And I always thought his little buddies were endearing.
Amid their little school-girl games, one of them whispered; “I think they’re courting.” I almost laughed, and I thought Mafioso was too.
I couldn’t be more wrong.
He looked like he was about to combust into an explosion of fists and yelling. I almost thought the steering wheel would snap off with how hard he was tugging at it. Honestly, it might’ve.
“NOBODY COURT ANYTHING.” He barked, calming down a notch. “EVER.” Calm starting now.
Another squeak. This time from the leather as I sank down into it. I don’t know why I was embarrassed, these five have known each other longer than my own parents probably have. It kind of felt like I was a guest at a dysfunctional family’s house.
I stared out the window into the sea of bright lights, my cheeks were glowing brighter than all of them combined. I could tell we were getting closer, the way the buildings got taller, and the boys louder. I was stuck slouched in the most expensive chair I’ve seen, whimpering like a permanently embarrassed cat.
This night was cursed. Or perfect. Hopefully both. I had no idea what to feel. I just knew one thing.
I would absolutely, definitely, be saying yes again.