Celia

Thankfully, the next morning I don't have to help my grandma with the garden, so I won't be late to work like yesterday.

She struggles with her knees, but taking care of herbs is her favorite pass time— aside from playing poker with me. So if I didn't help, I'd feel guilty all day.

After yesterday's intense events, I need a layer of protection and opt for a loose t-shirt to drown myself in, pairing it with boyfriend jeans and sneakers.

Any hope of slipping unnoticed vanish when I enter the kitchen and find my dad with his Bible notes and a cup of espresso.

"Saw Alex drop you off yesterday, how is he?" he asks.

"Fine." I focus on the tea kettle under the faucet, pouring the bare amount of water needed.

"Have you considered his proposal?"

"There's nothing to consider."

"Really? I'm surprised you haven't jumped at the chance." He leans back, a glint of mockery in his eyes. "Moving to live in New York... away from me..."

"You forgot about getting married?" I emphasize as the air becomes stale.

"And why not? You grew up together, his dad is a close friend and very important—"

"I will not escape one prison for another." My voice shakes. I hate myself for letting him get under my skin. Perhaps, because it's something I contemplate. Of being so helpless that I might have no choice but to go through with it.

"Why, so you can stay and babysit someone else's kid?" He chuckles. "Of course you'd work for a tatted up, long-haired man. Is he even paying you or are you just wasting time?"

"My only waste of time has been this conversation." I give up on the tea kettle and open the cabinet for a Pop-Tarts.

"Of course, I'm a waste except when it comes to using my house and everything in it."

I put the Pop-Tarts slowly back, closing the cabinet. Shaking my head, I pass him to get to the door.

"You have to act reckless to prove your point, don't you?" He drills, halting me by the open door. "Do you even know anything about this guy? Do you know why he's here? Do you know why he's single?"

"No, dad." I look at him absently. "But I know he didn't make his wife kill herself."

I slam the door behind me, rushing down the steps only to be stopped by my grandma in the garden who insists on giving me a wrapped flatbread with cheese, knowing I'm leaving on an empty stomach again.

I take it so she doesn't get upset, but feed it to the stray dogs lingering around once I reach the alleyway.

As I get on the main road, I hope that Gio doesn't come home early today. I don't want to have another argument, I don't think I can.

The ride back home with Alex yesterday triggered old wounds. As much as I try to not show it, I miss who he used to be when we were little. He was my only friend and I lost him after losing my mom. It was my fault, partially, but it was also the abuse happening at his home. He changed, had to change.

But he's never hurt me. That's what gives hope that he might change once he's out of here. Or not. I don't know, maybe living here has lowered my standards of human decency.

I hope not. Otherwise, what does that mean about me? Would my mom recognize me if she was still here? Would she love me?

I shake my head to erase these thoughts, but they still linger. So I sink my teeth into my cheek, coating my tongue with blood.

When I knock on Gio's door and no one answers, I realize I'm thirty minutes early. I turn to step away before wild-haired Ari in pink pajamas opens, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

"I like your outfit." She smiles, letting me in. "Let me go wake daddy..." She scuttles down the hall and knocks on his door. "Daddy! Celia's here! Get up sleeping beauty! Okay, I'm coming in..."

I sit on the couch, noticing heavy dumbbells on the floor and food wrappers on the coffee table with an empty bottle of Gatorade.

Also two beer bottles and an ash tray, though I've never smelled cigarettes on Gio before. Well, the three times that we've met.

Suddenly he emerges from his bedroom, wearing nothing but black shorts. He has one arm around Ari who's propped on his hip, holding onto his neck.

"YI-HAH!" She kicks him. "Off to the kitchen for pancakes! Go, go!"

Eyes half-closed, he moseys past me, dragging each step. His thick calves and ripped back unholy to belong to a dad. Heat gushes to my face as I remain still.

"What'd you say when you jumped on me, baby?" He asks in a low, hoarse voice.

"I said Celia's here."

Yup, right here. Sitting... watching you. Like a creep.

"Outside?" He pulls out his phone from his pocket.

"No, you dumb horse, she's right there!" Ari points at me and my eyes go wide as they meet Gio's.

"Jesus..." He sets Ari down, baring his wide chest and rippled abdomen, ridges exposed from the waistband of his shorts, tempting the eyes to travel low.

"Morning." I squeak as he glares across the room, inked arms naturally away from his torso.

"Do you realize what it means to be on time? It means don't come late and don't come half an hour early."

"Sorry..." I bite my lip."Won't happen again."

"Celia, you want pancakes?" Ari pops in front of him like an oblivious fairy. "Daddy makes some mean pancakes with chocolate chips, berries, maple syrup and whipped cream!"

"No, I'm okay." I stand, rubbing my hands on the back of my jeans. "I'll uh, I'll just clean up around here while you guys eat."

Just as I bend over to pick up the empty bottles, Gio's deep voice makes me flinch.

"I'll clean that up, come here."

Something about his tone makes my body want to crumble. Not trusting my voice, I sit on a bar stool behind the island as they maneuver on the opposite side.

"Your hair is really pretty," Ari tells me, trying to sit on the counter.

Gio picks her up and sets her down, then excuses himself to the bedroom. He comes out shortly in a black shirt and takes out a pan from one of the cabinets.

"I like yours more, you're like a princess," I say to her. She's missing her front teeth and it's the cutest thing.

"I'm Belle and daddy is the Beast. That's why his hair is so long, see?"

Gio's profile stays indifferent as he measures the pancake powder before pouring it into a bowl.

"I'm his hair stylist!" Ari gets in my face to bring my attention back. "I do his pigtails and braids—"

"Ari, talk about how you're starting school next week." Gio cuts her off with strained enthusiasm. "Aren't you excited?"

"No," she drawls like he's dumb. "Kids my age are boring. I like Celia."

"No, that's not fair. You have to give them a chance." He says while I silently give her a high-five and stick my bottom lip out to show that I'm impressed.

"What's so funny?" He checks over his shoulder when Ari giggles.

"Nothing." I wipe my smile off and he narrows his eyes.

"Hmph." He turns back to the stove, pouring a scoop onto a sizzling, buttered pan. "Celia, you want chocolate chips in yours?"

"I'm not hungry—"

"You're eating. So just tell me how you like it."

"Chocolate chips..." I mumble, trying to stay unaffected for Ari's sake.

"Ari, go brush your teeth." Gio says without turning.

"Okay, daddy!" She hops off the counter as if he said Santa's in the bathroom.

"Tea or coffee?" he asks me— correction, his back asks me.

"You don't have to offer me anything, I'm fine." I frown at my intertwined hands.

"We're not going to eat and have you sit here with nothing," he chides, raising a brow at me over his shoulder. My chest compresses with the struggle to reply. "And I won't poison you... today."

I crack a faint smile, looking down. He opens one of the cabinets above his head, taking out a glass container of instant coffee and a paper one of Earl Grey, then approaches until he's in front of the counter that separates us.

"Hey." He stares at me, tone firm. I look up at him, holding my breath.

"We don't treat each other badly in this house," he says, not breaking his gaze. "Even if we had a fight."

I nod, looking away as I swallow the impossible discomfort in my throat.

"Okay?" he asks, voice gentler.

"Okay..." I say softly, lifting my gaze at him when he doesn't move.

"Now pick from these two elite options, you only get one chance." He lifts the items.

I chew on my lip. "Tea..."

"Excellent choice, the coffee's expired." He smiles a little when I snort, then turns to go back towards the sink.

"You had a guest last night?" I ask after a moment as he fills the tea kettle with water.

"Uh, yeah... his name's Arthur. He's helping me buy an auto shop down the street."

Of course, I've heard they're friends. Probably why he ended up in this small town.

"I'll be working in the garage for the rest of the week," he says, washing the strawberries. "Can you take Ari shopping for school stuff today?"

"I don't have a car."

"I got a truck." He says then whips his head towards me. "Wait, you have your license, right?"

"Yes." I roll my eyes, gaping when he suspiciously stares. "Do you want to see it?"

"No." He smirks. "I'll just fire you if you're lying."

Before I can respond, he pulls out his keys from his pocket and throws them at me, I almost fall off my chair trying to catch them.

"Scratch my car and I'll shoot you," he says with amusement as he flips the pancakes.

~ A/N ~
Sorry if this chapter started heavy, but everything will work out for them at the end <3