“What girl? I don’t know some blonde chick—” I hear a voice and turn to where Pinkie stands with Bones. He pauses and looks me up and down. His brows rise when he recognizes me. “—Mila?”
I smile. He remembers my name too. “Hey, Pinkie. I was wondering if we could talk?”
Pinkie’s cute. Not drop-your-panties hot. Just cute with those dimples, and as he smiles at me, it’s obvious he knows it. He walks closer, and Bones lingers behind, tilting his head at me. My heart starts to race. There’s something about Bones that’s scary, intimidating, and hot all at once. It makes me want to run away but slow enough for him to catch me. Ugh, he’s not my type, but I want to know why he’s called Bones.
Throwing his arm over my shoulder, Pinkie turns me away from the shop and walks me over to my car. He lets me go and takes a step back, removing a packet from his back pocket and lighting up a cigarette.
“Is Romeo good?” He looks around and then back to me.
“Yeah, he’s okay.”
He nods and takes another drag, the embers glow brightly.
“I was just wondering if you knew the Amato family?”
He pauses for a moment then gives me a puzzled look. “And why would you think that?” He tilts his head, and I think I underestimated Pinkie. His name might sound dumb, but he’s not.
“I was doing some research, and I thought they lived in Ridgecrest, but I can’t seem to find their address,” I answer, not really answering his question.
His eyes narrow. “You don’t need to know shit about them. Just stay away. They’re not people you want to mess with.”
Ah, so he does know of them, at least. And I already know they’re not people I want to be around. It’s not like we went out of our way to mess with them. They included us in their mess.
“I’m just curious, is all. So, they do live in Ridgecrest?”
He takes another drag and purses his lips, not saying a thing. I don’t think he’s going to tell me anything, but I keep pushing.
“All I need is a street. Or a general area will suffice. I can find the rest on my own.”
Pinkie shifts his weight and glares at me. His nostrils flare as his jaw ticks. “That’s why you’re down here? Where’s Romeo? Does he know you’re down here, asking all these questions?”
I shrug. “No, he’s off doing football stuff, I guess. That’s all he does.” I’m hoping he’ll believe Roman is busy, so he doesn’t go telling Roman I’m here…at least, not yet. I need a head start.
He nods slowly but watches my face intensely. “That’s good. Zero has high hopes for him to go all the way—football, college scholarship, and all that stuff. So, don’t be messing with that. You’re good for him. Amato family is no place for you to be.”
Wow. Okay, I wasn’t expecting that. They want him to go all the way with football? I had no idea. I thought they wanted him to be part of their club, not go to college. I need to talk to Roman about this. About our future. Where we all see ourselves. For me, it’s wherever they are. But Hunter’s plans…I don’t really know anymore. We all know we will be together, but where?
“Tell Romeo that I say hi. Make sure you call him that.” Pinkie drops his smoke and crushes it into the dirt with his boot.
I half laugh. I’ve heard this nickname a few times before. Still, this sucks. I didn’t come down here to chitchat with Pinkie. Although, I’m glad I learned that they want him to go to college.
But Pinkie isn’t having any more talk about the Amato Family. He opens my driver’s side door, and I take that as my cue to leave. Great this was pointless.
“Well, thanks for the chat,” I say as I slip into my seat, defeated. I reach for the handle, but he holds onto the door, placing his chin on his arm.
“Mila. You’re good. Too good for the stuff you’re looking for. Leave it be. Go be with Roman. Forget the Amato family and whatever plans you have for them. Trust me. They’re not worth it.”
He pauses for my answer, and I nod. He takes that as agreement.
“You want a cherry sucker?” He pulls one from his pocket and hands it to me.
I chuckle. “That’s very random,” I reply, though I take it because I like cherry.
He laughs. “Nah, I carry them everywhere. I’m trying to quit smoking.”
I look to where he holds another smoke between his fingers and shake my head.
“Yeah, I know…old habits and shit.” He grins and shrugs. “See you round, Mila. Tell Romeo I say hey.” He closes my door.
