Page 69 of Niccolaio Andretti (The Five Syndicates)
I choose them based on how big their bank account is and how easy of a mark I think they’ll be.
Of course, I don’t say that.
I’m silent for a moment, contemplating my words before I finally reply, “When you’re old enough to date, choose a guy that makes you feel amazing. Someone who does things for you when you ask and even when you don’t. Someone who makes you feel safe. Someone who gives you butterflies but also makes you feel calm.”
“What you’re describing doesn’t sound human,” she says, no doubt thinking about the pre-teen boys in her class, boys that she’s frequently compared to ogres during some of my visits to her.
I laugh and agree. “Nope. Not in the slightest.” My face turns serious. “But you’re an amazing person, Mina, and if it’s up to me, you’ll never settle for less than you deserve, which is absolutely everything.”
She’s silent for a moment before she says, “You’re an amazing person, too, Minka.”
And darn it, my heart swells ten times its size, and I wish I could agree.
Instead, I paste a smile on my face and nod my head. “Thanks, Mina.”
“Are you going to tell my why you haven’t come to visit me?”
I hesitate, pondering what I should and shouldn’t tell her. “I can’t come visit you for a while, but I’ll try to as soon as I can. I promise. Just… there are people after Niccolaio and maybe me right now.”
She takes in my words, her eyes widening in concern, but she doesn’t voice it. That’s the somber reality of our lives. I can’t remember a time when one of us hasn’t been at risk in one way or another, whether it be from one of our parents, eviction, starvation, Social Services, and so on.
“Minka, do you feel safe right now?”
I nod my head emphatically. “Yes.”
That’s not a lie, either. Even though some ridiculous things have happened to me lately, I do feel safe. I have a roof over my head, food to eat, and free time to study for my LSATs. And as reluctant as I am to admit it, I trust Niccolaio to keep us both safe.
“Do you feel calm right now?”
I give her a weird look. “Yes…”
“Did you ask Niccolaio to get us tablets?”
“No, he did that on his own.”
“And when you hugged him, did you feel butterflies?”
Yes. “Mina, what are you going on about? You’re being weird.”
“How are my questions weird? It’s your checklist.”
My jaw drops, because she’s right.
Holy cow. Niccolaio checks off every box on my list.
And I don’t know how I feel about that.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Always forgive your enemies;
nothing annoys them so much.
Oscar Wilde
“Attention! Attention! I ate ants for breakfast!”
At my words, Mina breaks out in the cutest fit of giggles.
