Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Father

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I smile down into my cup of tea, enjoying the fresh herbal scent. My belly is full of scone, and I’m listening passively as Daniel explains the ins and outs of some new philosophical theory that he’s learning about for his class.

I don’t really care about it, but it’s nice to hear him think through something about which he’s passionate. It’s really a gorgeous day – the sun is shining in little pieces through the grape leaves that wrap around the pergola, and I lean my face back to enjoy the warmth on the soft skin on my cheeks.

Next to me, I hear Daniel laugh a little. “Are you even listening to me anymore?” he says.

“No,” I reply, smiling. “But that’s okay, it’s good to hear you talk.”

He laughs again, a soft thing, and then takes my hand.

“It’s nice, Fay,” he says, and I open my eyes to look at him, seeing him smile at me. “That you enjoy listening to me, even when you’re not hearing my words.”

I squeeze his hand and return his smile, considering him.

It’s funny – I was so in love with him for the few months that we were dating. Or, at least, I thought I was. Maybe “obsessed” was a

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more appropriate term, but either way, I couldn’t stop thinking

about how handsome he was or how much I wanted to kiss him.

Just to kiss him, small, chaste things. But I had wanted so badly

gently, love me, be kind to me. To treat me like

his treasure.

After everything I’ve learned about his life–our life? It’s all just… gone. All of those feelings have disappeared.

the absolute best for him and

away.

wonder, passively, when

in my stomach.

thought that

to disrupt my

you all right, Fay?” he

his fingers, thinking about what my father said

me, slightly curious. “What

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“Curiosity, mostly, I guess. You just seem… such a mismatch for this world, most of the time. I guess I wonder

left. Never just… bailed on it.”

a little uncomfortable. “It’s my home, Fay. My family, my world. I guess I don’t really

leaning forward. “Honestly, aren’t you ever tempted to just steal, like, one of his cars, sell it on the black market for whatever you

falls open at

me millions to keep my mouth shut the day we broke up – if you have access to that kind of cash, why not just take it for yourself? We could go!

the French Riviera, change our names, spend the

days just drinking wine and writing books! About whatever

we want!”

hand a squeeze before pulling his back to reach

Fay,” he

it,” I say, my