FORTY ONE
L ater that evening, Poison arrived at the diner, her heart pounding. She saw Gavin waiting at the same booth they had sat in the day after he rescued her from Scorpion. His nostalgia was adorable, grounding her in the familiar as she moved to the old booth tucked away in the corner.
“Hey,” she greeted, sliding into the seat across from him.
“Hey,” he replied, his eyes lighting up at the sight of her. “Ready for the best diner food in town?”
She laughed, feeling a warmth spread through her. “Always.”
“So, Officer,” she began, leaning back and taking a sip of her drink. “I realize I don’t know much about you. Tell me something surprising.”
Gavin chuckled, amusement in his eyes. “Surprising, huh? Well, I’m the oldest of six kids.”
She raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued. “Six? Didn’t your parents have a TV? That must have been chaos.”
“You have no idea,” he replied with a grin. “It was like living in a circus. I spent most of my childhood playing referee and peacemaker.”
She leaned in, curious. “Sounds like you were their hero.”
“More like their babysitter,” he said, shaking his head. “But yeah, I guess in some ways. It taught me a lot about responsibility.”
She smiled. “I can see that. You’ve got a natural protector vibe. Real golden retriever.”
He looked at her, his gaze steady and warm. “Guess it comes in handy, considering our... unique introduction.”
She laughed, the sound light and genuine. It sounded alien to her own ears and she couldn’t help but feel guilty that she enjoyed being in Gavin’s presence after everything that happened with Scorpion.
“Yeah, not many people can say they met by saving each other from a psycho.”
Gavin’s smile widened. “True. But it’s a story worth telling.”
Their food arrived, and they dug in, the conversation flowing easily. For a moment, Poison felt normal, like any other girl on a date.
“So, where are you from originally?” she asked between bites.
He paused, taking a sip of his drink. “Upstate. A small town called Millbrook.”
“What made you come to Staten Island?” she asked, genuinely curious.
He leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Needed a change of scenery. After a while, small towns can feel pretty suffocating. Plus, I wanted to get into law enforcement, and there were more opportunities here.”
She nodded, understanding. “Big leap, though. Must have been tough leaving your family.”
“It was,” he admitted, his voice softening. “But they understood. My siblings were old enough to take care of themselves by then, and I needed to do something for myself.”
“What drew you to law enforcement?” she asked, fascinated by this side of him.
He shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “Always wanted to help people. Growing up the way I did, I saw how important it was to have someone looking out for you. Figured I could be that person for others.”
She felt a surge of emotion at his words. “You’ve definitely got the heart for it.”
“Thanks,” he said, his eyes meeting hers. “What about you?”
“What about me?” she echoed, tilting her head.
He leaned in, lowering his voice. “You know, the street fighting. What got you into that?”
She chuckled, shaking her head. “You don’t have to whisper, you know. You’re the law officer here. If anyone’s getting me in trouble, it’s you.”
He laughed, the sound the purest thing she’s ever heard. “Fair point. So, what’s your story?”
She took a moment, gathering her thoughts. “I guess it started out of necessity. My mom wasn’t around much, and I needed a way to fend for myself. The streets taught me how to fight, how to survive.”
He didn’t need to know that she was planning on killing someone. The fact that he hadn’t arrested her yet was a miracle in itself.
His gaze softened, admiration and concern in his eyes. “That sounds tough.”
“It was,” she admitted, her voice threatening to shake. “But it made me who I am. It gave me strength and a sense of control over my life.”
He nodded, understanding. “I can see that.”
After dinner, they decided to catch a movie at the nearby theater. As they walked, Gavin told her about his siblings’ antics, his stories filled with nostalgia and humor.
She could see the love he had for his family in every word. And she couldn’t push down the jealousy that burned her chest.
Inside the theater, they settled into their seats, the dim light cloaking them. As the movie started, Poison found herself stealing glances at Gavin, more interested in his reactions than the film.
A particularly intense scene made him jump, and she couldn’t suppress her laughter.
“You okay there?” she whispered, leaning closer.
He shot her a mock glare, though the corners of his mouth twitched upward.
“Just... very invested in the plot.”
“Sure you are,” she teased, her eyes dancing with amusement. “Want me to hold your hand?”
“Only if you promise not to laugh,” he replied, his voice half-serious, half-teasing.
“No promises,” she said, taking his hand anyway.
His grip was firm, his palm warm against hers. There was a connection that went beyond the playful banter.
When the credits finally rolled and the lights came on, Gavin let out a breath he seemed to have been holding for the entire duration of the movie.
“That was… intense.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “You’re adorable when you’re scared.”
“I wasn’t scared,” he protested, though his voice lacked conviction. “Just… startled. Repeatedly.”
“Uh-huh,” she said, standing up and stretched. “Well, you survived. Barely, but you did.”
They walked out of the theater, the almost deserted lobby echoing with their footsteps. She still clutched the half-full popcorn bucket, her laughter mingling with the sounds of the night as they walked to where her bike was parked.
“That wasn’t even scary,” he said, trying to sound casual as he put his arm around her shoulders.
“Oh, so you jumped every time something happened for the fun of it?” she teased, leaning into his touch.
“Hey! I was supporting you!” he said, innocently.
“Yeah, because I was so scared,” she said, rolling her eyes. “But thanks. I had fun,” she continued when they reached her bike.
“Me too.” He smiled, taking the popcorn from her hands. “We should do this again.”
“Definitely,” she said, feeling a lightness in her heart she hadn’t felt in a long time.
Before she got onto her bike, she turned to say goodbye, but the expression on Gavin’s face caught her off guard. He stared at her with a look that could only be described as awe. He leaned forward, his eyes focused on her lips, and panic surged through her as she realized he was leaning in for a kiss.
Reacting quickly, she grabbed a handful of popcorn and stuffed it into his mouth.
“Good night, Gav,” she said, her cheeks flushing.
Gavin, chewing the popcorn, gave her a big wolfish grin.
“Night, Poison,” he mumbled with a mouth full, seeming unfazed by her subtle rejection, his eyes still warm.
She climbed onto her bike, glancing back to see him standing on the curb. As she took off and drove away, she couldn’t help but smile at his big grin as he stuffed more popcorn into his mouth.