Author's Note: One of optional storylines in Nancy Drew: Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon is about Lori Girard and Tino Balducci. Specifically, Nancy learns that they once dated each other for a bit, until Tino's friends convinced him to call off the growing relationship. Thanks to Nancy's prompting, Tino decides to apologize to Lori and give their relationship another chance.
Nancy Drew: Amateur Detective and Matchmaker.
This chapter is a short glimpse of the last time Tino was with Lori, before the breakup. He stopped calling her, but he didn't stop caring.
The noise from loud party seemed to disappear as Tino shut the balcony door behind him. "Is this good?" he asked.
"It's perfect!" Lori smiled. "I mean, I like parties, but sometimes I like getting away too, you know?"
The New York air was warm that night, and the view from Lori's penthouse was amazing. Almost as amazing as the woman standing next to him. Like usual, Lori was wearing an eccentric outfit which probably cost thousands of dollars. Tino wasn't a fashion expert, so he couldn't explain why Lori's dress came with a turtleneck and wristgloves, but he thought she looked stunning.
"Yeah..." Tino said. He put his arm around Lori's shoulders, and she snuggled closer into him. "It feels like I haven't had any time for myself, ever since I caught those bank robbers, you know?"
"Oh, I know exactly what you mean," Lori said. "Once you're famous, it's like you have no private time! It's way too much pressure."
"Yeah...pressure..." Tino said. He sighed and spent a few seconds staring at the moon. When he turned his head to look at Lori, he found her gazing into his eyes.
"I love it when you do that," she said.
"Do what?" he asked.
"Think," she said. "Whenever you think about something important, your eyes get this amazingly seriously look. It's, like, a total turn on."
"Oh really? Is it as good as the time you forced me to do Elvis karaoke?" Tino chuckled.
"Better," Lori said. "I'm not the smartest person ever, so I really like that you are. Smart, that is. But I like how you are, too!"
"I like you too, Dollface," Tino said. He waggled an eyebrow at her. She giggled and kissed his cheek.
"Not that I don't mind being alone with you, but why did you want us to come out the balcony?" Lori asked.
"I...I wanted to talk about us," Tino said. "You see, Lori, people have been talking to me about you, and..."
Tino paused as he remembered the conversation he had with his boss, the afternoon before.
"Nobody's gonna take you seriously, as long as you're dating that zero," Ralph said. "Trust me. I used to be a security guard at Worldwide Broadcasting. And today? I'm a captain of the NYPD!"
"I know she ain't exactly the smartest gal in the world, but I don't think it's that bad for me to be seen with her," Tino said defensively.
"She's famous for all the wrong reasons, Balducci. People are gonna think you're only dating her for the money, or worse. You wanna be brought down when she crashes? It's your funeral."
"And?" Lori asked, smiling.
"...Nothing," Tino said. "Let's go back to the party."
"If you say so, Bright Eyes," Lori said. She hugged him with the arm she had wrapped around his torso. "I'm so happy I met you. I think this relationship could really work! I mean, I've met a lot of losers. But you're not one of them!"
"I hope you're right, Lori," Tino said under his breath, as he led her back inside. "I really hope you're right."
