Verity knew that she had a dumb smile on her face for the rest of the day. They had gone for breakfast, walking to the waffle house after having changed and showered. Mark was still in his suit from the night before whereas Verity was wearing a white shirt tucked into jeans. She had slipped a leather jacket on over it and tied her hair into a messy ponytail. They had sat opposite each other in a small booth and ordered the biggest stack of waffles to share, tucking into them and alternating bites. They talked about everything and nothing, laughing and joking with each other. Mark hadn't wanted to leave, but he knew that he had to get ready to go to work that evening. He needed to shower and grab his uniform from his apartment.
It had been with reluctance that he had said goodbye to Verity at the subway, watching her descend the stairs into the underground to take the metro back to her apartment. He'd leant in to kiss her, his lips pressing softly to hers as he promised he'd see her again. He wasn't sure when. He was working nights and she was going back to being busy during days with tutoring. He didn't know how his life could have changed so quickly. Two nights ago he had been content to be in his apartment on his own and now he was here wondering when he could see Verity again.
She'd told him that they'd work something out and had written her landline number down on a piece of paper. She'd gone back to her apartment, but she knew that she wasn't going to be able to settle there. She needed to talk to someone about what had happened. She'd diverted in the end, switching lines and heading back towards Manhattan and Janet's apartment. She had no idea if she would be in, but she figured it was worth a try.
Janet had moved in with Robert into a fancy building that had a doorman and a concierge. Verity knew that Robert was a good man. His family worked in publishing and he was heir to one of the country's biggest publishing houses. Janet's family were in shipping and she had never really known what it was she had wanted to do. She'd dipped her toe into designing clothes, events management and even baking. Nothing had stuck. She was flighty, the complete opposite to Verity. But the two of them had been friends since they'd been six. They'd gone to the same school and had been inseparable since then.
Coming to the building, Verity thanked the doorman as he let her in and she took the elevator up to Janet's floor. The corridors were lined with fancy artwork, the carpets plush and only two apartments on each floor. Verity knocked on the door and waited patiently for someone to answer. Thankfully, Janet opened the door, dressed in a white robe with a tie around her waist. Her hair was in a bun at the nape of her neck and she was holding a glass of champagne.
"Not interrupting anything, am I?" Verity asked from her, brow arching.
"I was just about to get into the tub and have a long soak. Robert is away for the night which means I have the place to myself," Janet said. "However, for you, I'll run a bath later. Come in."
"It's only one in the afternoon," Verity said, slipping into the apartment and letting Janet shut the door and lock it behind her. Verity shrugged out of her jacket and hung it up on the rack before tugging her boots from her feet.
"I need to make the most of doing what I want to do. After this I'd intended on ordering a massive pizza and watching TV."
"You know, that really goes against your party girl image," Verity said and Janet rolled her eyes at that, heading further into the apartment. Verity followed dutifully and took a seat on the plush pale pink sofa in the large living room. Janet grabbed another champagne glass from the drink's trolley that was by the balcony and poured Verity her own glass of champagne.
"I don't party that much. You're the only one who knows that I'm more content to sit here and do nothing than be out," Janet said and she sunk down on the sofa across from her friend, curling a leg beneath her and fanning her robe out across her lap. "So, to what do I owe this impromptu visit? Not that I am never happy to see my best friend."
Verity chuckled and took a sip of her champagne. "Well, I thought that you might like to know that Mark showed up last night to my concert," she said and Janet's eyes widened and she bounced up and down excitedly. "He said I had you to thank for him turning up."
"You shut him down far too quickly when he actually seemed like a nice guy and I saw you smiling at him," Janet defended herself. "I know that James did a number on you and you swore off dating, but you can't swear off of it forever."
"I know," Verity agreed with a nod of her head and a sly smile on her face.
Janet furrowed her brows and pointed at her friend, eyes narrowing. "You're not mad," she said. "And you have a smarmy look on your face…you didn't sleep with him, did you?" Janet asked and Verity just took a drink of her champagne and shrugged, giving Janet the answer she needed. "You did, didn't you?!" she exclaimed, her own drink sloshing against the sides of the glass. "Oh my God, this is so exciting! I need to know everything. What the hell happened last night?"
Verity placed her glass down on the glass coffee table. She pulled her legs up onto the sofa and crossed her limbs, grasping hold of her ankles. "That's the thing," Verity confessed, "I have no clue, Jan. He turned up and he…there was just something about him and I figured I'd give him a chance. I asked him to walk me home."
"All the way back to Tribeca?" Verity checked.
"Figured it would give us enough time to talk," Verity said. "And it was odd. We walked and we…I told him things I've never told anyone else before, Jan. I felt like I could open up around him and I just did. I told him about my parents…I told him about my father's affair…"
"What?" Janet shrieked. "V, you've never told anyone about that. You swore me to silence and you only told me after me nagging you for like a month because something was off."
"That's what I mean," Verity said back to her, reaching for a cushion and hugging it against her torso. "I was telling him all of these things and I have no idea why or what possessed me, but I did. And he did the same. He told me about his childhood. He said that he hardly ever opened up. It wasn't anything like a first date. It was deeper…and it freaked me out."
"But you didn't close off from him?"
"I thought about it," Verity confessed. "I thought about walking away and hiding from him, but I didn't. He made it easy for me not to. We got back to mine…well…yours…and he was going to go, but I asked him if he wanted to come in for a drink. He said yes and we…I don't even think I finished my glass of whiskey before he asked me about James. Apparently you'd mentioned him."
Janet did look slightly guilty at that. "I was drunk," she defended herself. "I just wanted him to know that you'd been hurt before and I wasn't going to let him get away with anything like that."
"Well, I appreciate you looking out for me," Verity promised her. "And he…he just listened to me. I told him everything that James had done and he just sat there and drank it all in…but then at the end he told me how he was certain I had more talent than James ever could dream of having. I don't know what made me do it, but as soon as he'd said that…I kissed him and things just escalated from there."
"You had red hot sex with him?" Janet checked and Verity rolled her eyes. Janet laughed at her friend's prudish reaction. She was used to it. Verity never went into details unlike Janet who was an open book. "Okay, you don't need to tell me anything, but just tell me that it was good."
"Oh, it was better than good," Verity promised her.
"Best you've had?"
"Considering I only have James to compare to, yeah…much better," Verity confirmed. "But then I woke up and I wondered if maybe I'd moved too quickly."
Janet scoffed at that and shook her head. "V, baby, he's a man. They're not likely to be concerned about moving too quickly."
"I get that, but I was," Verity replied. "But he said that he still wanted to get to know me. We went out for waffles this morning and it was just…so easy…being around him is like being around someone who I've known for years. It scares me but excites me at the same time. I'm going to see him again, but he's working nights this week and I'm packed with tutoring and rehearsals."
"You'll find time," Janet assured her. "I'm glad I interfered because honestly the post-sex glow really agrees with you."
Verity picked her drink up again and took another sip. "Why do I get a sense there's a but coming here?"
"But I do want you to be careful, okay? I mean, if this guy does anything to hurt you or break your heart then I will kill him myself," Janet said to her. "I'm proud of you for actually taking this chance. You've opened up to someone and I know that's not easy for you…but you did it."
"I did," Verity confirmed with a nod of her head.
"And your parents are going to hate him," Janet said. Verity laughed.
"Mark said the exact same thing," she replied.
"Their only daughter dating a police officer. Your mother is probably going to have a heart attack," Janet said. "I almost can't wait to see it. Can I be there when you tell them?"
"I'm hardly going to tell them anytime soon. I need to figure this out myself…and I figure Mark deserves at least a year before I subject him to my parents if we actually make a go of this."
"Good luck keeping this from them for a year. You know your mother has her ear to the ground. She's the one who finds things out…has little mice everywhere who report back to her."
"Trust me, I want to keep this quiet for as long as possible so that means you can't tell anyone either, got it?" Verity said, shooting her friend a pointed look. Janet made a cross over her heart and nodded before pretending to zip her lips.
"My lips are sealed," Janet assured her. "Just enjoy this…meeting someone new…being excited…it's sweet and exhilarating. Enjoy it."
…
Mark had come off the night shift and had spent the entire day in his apartment sleeping. It had been a testing week with a number of call outs that had shown him the worst of humanity. He would get back to his apartment at around eight in the morning and consider calling Verity, just to hear her voice and do something normal. But he didn't. He figured she would either be getting ready for work or on her way out. And so he waited until he finished the night shift.
She was playing in another concert that Saturday night and Mark intended to go to it. She'd mentioned it to him over breakfast and told him that there was likely to be a drink's reception afterwards. It was some charity event that she'd agreed to play in. He'd turned up in the same suit he'd worn the last time he'd gone to watch her play. The venue was different this time. There was a guest list and he gave his name, amazed that it was actually written down.
It was a large hotel with marble floors and arches, intricate flower displays dotted around and waiters carrying trays of champagne. Mark took a drink for himself and smiled at people as he headed towards the large hall. He took a seat and waited for the concert to begin again, keeping himself to himself.
He watched as Verity took to the stage with everyone else. She was wearing a one shouldered dark green dress, hair pinned back as usual. Mark listened intently as the notes to Beethoven's symphony no.7 started up. His mind wandered as he listened to the music. Were any of Verity's other friends there that evening? Was he likely to meet any of them? Would she even want to introduce him? They'd been on one date to a pancake house and here he was wondering about being introduced to her friends. Was that too much too soon? He had no idea. He had never been in this situation before and by the sounds of it neither had she.
Thankfully, his thoughts were interrupted as he heard the melodic notes of the piano enter his ears. He looked up and saw the concentration on her face. Her head swayed with the notes and her shoulders hunched as her fingers danced along the keys. She was so graceful and mesmerising. He clapped and stood up at the end of the concert, but this time when Verity stood up, her eyes searched the crowd for him.
He could see her green eyes dancing around, looking for him and his lips curved into a smile as their gaze met and she bowed with the rest of the orchestra. The members of the orchestra simply started to move into the crowd considering there was no curtain to close. Mark made his way out of the row he was sat in, slipping between bodies until he came to near the front of the hall and he saw her moving towards him, noting the slit in her dress up her right thigh.
"Hi," she greeted him.
"Hey," he responded and bent down to peck her on the cheek. "You were incredible…as always."
"You're just saying that because I showed you the best waffle house in New York, right?" she checked with him and Mark chuckled as Verity let her gaze roam over his suit, unable not to notice how good he looked in it with a dark blue tie and crisp white shirt.
"I have to say, they were very tasty," Mark said to her. "But I was hoping that maybe I could take you out to dinner after this…unless you have plans?"
"No plans," Verity confirmed to him. "Where did you have in mind?"
"Well, I happen to know this Italian restaurant not far from here," Mark said. "That is if you like Italian food?"
"Love it," Verity said. "Listen, how about I grab my bag and we get out of here?"
"You don't want to grab a drink?"
"I think I can afford to leave early just this one time," she said and Mark nodded, his own smile remaining on his face.
"Only if you're sure," he said.
"Verity! I thought it was you!"
Before she could escape to go and get her bag, someone called her name. Verity turned her head over her shoulder and saw a family of three moving towards her. The woman who had called her name, Mrs Jacobson, was a friend of her mother's. Mr Jacobson worked as a professor of history at NYU. Verity was teaching their son how to play piano. Matthew Jacobson was a haughty teenager. He enjoyed playing the piano and Mrs Jacobson was convinced that her son was going to be the next great piano player. Verity didn't have the heart to tell her that he probably wasn't going to end up doing that.
"Mr and Mrs Jacobson," Verity turned around and greeted them, Mark noting how her voice rose an octave. "How lovely to see you. I had no idea you were going to be here tonight."
"Matthew told us that you were playing tonight and he insisted on coming down," Mr Jacobson said.
"Who are you?" Matthew wondered, his eyes looking at Mark and his voice haughty. Verity saw Mr Jacobson move a hand to his son's shoulder, squeezing it tightly. Mark looked at the teenager. He guessed that he must be about fifteen or sixteen. He had short cropped blonde hair and dark brown eyes. His face was long and with pointed cheekbones. The suit he wore was clearly designer. He looked like one of the pretentious kids that Hoffman would arrest for underage drinking.
"Matthew, how rude," Mrs Jacobson scolded her son.
She was a short woman, dressed in a red blouse and black skirt. She had pursed lips and permed blonde hair, a tight nose and no lines on her forehead. Her husband was taller, also dressed in a crisp black suit, but his hairline was receding and his nose looked crooked. His beady eyes landed on Mark who decided he should probably speak, but Verity jumped in for him.
"This is Mark," she introduced him and he stood next to her, his arm brushing against hers.
"Mark?" Mr Jacobson said, holding his hand out. "I'm Derek Jacobson. This is my wife, Juliana and my son, Matthew."
Mark shook his hand. "Nice to meet you," he said.
"I say, you're not Mark…Martin's son?"
"No, sir," Mark said with a shake of his head. "Mark Hoffman."
Derek's brows scrunched up and his nose wrinkled as he shook his head. "Can't say I've heard of the Hoffman family."
"Perhaps he's not in our circles?" Matthew suggested and Verity wondered if they intended on telling their son off for being rude, but they didn't. Juliana just shook her head and observed Mark with intrigue.
"What is it you do, Mark?" she questioned.
"I'm a police officer," Mark said.
Matthew scoffed and Mark wanted to snap at the jumped up little shit, but he held his tongue. He wasn't going to cause a scene because it would only impact on Verity and he didn't want that to happen.
"Goodness," Juliana gasped out and then laughed a little too shrilly. Verity remained stood where she was, standing up straight and feeling slightly on edge. She knew that this would now get back to her parents. "How on earth did you two meet?"
"On a night out," Verity said. "It was Janet's hen do and we ended up in the same club that Mark was in."
"I didn't know you liked clubs?" Matthew said, eyes looking to Verity who just shrugged her shoulders and tried to force a smile onto her face. Mark continued to let his arm brush against hers, hoping that they could get away sooner rather than later because he wasn't particularly enjoying this inquisition he was receiving.
"I don't, but you know what Janet is like. She likes to party…anyway…I bumped into Mark and turned out he didn't like clubs either, but did enjoy classical music."
"Really?" Matthew asked, tone one of disbelief and Mark pursed his lips. He didn't like this kid at all.
"Really," Mark confirmed, voice deadpan. "I went to see Verity perform last week in the orchestra and she…she was amazing…she's really talented."
"Of course she is," Matthew said.
"She teaches Matthew here," Derek declared, hand still on his son's shoulder. "We're hoping that he will get into Julliard, but he just needs a little more discipline. Miss Daniels here is the best tutor in the City so of course we had to hire her."
"I have to agree with that being a smart decision," Mark declared and Verity looked up to him as he threw a smile back in her direction.
"So…are you two dating? I saw your mother for lunch this week, Verity, and she didn't mention you dating anyone," Juliana said and Verity wasn't entirely sure how she should play this. She tried to be vague, laughing nervously as Matthew watched her intently, Mark noting the look on the kid's face.
"Well, we only met last week," she said, looking up to Mark, almost like she was silently pleading with him to save her from this conversation. He just didn't know how to save her or what he should say. "I mean…things are new…"
"I mean, not entirely compatible, are you?" Matthew spoke up and Verity's mouth gaped.
"Matthew!" Juliana scolded her son.
"What?" he asked her back. "I'm just saying. He's a cop. It's not like he moves in our circles."
"That is incredibly rude, Matthew," Derek said, his voice holding one of authority, but the young kid didn't look like he cared that much what his father was saying to him. He just shrugged his shoulders and a cocky look formed on his face. Mark wasn't going to be baited by a kid and so he just stood there silently as Derek apologised. "I'm sorry about him. I think it's admirable what you do…I mean, being a cop can't be easy."
"It has its challenging moments," Mark agreed with a nod of his head. He wasn't going to deny that.
"We were actually just about to leave," Verity said and she pulled at the sleeve of her dress, tugging it further up her shoulder. "It was good to see you all."
"I'll see you on Wednesday, won't I, Verity?" Matthew said.
Verity managed a tight smile. "Yes," she said.
"Have a good night, Miss Daniels," Derek concluded the conversation.
"And say hello to your mother for me!" Juliana called out as Verity began to walk away, taking hold of Mark by the hand and pulling him behind her. None of them bid him a goodbye, but he wasn't going to count that as a loss. He let her lead him towards a room off the main hall that looked like a cloakroom. Once Verity was certain they were alone among the racks of coats and bags, she turned to Mark, hands covering her face.
"I am so sorry," she said.
Mark frowned, hands going to her shoulders and thumbs running in circles on her skin. "Why are you apologising?" he asked from her.
"Because they were so rude to you," Verity said, uncovering her face and looking at him. He saw that she was embarrassed, but she had no reason to be. It wasn't her fault any of this had happened. "They had no right to talk to you like that…and I didn't think we'd see anyone I knew here…"
"You think I can't handle a family of rich snobs?" Mark asked, stepping closer to her, hands slipping down her arms and fingers entwining with hers. "Verity, I deal with worse people than that on a daily basis. They were a walk in the park. I'm not bothered by what they think of me and you knowing them doesn't reflect on you either."
"I'm not like them."
"I wouldn't be dying to take you out for dinner if you were," Mark said, toying with her fingers in his. "But that kid was a bit of a creep. I didn't like him."
"Matthew has always been like that," Verity said to him with a shrug of her shoulders. "A bit off…and rude."
"Yeah, I got that," Mark said to her. "Kid thinks he's something."
"Some of them I tutor do," Verity said. "But he's harmless."
"Still a dick," Mark whispered and he saw Verity fight back a chuckle as he leaned down towards her, kissing her softly for a moment considering they were in private. He let go of one of her hands, his fingers pressing to her cheek softly, cupping it as she pulled back and then leaned in to give him a final peck on the lips. "Want to get out of here?" Mark asked.
She nodded eagerly, grabbing her coat. Mark helped her into it and she slung her bag onto her shoulder before taking his hand and they left the venue without another word to anyone else.
…
Sitting in the Italian restaurant, Verity was doing her best not to focus on how her stomach was rumbling. She struggled to eat before a performance, no matter how many times she had performed. She was sat across from Mark, a small vase with a single flower in between them along with a solitary lit candle. The Italian restaurant was rustic with checked tablecloths, rickety wooden furniture and soft music playing in the background. It was busy and Mark had cursed himself for not booking in advance. Thankfully, there had been a table for two at the back in a line of tables against the wall that was lined with a large mirror to give the room a more spacious feel.
"So, how has your week been?" Mark wondered from her.
"It's been good," Verity said, twirling her spaghetti on her fork. "I've had a lot of tutoring on this week, but I think that's because the entrance exams for college are coming up and everyone is trying to practice as much as possible. I had rehearsal too the other night and that went well…apart from that…I went for dinner with Janet."
"How is she?" Mark asked out of politeness.
"She's good," Verity nodded and finished her mouthful of spaghetti before reaching for her white wine. "She's in the middle of planning her wedding and it's the only thing she can talk about. I've never seen her so excited. Robert, her fiancé, he's a really nice guy."
"How did they meet?"
"Janet went to NYU to study English Lit. Robert's family are in publishing and he was on her course. They met…hit it off and were inseparable ever since. She was engaged before she even graduated," Verity said with a shrug of her shoulders and a happy smile on her face. "He makes her happy and I think she makes his life difficult at times, but he loves her for it."
Mark chuckled at that. "I can see that from having met her just that one time," he agreed. "I assume the wedding isn't some kind of lowkey affair?"
Verity snorted and her lips arched into a smirk. "What would make you think that?" she asked, voice full of irony and Mark snickered again. "But no, it's not. I think the guest list is at around six hundred and Janet's parents said that was it…although this is Janet we're talking about and she has a habit of getting her own way."
Mark kept on smiling, enjoying how easy the conversation was between them. "Dare I ask if you're the maid of honour?"
"Oh, that was a given as soon as she got engaged, I think," Verity said. "And thankfully she hasn't picked anything horrendous for me to wear, despite threatening me with a bright pink number."
"Not a fan of pink?"
"Not my colour," Verity smiled back to him. "And you? How was your week?"
"Busy, but nothing out of the ordinary," Mark said to her. "There…I mean…you know, the things we see…you kind of need a strong stomach and there are times when it gets to me. I try not to let it."
"I imagine it isn't easy," Verity said with a knowing nod of her head. "How do you forget it? I mean, I know that horrible things happen in the world, but ignorance is bliss, right? You don't have that luxury. It must be difficult."
Mark cocked his head and reached for his own glass of wine. Picking it up, he swirled the liquid inside for a moment before taking a sip and wondering how he should phrase his response.
"Honestly?" Mark asked from her. "I'm not entirely sure. There are times when I go and see Angelina and that takes my mind off of it. There are other times I'll just sit at home and fall asleep in front of the TV…but this week…it's been different. I don't know why, but I just know that instead of sitting on my own and dwelling on things…well…it's going to sound corny, but I've been counting down until today. I wondered if I could have called you sooner too."
Verity suspected he was a man who didn't talk about his emotions too much, but here he was willingly opening up to her. The smile on her face was also probably a big giveaway to the fact that she didn't find what he was saying corny. "I wouldn't have minded that," Verity said.
"You wouldn't?"
"No," Verity promised him, the smile on her face refusing to drop. "I wouldn't mind at all."
Mark nodded and push his fork into his own bowl of spaghetti. "I'll remember that for future reference then."
…
Mark hadn't entirely wanted to leave Verity the next morning. He'd ended up going back to her apartment that night and staying with her again. They'd spent most of the night tucked up under the quilt, facing each other and talking and joking. They'd only fallen asleep at about three and Mark had watched Verity drop off first. She'd nestled closer to him and he hadn't minded her being next to him. He'd wrapped his arm around her, not caring that he felt slightly too warm.
They'd woken up the following morning and Mark had showered and dressed while Verity had made them breakfast. She'd flipped pancakes and Mark had clapped for her when she served them. They'd sat at the dining table, Verity in an oversized top and shorts, hair in a messy bun on the top of her head. Mark had asked her if she had any plans that evening and she'd said she didn't. He had two more days away from work and he wasn't intending on wasting them.
That was why he'd asked her if she wanted dinner again that night. She insisted on cooking, however, claiming that she was an amazing chef. Mark had agreed and he'd kissed her goodbye at her door before heading out for the day to see his sister.
He met Angelina in the usual corner of Central Park. They tried to meet as often as possible, both of them preferring to be outdoors. Mark had managed to get home to Brooklyn and swap into some clean clothes before meeting his sister. She was already sat on a bench, two polystyrene cups in her hand. She was looking around, clearly trying to find him. He approached, holding his hands up.
"Sorry," he exclaimed.
"You're late," Angelina said, her voice flat.
His sister had long, dark hair that hung down her back and bright blue eyes like him. She was tall too: one of the tallest girls in her year. Her lips were pursed, eyes narrowed in her brother's direction. She moved to stand up, the jacket she wore slightly crumpled. She was wearing a black jumper and had a pair of light blue denim jeans on her legs.
"I lost track of time."
"You never lose track of time," his sister replied.
"I just did this morning," Mark replied and she handed him the cup. "But thank you for the coffee. How much was it?"
"Mark, I can buy you a coffee every once in a while. You don't need to worry about paying me back all of the time," Angelina said and she took a sip of her own hot chocolate. The two of them fell into step, heading further into the park and wandering aimlessly among the thin crowds.
"You're my little sister, I'm gonna worry," he reminded her. "Anyway, how's school? You still keeping those grades up?"
"As best I can," Angelina replied. "I did kind of flunk my biology test thought. You know I hate science and I just don't get it. Aunt Doris said it's not a big deal, but then again, nothing's ever been a big deal to her when it comes to us. Makes me wonder why I can't just come and live with you now that you have your own place."
Mark let out a deep breath. "Ange, we've talked about this," Mark said. "I work long hours and I'm nowhere near your school. I don't want to take you out of school now…not when you're so close to finishing and heading off to college."
She scoffed. "What if I don't get into college?"
"You'll get in."
"Mark, we hardly have any money," Angelina reminded him. "Doris isn't likely to help and you know my waitressing job hardly pays anything."
"Hey," Mark said, voice turning stern. "Listen to me, we'll make it work, okay? We will find a way to get you to college. I've been saving and there's scholarships you can apply for. You're one of the smartest kids I've met."
"You have to say that, you're my brother."
"No, trust me, if you were stupid then I wouldn't humour you," he said and she elbowed him in the ribs. Mark chuckled. He wrapped a free arm around her shoulders and squeezed him. "But seriously, Ange, we still have a year or so before college applications. We'll figure things out."
"I hope so," Angelina said. "Because I've been looking at Chicago."
"Chicago, huh?" Mark asked. "Couldn't get much further from me, could you?"
"I mean, I really could," she said. "Your geography is terrible if you think Chicago is the furthest place from you. They've got a really good medical school and I think…well…maybe…it's where I want to end up."
"Then that's what we'll aim for."
Angelina remained silent for a second, biting down on her lip. Mark moved his arm from her shoulders and took another sip of coffee. His eyebrows shot up as he noted the look of concern on his sister's face.
"What is it?"
"Do you not mind?" she asked from him. "You never got to go to college and here I am wanting to get away…I mean…is it selfish of me? I shouldn't be living off of you."
"I don't want to hear anymore talk of that, do you understand me?" Mark demanded from his sister. "I never wanted to go to college. It was never something I was interested in…being an officer…joining the force…you know that's what I wanted to do and I am doing it. Getting you into college will be the proudest moment for me, alright?"
"You're sure?"
"Never been surer," he said. "Besides, wait until I drop you off. I'll be a blubbering mess. My sole aim is going to be to embarrass you."
Angelina rolled her eyes at him and they came to the lake by the Alice in Wonderland statue, walking around it steadily. "You know I don't embarrass easily."
"And you know I love a challenge," Mark said. "But seriously, kiddo, I'm proud of you no matter what. You've got a bright future ahead of you and I'm going to be there every step of the way."
Angelina smiled sadly. "Thanks," she whispered up to him. "You know, you're not a bad big brother, right?"
"I'm the only one you got," Mark retorted.
"Only one I'd want," she said. "So, anyway, what's been going on with you? You've been working nights this week, right?"
Mark finished another sip of coffee. "Yeah," he said. "It's always a long week when you're on nights. Takes me a day or so for my body to catch up with sleep as well. I mean, I knew this was part of the job when I signed up so I can't complain. Just wish there was an easier way for my body clocks to get back to normal."
"Well, I was going to ask if you wanted to grab dinner tonight, but if you're tired then we can postpone."
"Dinner would have been great," Mark said. "But…well…I might already have plans tonight that I can't back out of it."
Angelina stood still. Mark turned to face her. Her eyes widened for a second and then drank in the sight of her brother. His lip had curled upwards and she swore he had a red blush on his cheeks. It was then when her mouth gaped and Mark's face turned to one of confusion.
"Who is she?"
"Who is who?"
"Don't play dumb with me," Angelina said. "I'm a teenage girl who has watched every rom-com that's been released. You've got a dumb smile on your face and I swear you're blushing. Plus, you were late this morning and you're never late."
"You got me," Mark said and he found a bench to sit down on, Angelina sitting next to him on the edge, upper body turned towards him. She ditched her hot chocolate next to her on the wooden slats and clased her hands onto her knees.
"What's her name and where did you meet her?"
"Her name is Verity."
"That's a good name."
"We met last week when I was out. She was at the same bar I was at and Kerry bet me ten bucks I couldn't get her number," Mark said and his sister frowned.
"This isn't starting off too romantic," she retorted to her brother and he laughed once, placing his own cup down onto the ground as well.
"I saw her before they bet me," he defended himself. "She was sitting across the room and she didn't look like she wanted to be there either. I guess we had that in common. Anyway, when they bet me to go over to her I almost chickened out, but she'd seen us talking and probably staring in her direction…she…I don't know how to explain it, Ange…she was quick witted and able to hold her own in a conversation. She was funny and down to earth."
"So she gave you her number?"
"Here's the thing, she didn't," Mark said and Angelina's face grew concerned.
"Should I be worried that you've been stalking this poor girl and deluded yourself into thinking she likes you?"
"Don't worry, she's very comfortable in my basement," Mark said, tone dry and sarcastic. Angelina rolled her eyes and he snickered. "But no, I haven't deluded myself. Her friend who was with us ended up telling me that she was playing in a concert the following night. She's a piano player…plays shows…part of orchestras…tutors."
"That's different."
"And she's amazing at it," Mark said. "I went to watch her and stayed back. I told her that her friend had basically sent me and she…she gave me a chance."
"Then why did she not give you her number the night before?"
"Because she's been hesitant to date," Mark said. "She had a bad relationship and I think it burnt her…I get it and I wasn't going there to try and pressure her into going out with me, but the night before…I'd never felt anything like it. She hadn't either. She asked me to walk her home all the way from Manhattan to Tribeca and we just talked. I told her things I've never told anyone before."
"Like what?"
"I told her about mom and dad," Mark said and Angelina looked shocked at that.
"You told her?"
"She made it easy," Mark said. "And she told me her own stuff…stuff about her parents and her ex…things she said she'd only told her closest friend."
"Wow," Angelina mumbled.
"I know that this sounds ridiculous because I've only just met her and I have no idea how things are going to turn out, but I think things are different with her than anyone I've dated before. She's intelligent, funny…and stunning."
"You sound besotted."
"I think I am," Mark confessed.
"And have you seen her since?"
"We went out for breakfast…had dinner last night and breakfast this morning too."
Angelina raised an eyebrow and tilted her head. "Breakfast, huh?" she asked suggestively and Mark held a hand up.
"There are some things even I refuse to discuss with my little sister," he said and Angelina laughed once and shrilly at him. "You don't need every detail. I've told you about her and I'll let you know how things go."
"This is exciting. I always wondered if you were just going to end up a bachelor."
"We've been on two dates."
"But you've spent the night with her, admitted that she's different to everyone else you've dated and you're already rushing back to see her tonight," Angelina said. "Honestly, I think if you're not married in a year's time then it'll be a miracle."
Mark didn't want to smile at that. He forced himself to frown, but it was clear his emotions were betraying him and he just nudged his sister with his shoulder and shook his head as the two of them laughed on the park bench.
...
A/N: So there will be drama and challenges before we hit the movies, but I am having fun writing the backstory. As always, I would love to know your thoughts so please do let me know what you think so far!
