The Ones Who Saved Us

Chapter 41

Avalee's POV

Summer break had started a week ago, and it wouldn't be long before Uncle Michael, Aunt Scarlett, and James would move to New York, completing the merging of the Italian and American Mafias.

Alessandro had finally giving my phone back—for safety reasons he had claimed— since I had been spending most of my time with Arya. Her dance practices would soon pick up in preparation for her Arangetram, and I would be lucky to see her for longer than a few hours a week. So we were making the most of the little time we had this summer.

Because of that, it had taken a whole lot of bribing to convince Elijah to take me over to her house this morning for the fifth time this week. In the end, I agreed to a Harry Potter marathon tonight with only Elijah as company. I loved my brother to death, but sometimes he could be...a lot.

Like now when he had somehow convinced me to drive to Arya's. I had been driving with my learner's permit for a little over a year, but only when my family forced me to, claiming that it was good for me to be more independent.

Until my alcoholism had come to light, they hadn't noticed the immense anxiety I would feel when placing my hands on the steering wheel, but lately, I had found myself trying activities that had once scared me to do, such as driving. I still couldn't help with dinner due to the memories that would flood my mind upon seeing a knife, let alone touch it, but we were working on it. I was slowly healing.

As Elijah guided me through the roads, gently talking and taking great care not to yell when I drove too close to any cars, I felt safe. He was trying, something that I couldn't say five months ago.

"Good job, amore," Elijah said as I pulled into Arya's driveway. "We need to work a little on your turns, but you should be ready for the driving test by the end of summer."

"No thank you," I mumbled as I stepped out of the car. "Why do I need a license when I have five loving brothers and a father to drive me?"

Elijah chuckled as he joined me on the driver's side and handed my phone to me. "I promise you won't feel that way once you get more comfortable."

"If you say so."

Kissing my head, Elijah said, "Call me when you're ready to come home, Aves. Have fun."

Elijah stayed in the car as I walked up to the front door and knocked, only to be met by Naina. The girl was only a few inches shorter than me, her curly black hair pulled back in a pony tail. She turned over her shoulder and yelled, "Akka, it's Ava!"

Waving bye to Elijah, I stepped inside and was soon greeted by Arya who was wearing a red floral sundress. She slipped her hand into mine but pulled away when she noticed Naina's prying eyes. Clearing her throat, Arya grabbed the car keys from the hook next to the door and turned to Naina saying, "We'll be out for a few hours. Tell Nayanamma that I'm hanging out with some friends."

Before Arya opened the door, I held an arm in front of her and looked out the window that was next to the door, checking to see if Elijah was still there. He had given me strict instructions to stay home, which I now planned to ignore.

But can you blame me? Arya's grandma had become suspicious of how much time we spent together.

Seeing the driveway that only held Arya's car, I let out a breath and said, "We're good to go."

The two of us ran out of the house, our hands joined together as we reached the car. I opened the door for Arya, but not before lacing my arms around Arya's neck and placing a kiss on her lips that she returned with just as much passion. Once the two of us were in the car, I asked, "Where are we headed, amore?"