T2 - The Second Toretto

Chapter 5

I let go of his hand and walked into the next room, finding a bucket filled with ice and some drinks. Going further in the room, I got comfortable in a seat next to the table.

"So, what do you want to drink?" Brian asked me.

"Pass me a Corona."

"Why did you come to my rescue?"

"I wanted to. You know, my cousin likes you. That in itself if very rare because he usually doesn't like anyone outside of the family. Don't mess it up."

"Yeah, he's a complicated guy."

"Really? What about you?" I asked him.

"I'm simpler." he said with a smile.

"You're a shitty liar, you shouldn't try to do it."

"Well, I'll take that as a compliment." he said, sitting next to me and sliding his arm around my shoulder.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night sweetie."

"You might be able to help me sleep at night."

"You're a bold one. There is a problem though."

"What's that?"

"You really need to get some sleep, and you definitely, definitely, need a shower. Come on, I'll take you home."

"You've been drinking."

"I've had half a beer Brian, let me take you home."

"Alright, I appreciate it."

"Follow me."

We made our way back out to my car with Vince's glare following me. Brian hopped into the passenger's seat and told me where he lives.

"Are you new to the area?" I asked him.

"Yeah, Arizona transplant. Been here for a few months now, it's alright. What about you?"

"I was born in Florida, my mom's from there but she relocated to be with my dad when I was 2 years old. What can I say? I'm an Echo Park girl forever."

"Why didn't you stay in DC and get a job in journalism?"

"I didn't want to, I did what my mom asked me to and I went to school. It's more than I planned on doing, that's for sure."

"What did you want to do?"

"Work in the garage with Dom and everyone else. I've been in that garage since I was 5 and this is the longest I've been away from it. I missed my family."

"They all respect you."

"They've learned the hard way that they have to."

"What do you mean?"

"I've never been afraid to get into a fight with the guys and they all know this. Vince has seen the close-up of my first more than once."

"They're not afraid of you though."

"I don't want them to be either, respect is more important as you very well said. I'm a girl in a guys world, either I made them respect me or they wouldn't see me as a viable threat."

"We've gotta race then, I wanna see what happens."

"You don't but I'm ok with that."

"Here I am." he said when we pulled up in front of his place, I'm actually closer to his place than I am to Dom's.

"Here you are, good night Brian."

"You wanna come inside?" he asked.

"I don't think that's a good idea, maybe next time."