The Kingpin

•22•

Amelia

The car ride to Rafael's house was silent with tension hanging in the air between her and Daveed. She would glance over at him quickly, searching for any emotion on his face. Her search came up empty each time.

There was so much unsaid between the two that neither knew where to start. And so they didn't. His free hand ghosted into her space a few times as if he wanted to touch her but couldn't make himself do it.

Amelia gripped the door handle once they got near Rafael's house. She wanted to get out. The lights were hurting her head and the silence was driving her temporarily insane.

He finally spoke after parking a bit away from the long driveway leading up to the other man's house.

"Are you sure this is what you want, kid?"

She wasn't sure of anything so it was oddly amusing to her that he thought of this to ask. She gave a bit of a shrug, accompanied with a giggle and continued to look out of the window.

It felt like there were two different paths laid out for her. One was here, with Daveed. The other was just a few feet farther away with Rafael.

A while passed that seemed like forever before she decided it was time to get out. Only, her mind said two more minutes, and she obliged it.

He acted quickly, passionately. His hand reached out to turn her face to his and he pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that made her feel like she couldn't breathe.

Daveed had a hand on the base of her neck as he kissed her slowly. He needed to feel it for a while. It seemed a hell of a lot like the closing of their chapters together.

She pressed a small hand against his chest when she needed to breathe and he reluctantly realized his own need to do the same.

He sinks against the driver's seat as she gets out of the car, slowly making her way up the concrete path. His eyes are closed for only a few seconds before he can't take it anymore.

Amelia is greeted at the front door and Rafael can be seen looking her over, making sure she's okay. His hand makes its way to her lower back as he leads her into the house and closes the door behind them.

Daveed beat against the steering wheel, screaming as loud as he could. The tears stung his eyes as he betrayed himself.

••••

  Rafael

  He closed the door after Amelia had stepped into the entrance. She might've overestimated because when he turned around, she was intoxicatingly close.

  They stayed that way for a while, silent and staring. When she started to sway, Rafael carefully extended a hand to hold her steady. Had he not been hyper aware of the silence surrounding them, he wouldn't have heard her when she spoke.

  It came out in a whisper but shattered his heart just the same. "I hate you," She said finally.

  Even after a few seconds, his heart still thumped heavily in his chest and it seemed to hurt a little more each time he took a breath.

  "I know."

  Amelia gives him a slight nod but neither of them move from their standstill.

  You miss her, and you're sorry. Just do it.

  The voice in his head had gotten a hell of a lot louder recently and this time, he felt his entire body ache at its words. He did miss her, and he wasn't even sure he was capable of doing that anymore. Missing someone had been a foreign concept for so long.