And ya know what...
Either Teddie or Tommy and Cora: "I want to believe you."
@dangerpronebuddie I love you so much btw. I hope you know that 😁 naturally, I had to go with Tommy and Cora (but there is Teddie if you squint) Have a little interaction from the night they met.
“I want to believe you.”
Cora looks up at him through her long lashes, smiling coyly over the rim of her glass. She downs the rest of her whiskey and primly sets the glass on the closest table.
Everything about her feels thrilling and terrifying. Nobody’s made him feel like this since- well, since Diaz walked into that club. That in itself makes his heart beat wildly in his chest, a feral creature attempting to escape its cage.
“I like you, Tommy, so I’ll let you in on a little trick.” She takes a step forward, leaning in close like she doesn’t want anyone else to hear. She smells of roses and lavender, and he forces himself to listen intently instead of picturing windmills among pale purple fields. Instead of the rugged profile, silhouetted against the sunrise while they quietly walked side by side. “You shouldn’t.”
The band begins to play again. He uses the opportunity to take her hand in his, slips the other around her waist. She follows his lead, resting her other hand on his shoulder, and they begin to sway.
“And why is that Miss Gallo?”
“Because having six brothers teaches a girl to look simple and harmless before she takes a man for all he’s worth.”
“And this is supposed to make me feel better?” He can’t help but laugh.
“It did sound smarter in my head,” she admits. “I’m not used to revealing my hand so early. Usually, a gentleman invites me to sit at his table, shows me off like an ornament to his friends. Then I make silly remarks about the playing cards, get a pity offer to play, and act surprised when I win.”
“Clever,” he says.
“Well, now you know my big secret. I can’t, in good faith, ask you to play poker with me.”
“No, I suppose not.”
“Shame.” She studies him for a beat. “Now how am I supposed to learn yours?”
“My what?”
“Your deep, dark secret, of course. Surely a military man as handsome as you has at least one.”
It really should scare him more, the idea of this petite firebrand sticking around long enough to figure him out. But she really does intrigue him. Not to mention he’s been playing a version of himself for his entire life.
He’s going to have to settle down eventually. A point that couldn’t have been made any clearer when Sal and Gina dragged him out tonight.
Maybe it is possible to leave the past where it belongs. To tuck away memories of someone he’ll never see or hear from again. Maybe Cora Gallo could be the key to help him lock it all away.
“Well, what are you doing next Friday?”
