The moment Nino parked in a long driveway, Evie unbuckled and threw her hand out to Nino, making grabby hands. "Keys, keys, keys, please."
"Here," Nino said with a chuckle. He relinquished the keys, and she flew out of the car. "Hey! Relax, kid! We're going to be here for a while, so try soaking it in!"
She didn't answer, speeding up to the most modern looking house Ben had ever seen with two stories and a square tower one floor higher. It was all huge windows and sharp edges. The foliage was cut clean and even the rocks looked squeaky clean. Behind it all was a private beach and the expanse of the ocean at their feet.
Evie was already inside before Ben could unbuckle. He glanced at Nino, who had been watching her go. Ben couldn't help but smile. This softer side, this family side of Nino made the butterflies in Ben's stomach freak out. Ben rubbed the back of Nino's neck, smiling fondly at him. "You're doing great."
"Thanks," Nino said, playing along.
He turned and when Ben saw those red eyes again, his stomach and smile dropped. "What's going on? Why are your eyes red? You said you filled up before we left."
"It's the sun," Nino explained. "It takes a lot of magic and power to survive like this. We're going to need to make sure Evie's eating and eating often. I have a feeling she's going to pretend she's fine just to please us."
"You've really gotten to know her, huh?"
Nino sighed. "We gotta get her a pair of sunglasses too."
Ben nodded. He let his hand fall down Nino's arm, giving it a little squeeze. This was all Ben's fault at the end of the day. Taking Evie to get a scry stone, being caught up with Gabriel's henchmen, and even agreeing to go to the beach. Ben did nothing but give Nino a hard time. He worked up the courage to say, "Well, if it'll help, you can bite me."
Nino's shoulders and head dropped under the weight of Ben's words. He let out a sigh that sounded a lot like a final plea. "What is it?" Ben asked, but Nino shook his head.
"It's nothing," he said in the most "it is something" way Ben had ever heard and the knots in Ben's stomach double knotted and he almost keeled over into the floor mats. Incredible. Nino wasn't budging. His door stayed locked shut. Ben couldn't take it anymore. When Nino went for his door, Ben leaned right over him and locked it again. Nino snapped a fierce look at him.
"What are you—?"
"Evie!" Ben yelled. Keeping his hand on the lock, Ben turned towards the condo and yelled again, "Evie! Come out here!"
Thankfully her little vampire hearing led her back out the front door. "What?" She called back.
"Lock the door! We're going out!"
"But we just got here," Nino said.
Evie echoed, "But we just got here!"
"And now we're leaving!" Ben shouted, putting his foot down and before either of them knew it, all three were walking the boardwalk. The ocean water crashed incessantly against the beach and the air was teeming with salt. The humidity and heat was already clinging to Ben's skin. The sun was fully set, making the stars the backdrop and the old street lamps their source of light. Walking in a line, Evie ran ahead down a wooden bridge that stopped at a gazebo where people typically went fishing. Ben followed her while Nino lagged behind Ben.
Nino was probably afraid Ben was going to force another thing in his hands. They already had classic corn dogs and French fries. Despite Nino saying he didn't want anything, Nino was awarded all of it, a bag of cotton candy, and an iced coke. Ben dragged him to the little carnival games surrounding the Ferris wheel.
Nino said, "I don't feel like it, Ben."
"Do you not feel like it? Or do you think you can't do it?" Ben taunted him.
Unamused, Nino shook his head. "I know what you're doing?"
"Me too. I'm trying to win a big teddy bear," Ben feigned his innocence and stepped up to the little cup game. Never a master of sports, Ben chucked one of the baseballs at the cup tower and barely managed to take half out.
"My turn!" Evie demanded.
She tossed it, but Ben noticed she might've used all her strength, but her eyes were closed when she threw, so she only took the top clean off. The baseball slammed into the back wall and Ben cheered over the sound of tearing. "Good job! So close!"
"Let me try it again," Ben said when Nino finally huffed and pushed himself in front.
"Hold this," Nino said and freed one of his hands. Still holding the drink, Nino winded back his pitch and took out the pyramid. "There. Can we go?"
"I want a bear too," Ben said.
"He needs a friend!" Evie agreed.
Sighing, Nino grabbed another ball and they walked away with a gobsmacked carnival worker and two stuffed animals. Evie held both underneath her arms as she ran to the very edge of the pier. She sat on a bench, placing them both beside her, whispering everything she thought to them. Ben grabbed Nino's arm and took him to the railing. Warm twinkle lights wrapped around the ledge.
"This is really nice," Ben whispered.
Nino hummed, not denying or agreeing. They stood beside each other for a while in silence, listening to the waves and the distant live music. Nino eyed Ben and Ben pretended not to notice. After a while, Nino asked, "Why are you doing this?"
Ben shrugged a little. "I'm just trying to learn something about you."
"What does that mean?"
"I've watched you the last few days..." Ben nudged his shoulder but didn't move. He leaned into Nino's arm, resting deeper against the railing. "And I know you're still upset about Anthony and I don't want you to be sad, Nino."
"So!" Ben declared, "I'm seeing what cheers you up more. Is it food? Games? Just being with us? I haven't figured it out yet." He looked back up at Nino with a smile. "If you're wondering, I like long walks to cafes. I like cuddling under five blankets and crying over a romcom that probably shouldn't make me cry. I like cake. Chocolate cake," Ben corrected himself. "Chocolate on chocolate."
Nino just stood there, unmoving with the smallest whisper of a smile on his mouth. His eyes were glazed over with more warmth than Ben had seen these last few days. Somehow, it made Ben's chest clench and his own smile fall. He said, "I could be wrong but... I'm worried you're the type to wallow that you don't want to feel better, but I don't want you to feel bad about something out of your control."
"I'm...."
"You can talk to me," Ben whispered. "And I want to tell a soul If you want, I'll even pretend I didn't hear it."
That finally made Nino laugh. He shook his head and dropped a little of his weight against Ben. Ben stayed firm on his feet. The weight didn't matter. When it came to Nino, it was never too much to handle.
Nino sighed, taking out his phone and Ben winced at the brightness before Nino could fix it. Nino swiped across the screen before showing Ben a picture. Ben's eyebrows jumped up his forehead. Hanging off Anthony's and another man's shoulders, Nino was smiling so big, all teeth, gums, and dimples. His eyes were practically closed. Even Anthony was caught in the middle of talking, his eyes wide and bright. They looked a little younger and in general, much softer.
Ben recognized Bianca in the picture instantly, despite the way she was covering her mouth as she was laughing, pushing someone's shoulder. It wasn't just him. Someone was sitting in the front, getting grabbed at the shoulders, threatened with getting tickled.
"This is the last picture we had all together," Nino said. He pointed at the man he was hanging from. "That's Dante..."
Dante Ventura shining in the frame. Dressed up twice as much, he was obviously older. Ben could see it in his eyes. He was smiling and laughing like the rest of them, but Dante was focused just on them like he didn't want to miss anything. He looked like the tallest and strong features and what looked like a crooked nose.
"You know Anthony and Bianca, but that one," he said, referring to the youngest in front. "That's Matty. He's adopted," Nino added, but Ben would have already guessed. Mathew's features were much softer and lighter than his siblings with large downturned eyes opposed to other's sharper ones.
"You guys are cute," Ben said, and he didn't hear her, but he could feel Evie creeping up to his side. Ben hoisted her up, so she could look at the picture. He caught her little smile. This might be the first time she's seen her mom's face in a while, even if it was an old picture."
"So, this is what I've been thinking about," Nino explained. "I didn't know it was going to be the last picture we'd take together."
Ben's eyes snapped up at Nino's sullen face. His brows pinched together as the words spilled out. "A few days after this picture, my parents were gone." Nino's jaw tightened. "And we haven't been in the same room since. So..." Nino put the picture away, shoving his phone in his back pocket. "So, I guess I'm just reminded that it could always be the last time. Maybe yesterday was the last time I ever saw Anthony. Maybe it was the last time he ever saw me and all he can talk about is how I'm mad at him, how I didn't want to see him."
"He knows you love him," Ben said.
"Maybe..." Nino looked at him. "If this all ended today. Bianca picks Evie up early and I have to continue walking the runway and doing photoshoots, what will you remember about me? What's your last take away from me? Is it that I only want you for your blood? I have a quick temper, can't do social settings, and all we do is fight?"
Nino shook his head. "That's not what I want and... and I don't think that's all I am either."
"It's not too late, Nino," Ben said and pressed a finger to Nino's chest, right over his heart. "It sounds cheesy, but it's true. You can be whoever you want to be. Your actions just have to start matching it."