I'm Nothing (The Family Book 2) Read Free

hear this right now.”
    Maria had been a selfish bitch. In the early days of
their relationship, Tonio had done everything he could to try to make it so
they could run away together. They could have made it, too, so long as they
both worked together, and they had each other. Maria wouldn’t go with him. He
was prepared to fight for her, and she didn’t want to live with a boy who
didn’t have much money.
    “Our life isn’t perfect, Tonio, but I like the luxuries.”
    “They’re going to marry you off to someone.”
    “Yeah, so?”
    “What?”
    “So I marry some boring old dude. I like this life. I like being able to
buy what I like, Tonio. You’re asking me to give that up for what?”
    Rubbing his eyes, Tonio tried to clear the memory from
his head. It was a fucked up moment between them, and he hated it.
    Maria had been
selfish, and that memory was of the last time they had spoken in private. She
had been married two months later. He couldn’t help but wonder if she ever
regretted not taking his offer. Tonio would have worked hard for her. He loved
her, and still did love her.
    God, he was fucked.
    He was in love with a selfish bitch who was prepared
to marry someone she hated just so she didn’t have to work for a living.
    Tonio wasn’t watching where he was going, and as he
dropped his hand from his eyes, he knocked into someone, who gave a little cry.
    Glancing down he saw first the blonde hair, which was
so long. She pushed it out of her face, and he frowned as he looked down at
her. Tonio recognized her, but he couldn’t be sure where.
    “I’m so sorry,” she said.
    “Why are you sorry?”
    “I was in your way.” She scrambled to her feet,
holding her hands out in front of her.
    “I walked into you.”
    “Yeah, but I was standing here.” She bent down picking
up some flowers.
    “I know you,” he said.
    “We, erm, we went to school together.”
    “We did?”
    She gave a nervous chuckle. “Yeah. You sat behind me
in biology and physics.”
    Shit! This was the girl he used to copy from.
    “I remember.”
    “Zara Summers,” she said, holding out her hand.
    “Tonio.”
    “I know.”
    He shook her head, aware of how soft her hands were,
and compared to his, how small.
    “Are you visiting someone?” he asked.
    “My dad.”
    “You’re meeting your dad here?”
    “No.” She pointed at the gravestone. “He had a heart
attack about three years ago. He didn’t make it, so every Sunday, I come here,
and I leave flowers. You?”
    “A girl who I loved.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry.”
    “Yeah, well, they don’t always love you back.”
    She frowned. “I don’t know what to say to that. Was
she from our year?”
    “No. She was older than us by a couple of years.
Married too.”
    “It does get easier as time goes. I don’t know if
anyone has ever told you that.”
    “Yeah. I’ve been told that.”
    “I know it’s as clichéd as it comes, but it does.
You’ll move on, and everything will be okay.”
    Tonio wasn’t about to dispute her. She was only trying
to help. “What are you doing now? Are you at college?”
    He saw the disappointment flicker in her gaze.
    “No, I’m not at college.”
    “Why not? You were smart.”
    “You didn’t even remember me a few seconds ago. How
would you even know if I was smart?”
    “I cheated on the tests, and I always got an A for it.
Figured you were smart.”
    She smirked. “I always knew you were copying. Well, I
wasn’t always sure , I had a hunch you
were.”
    Tonio laughed, and it was the first time he actually
felt like doing it.
    “Can I buy you a coffee?” he asked.
    Zara stared down at her flowers. “Coffee?”
    “Yeah, why not? It might help the both of us get over
this awful feeling.”
    “I’d like that. I’ll just put these down.”
    “I’ll stand back and let you have your moment.” He
stood back, and watched as she placed the flowers on the grave. She spoke
quietly, but he was close enough to hear her.
    “Hey, Dad. I