a little over a decade ago, it wouldn’t have been uncommon to see the two men (at that time they were only boys) eating lunch together under one of the many trees outside of the high school, making stupid jokes, sometimes even getting into petty fights with the other kids in their grade. now, he barely recognized antonio as that same rambunctious teenager. it felt strange seeing him as he was now. “the beaches here are beautiful, too. i haven’t had the heart to stay away for too long. i’ve gone to visit new york, though, and i know exactly what you mean about the traffic,” would it be too much to tell antonio where he’d gone? harvard was a far cry from any prison. he didn’t want to seem like he was bragging, but wasn’t the point of catching up to talk about your past? harvard was a real part of tejay’s past, just like prison was a real part of tonio’s past. “i’m sorry, antonio,” tejay really was, he had known just how much antonio loved his sister. “not even a call home in that time?” he asks, a shuddered breath escaping from between his lips. antonio calling carmen the one who got away is what almost cracks tejay’s cool facade. he manages to keep it together for the sake of saving face. “there’s no girl back in miami or new york for you? hasn’t it been over a decade since you’ve seen carmen, anyways? there’s got to be another one out there for you, right?” he asks, hoping to subtly move antonio away from the subject of loving her. even tejay hadn’t gotten that far into a relationship with carmen. it was hookups and shared secrets, not love. “thank you,” he accepts the compliment with a smile. “i’m glad that rocco’s been there for you. people needing their cars fixed up around here has never seemed to change.” tejay checks his rolex, noticing that it’s later in the day than he thought. “i’ve got a moment, i can’t stay long… i have to work hard in the morning,” he explains.
back then they were so close. tejay wa alike the brother that he never had but they were different, they were from different social backgrounds. ❝ yeah, the traffic is very bad but the sights are to die for but I would definitely love to go back because the food was definitely one of my favorite things and of course a fashion. ❞ he lets a small smile appear on his lips as he thinks about the time that he spent in new york and miami as well. ❝ they were really strict when it came to the laws, I mean I was supposed to do 15 years and I got out and 12. I’m just lucky that I’m here now. I am going to waste no time in trying to talk to tessa because she is the only family that I have here and it’s been a while . ❞ he confessed as he looks at his old friend. family meant so much to him and yet here he was 12 years later and he still hadn’t even tried to contact his sister. he hears his inquiry and he shakes his head ❝ I mean tejay you know there is always going to be girls but her ? I don’t think there is ever going to be anyone who understand me like she does. I love her god it’s been over a decade and she’s the face that I clung onto. she is the face that got me through it . so no man , I don’t think there is any other girl out there that is not carmen. ❞ he hears the comment on rocco and he nods his head ❝ yeah he’s been good and I’m just glad that someone has my back in this town. ❞ he confirms and then he hears and shakes his head ❝ maybe we can do a rain check , I don’t want you to rush , we haven’t done it in forever and maybe a night that your free ? ❞
