@mxlouloute liked for a starter
Tony entered the diner with his books tucked under his arm. Valentina had let him out early, which gave him just enough time to squeeze some studying in before he picked up María. Ever since the near-rumble, he had been even more determined to put his past behind him. He had signed up for a college entrance exam. Although he had kicked the idea around after being released on parole, he hadn’t become serious about it until recently. There was only so much he could do at a pharmacy without a pharmacy degree, and Valentina had made clear to him that she wanted to leave him the store when she retired. Given her faith in him, Tony was determined to get into pharmacy school.
He would be lying if he said that this newfound purpose didn’t also have something to do with María. Even before she had come into his life, he wanted to be better, to be more than what he had been before he went to prison. Now, he was more serious about this than he had ever been about anything else in his life. He found that he was happier than he ever remembered being either. He and María had been dating for months now, officially, now that he had managed to convince her brother that he wasn’t a Jet and had nothing to do with them anymore. He doubted Bernardo would ever like him, but at least now he wasn’t trying to beat him up.
“Afternoon, Dolores.” he greeted his friend with a smile and wave, setting his books on the counter and settling into a seat. “Busy day?”