When You Least Expect It

Me too

Being around Victor's family is both fun and bittersweet, I didn't have a whole lot of friends growing up. I was always the girl without parents. Zara, Drew, and the bar crew are my family. I've lost touch with any friends I did have from high school, them moving off for bigger and better things. I've witnessed the Russo dynamic multiple times but it's still something to get used to. Their jabs and jokes are in good fun but their family love is apparent and they've embraced me with open arms. It's slightly overwhelming. I try not to dwell on what I haven't had or missed out on, I'm so incredibly grateful for my uncle, sometimes the emotions just sneak up on you.

"You alright?" Victor asks from the driver's side.

I snap out of my funk and give him a reassuring smile, "Yeah. Your family is one of a kind."

"They definitely are, sometimes I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing." he laughs lightly.

"It must've been fun growing up."

"It was never quiet or boring, and Chase was always over so it was like having another brother around. Five boys wreaking havoc."

"Poor V."

"Oh yeah, she had it pretty bad. Vance and Chase really messed with her. She held her own though and never did rat any of us out." He smiles fondly at what I assume are memories resurfacing, "I'll never forget the day she knocked out Vance with a bat."

I shift in the seat to face him, "What?"

"It was an accident but it was so damn hilarious." He chuckles. "A bunch of us were playing baseball, V was probably twelve or so. She had this bad habit of flinging the bat backwards when she made a hit, we all learned pretty quickly not to stand behind her when she was up." He shakes his head and laughs, "Vance was running his mouth as always, so it was pretty fitting that he got whacked. He fell like a sack of potatoes."

I laugh at the vision of him getting whacked in the head with a bat and falling over. Vic filled the drive with stories of their upbringing and I enjoyed every minute of it. Before I knew it, the car slowed to a stop, a trail of cars with their blinkers on ahead of us, all leading to the entrance of what I assume is the track. My attention turns to take in the surroundings. There's so many of them, all kinds of cars, heck if I know what they are. Some look older, some newer, there's some motorcycles too.

"Wow." I express my amazement at how full the place is.

"It feels so long since I've been here, hasn't changed much." His eyes scan the area.

"Are you excited?" I glance back at Vic, he looks happy, alive. This in return makes me happy, a smile spreading upon my lips. His attention moves to me, his eyes scanning my face, a slow smile forms; lighting up his whole face. Ugh. He's so incredibly handsome.

"Yeah, I'm excited to be here and I'm excited you're here with me."

I cannot help my smile from widening until it hurts, "Me too."