Scream Me a Dream

“What are you going to do with the rest of your afternoon?” Jonah asked as they walked out of the café.

Soya shrugged. “I told Ville I would call him to see if he and his brother wanted lunch; they’re at the studio now and must be starving. They both forget to eat when they’re wrapped up in music.” She said with a light smile.

“Speaking of Ville,” Jonah said. “On the fourteenth,” Jonah rolled his eyes. “I’m being honored for some reason or another.”

Soya grinned. “Honored isi, really?”

Jonah nodded. “I have no idea for what really, it’s really another reason for all the Politicians and society members to get together and drink.”

“They’re Finns, do they really need an excuse?” Soya asked with a laugh as she leaned against her car.

“It’s only proper when an excuse is given Soya, have we taught you nothing?” Jonah teased.

“Sorry, forgive me.” Soya giggled.

“I would really like it if you came, Soya.”

Soya winced. “Ah, isi, I hate those parties, it’s the only wonderful thing I found about being sent off to New York, that I only attended those things at least once a year.”

“I know, but that’s where Ville comes in.”

“Oh?” Soya asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I’d like it if he came too.”

“Really?” Soya asked with a grin.

“Of course, I mean if he’d like to come. I know those parties can get a bit boring and I’m not sure if Inka and Elli are attending, you should have someone to be with. Plus, it would make your mother so mad.”

Soya blinked. “I…”

“I’m upset with her at the moment.” Jonah said. “Rightfully so, and though I’m contradicting my statement of telling her to grow up, I really want to get under her skin.”

“And using my boyfriend as a fuel to the fire will solve this problem?” Soya asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Maybe.” Jonah grinned. “That and I really do want him to accompany you if he wants to attend. Plus if you marry, he’ll have to come to these things occasionally.”

Soya blinked again. “You are just full of surprises today, aren’t you?”

Jonah shrugged, though a smile tugged his lips. “Do you think he’d want to come?”

Soya shrugged. “I’m not sure, I’ll ask him tonight.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

Soya sighed and nodded. “I’ll go.”

“Wonderful. I’ll make sure another place is set, and you’ll call me if Ville ends up going.”

“I will.” Soya nodded.

“Stop worrying Soya, I’ll be fine.” Jonah said, patting her arm.

“What about mamma?”

“She’ll calm down eventually.” Jonah shrugged. “She’s set in her ways Soya, but I’m trying.”

Soya smiled. “Go. I still have to get lunch for the boys.”

“All right.” Jonah nodded, leaning in and kissing Soya’s forehead. “I’ll talk to you later?”

Soya nodded. “Of course.”

Jonah smiled at her before he walked towards where Nathan was waiting for him. Soya crossed her arms over her chest, before taking her cell phone out of her messenger bag and calling Ville.

“Yeah?” Ville asked. “Jesse, leave the damn thing alone!” Ville said. “It’s fucking fine!”

“Did I call at a bad time?” Soya asked amused.

“Soya! Love!” Ville laughed. “You have wonderful timing; Jesse was just bitching about being hungry.”

Soya grinned. “Well, put in your orders.” She said, telling him where she was. A half an hour later, Soya was pulling up in front of the studio where Ville and Jesse had been working. She went up to the floor that Ville had told her, pushing open the glass door to see Ville and Jesse bent over the sound board.

“Leave it,” Ville said, taking off the earphones he had on. “It’s fine.”

“Something’s wrong with it.” Jesse said shaking his head.

“Hey.” Soya said quietly, not wanting to interrupt as she set the bags of food and drinks on the small coffee table that sat in front of a brown leather couch.

Ville looked up and grinned. “Hello love, you look nice today.”

Soya shook her head. “No need for flattery, I bring your food free of charge.”

“Ah, wonderful, at least let me give you a tip.” Ville teased taking her hand and pulling her down to settle her on his lap, before kissing her.

“Ugh.” Jesse groaned. “Where’s the food?”

“On the table, monster.” Soya said with a grin, pulling away from Ville to look at Jesse.

“And the nickname’s back,” Jesse grinned looking at his brother before walking towards the food. “Well, it’s official, Soya’s back.”

Ville rolled his eyes as his hand came to rest on the outside of her thigh, his thumb rubbing little circles through her jeans. “How was lunch with your father?” he asked slowly.

Soya took a deep breath as she thought about it. “Later.” She said, resting her head on his shoulder. “But all in all, it was good.”

“I’m glad.” Ville said, knowing that she wouldn’t want to talk about it too much in detail with Jesse in the room. “Do you want to stay?”

“Is that all right?” Soya asked, “I brought my laptop, you know Burton and Jyrki’s birthdays are coming up?”

“Are they?” Ville asked with a smirk, thanking Jesse when he handed him his sandwich.

Soya nodded, getting off his lap so he could eat. “I want to get them something, but I’m not sure what.”

Ville laughed. “Get Jyrki anything Elvis and the man will adore you Soya.”

“Well that goes for both of you.” Soya said with a roll of her eyes as she sat on the couch next to Jesse as he ate, taking her laptop out of her bag and setting it on the table, slipping off the couch and onto the floor where she was more comfortable.

She’d barely logged on, when Jesse jumped off the couch and shoved his brother away from the sounding board playing with the switches, well what Soya saw as playing.

“What did I tell you?! Leave it!” Ville said setting his sandwich down, obviously forgotten as he watched his brother.

“No, no, I have it.” Jesse assured, handing Ville the earphones again.

Soya rolled her eyes as she turned back to her laptop, pulling up her design program as she listened with half an ear as Jesse and Ville argued. An hour later, Soya rolled her eyes as she heard the same beat echo around the room. They’d forgone the headphones ten minutes ago and had been repeating the same twenty seconds of the song they were remixing, which Soya had figured out was a mesh between “Acoustic Funeral”, “Like St. Valentine”, and “Katherine Wheel”.

“It sounds…”

“It’s missing something” Jesse said cutting Ville off.

“Turn the bass up.” Soya said absently as she moved her finger on the mouse pad, having given up on working and starting her search for Jyrki’s birthday present. When her statement was received with silence she looked up to see both Ville and Jesse staring at her, Jesse in annoyance while Ville was staring at her in surprise.

“Soya…” Ville started only to look up at his brother who started talking at the same time.

“You should let the big boys do their work.” Jesse said, his voice patronizing.

Soya narrowed her eyes at Jesse. “I was agreeing with you, you jackass.” She said, pushing the screen of her laptop closed and shoving it in her bag.

“Soya.” Ville winced, knowing that Jesse took a lot of pride in the fact that he was one of the hand-full of people that could make Soya curse without doing much.

“I’ll talk to you later.” Soya said with a roll of her eyes in Jesse’s direction before pushing the door of the studio open. It wasn’t what Jesse had said that had bothered her, Jesse had used the line all the time, especially when she had babysat for him when they were younger. It had been the tone that got to her, the patronizing, holier than thou voice that reminded her of her mother now and her father in the past.

“Soya, wait!”

Soya turned just as she pushed the elevator button, watching as Ville rushed towards her.

“Hey, you didn’t have to leave.” Ville said, placing a hand on her arm.

“Yes I did, I love Jesse like a brother Ville, but…”

“I know.” Ville chuckled. “And he loves you like a sister, it’s why he treats you the way he does. The second you left he started playing with the bass levels. Come back, while Jesse plays I’ll help you find Jyrki’s birthday gift.”

Soya laughed. “You only want to help so you can add your name to the gifts.”

“Gifts?” He said with a smirk. “As in more than one?”

“You play with your buttons.” She said waving him away as she held the door open for the elevator. “I’ll see you later.”

Ville leaned down and kissed her forehead. “My mom took the day off today; she’s at home right now.”

“Is that your way of telling me to go hang out with her instead of moping around my flat.”

“Was your plan to mope?” Ville asked, the corner of his lip tugging up in a teasing smile.

“I’ll go see your mom.” Soya sighed. “Do you need a ride back from the studio?”

“The monster will take me.” Ville laughed leaning down again, this time placing a kiss on her lips. “I’ll see you later tonight for dinner.”

“All right,” Soya said with a nod, before getting into the elevator and pressing the ground floor button. She watched Ville give her a small wave before he turned around to go back to work. Soya rested her back against the elevator wall, chewing on her lip. Her options really were go to her flat and over think the situation with her father or go visit Anita.

Visiting with Anita Valo sounded infinitely better, Soya thought as she stepped off the elevator, going back to her car. She made it to the Valo house in no time and parked in front of the house. Getting out, she opened the back door, starting to pull the duffle out, only to pause when she caught sight of a young girl sitting across the street. The girl smiled and waved, before pulling out her cell phone and starting to text, giving Soya a view of her shirt which had a Heartagram on it.

“That makes sense.” Soya muttered, pulling the duffle all the way out of the car letting it fall to the ground with a thump. She leaned back into the car, grabbing her messenger bag, and straightened, shouldering the bag, only to jump when she saw the girl standing next to her.

“Hi.” Soya said, slowly putting a hand up to her heart, which was beating rapidly from the surprise.

“Hi.” The girl said shyly. “You’re Soya, Ville’s new girlfriend.” She stated.

Soya stared at her, before eyeing how close she was to the front door on the house. “Depends, what are you going to do to me if I say I am?”

The girl laughed. “Nothing, I’m Kelly, my friends and I looked you up on the internet; you’re a really good dancer.”

Soya blinked, that had not been what she was expecting. “Oh, well thank you.”

“I was wondering if you could sign my magazine?” Kelly asked, pulling one of the magazines that Soya had bought at the store a couple of days before.

“Um…all right.” Soya chuckled signing the magazine, biting her lip as she thought about the girl being Ville’s fan but walking away with his girlfriend’s signature. “You know…I usually wouldn’t offer mostly because he’s not here, but let me check something all right?”

“Um…okay?” Kelly said slowly as Soya dug through her messenger bag pulling out her cell phone. She flipped it open and sent Ville a quick text, knowing at the moment he didn’t have the attention span for a phone call. “What’s in the bag?” Kelly asked curiously, looking at the duffle that lay between their feet.

Soya chuckled softly. “Laundry; it’s been piling up since I’ve been here.”

“Are you just here visiting?” she questioned. “Your website says you’re based in New York.”

“For a bit.” Soya nodded, feeling comfortable enough with the girl to tell her information that was probably on the internet anyway. “I grew up in Sipoo, about twenty minutes away.” Soya said with a smile when she saw the girl’s confusion. “You’re not from around here right?”

“No,” Kelly laughed. “I’m from Chicago, I’m just here visiting, and my friends and I decided that today would be a Ville sighting day.”

Soya laughed, as her phone vibrated in her hand, she flipped it open, smiling at Ville’s response, “I would have let you talk to him, but the man has a short attention span at the moment.” Soya said with a smile, not wanting to tell his fans where he was, in case they ended up mobbing the outside of the studio. “But he says that if you go to his father’s sex shop, Kari’s there and he’d be more than willing to give you and your friends some HIM merchandise he has lying around.”

“Really?” Kelly asked in surprise with wide eyes.

“Kari loves company.” Soya said with a smile. “Do you know where it is?”

“We do. Thanks!”

“No problem.” Soya laughed, picking the duffle again and watching the girl rush off. Shaking her head, she dragged the large bag to the front door, only for it to open before she had a chance to knock.

“Soya!” Anita cried, pulling Soya into a hug.

“Oh! Anita!” Soya laughed hugging the woman back. “We just saw each other two weeks ago!”

Anita let her go, pulling her into the house and helping her with the duffle before closing the door. “Ville called and said you would stop by; what’s this?” she asked, shoving the duffle with her foot.

“Ah.” Soya laughed nervously. “Mind if I do laundry while I visit?”

“Of course I don’t mind!” Anita said with a wave of her hand. “Come on, drag that thing over to the laundry room. Don’t tell me that’s all yours!”

“No,” Soya assured. “It’s both mine and Ville’s, it’s amazing the amount of clothes we accumulate.”

“Especially when you start cohabiting together.” Anita teased.

“That’s just it!” Soya laughed as she walked into the small laundry room with Anita and unzipped the duffle, dumping all their clothing on the ground. “We’re not even living with each other, we spend a week here, a week there, and this is what happens!” she said gesturing to the pile.

Anita laughed as she helped Soya sort through the clothing, putting the darks in the washer. “Soon your clothes are all going to be in that tower of his.” Anita teased.

Soya blushed as she pulled the light colored clothes out the pile, deciding to sit as she did the task. “Or vice versa.” She muttered.

Anita laughed softly as she heard the muttered words, pulling up the lid for the washer. “Just you wait until you and Ville have kids, then the laundry will double.” Anita teased. “I’ll go grab the detergent.” She said walking away, leaving Soya gaping at her.

Soya blinked, shaking her head as she continued to sort through the laundry. She and Ville hadn’t even talked about marriage, other than the conversation they’d had back in August when they’d had their bath together. Marriage hadn’t really been brought up after that and neither had children.

“Soya?”

Soya looked up to see Anita smiling at her. “Yes?”

“Did you need bleach sweetheart? For the whites?”

“Oh. Um…no, I think it’s fine.”

“All right, come find me in the kitchen when you’re finished here.” Anita said, causing Soya to nod slowly, before looking back at the clothes with a frown. Why was it that the thought of having children with Ville really didn’t bother her? She thought about marrying Ville, and instead of the nervous palms and the dread that filled her when she thought about marriage with anyone, she felt a smile tug on her lips.

“Well, that’s new.” She muttered to herself with an amused shake of her head.

After sorting the laundry and starting the loads, she’d rolled up her sleeves and offered to help Anita with anything that needed to be done. An hour later she found herself at the kitchen counter, peeling potatoes under Anita’s watchful eye.

“Anita?” Soya asked, putting the peeler down, after finishing and going to wash her hands.

“Hmm?” Anita asked as she stirred the broth that was simmering on the stove.

Soya sighed as she leaned her back against the counter and tried to figure out what she wanted to ask. As much as she wanted to act like everything was back to normal, she couldn’t help but replay the conversation she had with her father that afternoon. It didn’t matter how much of her routine she followed, at the end of the day her father was still sick.

“If you had health issues even if it worried Ville and Jesse, would you tell them?”

“Of course.” Anita said without hesitation, looking at Soya. “Why? What have you heard?”

Soya smiled lightly. “Nothing.”

“Well you’ve obviously asked for a reason.” Anita said, holding out the ladle for Soya to taste, Soya bent forward blowing lightly on the broth before taking a taste.

“A bit more salt.” Soya said, watching as Anita added salt to the broth, before covering the pot.

“Well? Why do you ask?” Anita asked kindly as she poured Soya a cup of coffee and handed it to her.

Soya shrugged, taking a sip. “I don’t know, it’s just been on my mind a lot.”

“It’s been on Ville’s mind too.” Anita said sitting on one of the stools, Soya following suit. “Why has it been on your minds?”

Soya sighed, chewing on the corner of her lip before she spoke. “I found out last night that my father’s sick, I found out this afternoon just how sick he is.”

“I’m sorry Soya.” Anita said with a frown, patting her pseudo-daughter’s hand. “I’m very sorry to hear that.”

Soya nodded. “I just, wondered if it’s something in parents to try and protect their children or if it’s just my father that didn’t want me to know.”

Anita nodded. “Of course as a parent you want to protect your children from information that will hurt them.” Anita said slowly. “But every family’s dynamic is different Soya; if Kari or I were ill, yes we would tell Jesse and Ville without hesitation, but your family’s mindset is very different from ours.”

Soya chewed on her lip again. “You knew my mother didn’t you?”

Anita nodded slowly. “I did,”

“My father says that I’m a lot like her, when she was younger.”

Anita smiled and nodded in agreement. “You are. Your mother was very shy when she was younger, always had her head buried in a book. Then she met Jonah.” Anita shrugged “She didn’t change because of your father though, she was still the same girl when she married your father as she was when I met her, but slowly she changed.”

Soya set her coffee down. “I don’t want to be like her Anita, I really don’t.”

“Soya, you are your own person. Yes, you have similarities to your mother when she was younger, but you are two very different people!” Anita leaned forward and hugged her. “Trust me when I say you have nothing to worry about, you will never be like your mother Soya.”

“Are you sure?” Soya asked quietly.

“Absolutely positive! Why in the world would you ever think you would be like your mother?”

“What you said earlier, about Ville and I having children.”

Anita waved a hand dismissively. “A joke Soya,”

“No, don’t say that.” Soya laughed, “I just, I’ve never thought about things like that, marriage, children, settling down. Ville and I talked briefly about it, months ago, and it was more of a mention then an actual conversation. I’ve only ever had my parents’ marriage as an example of what it may be like…”

“Oh Soya, no offense to your father, as Ville says your relationship with him is getting better.”

“It is.” Soya agreed.

“But your parents’ relationship is not a prime example of a marriage; every marriage is different, but not every marriage is healthy. You and Ville are nothing like your parents, so you have nothing to fear. I doubt Ville would allow you to became even a bit like Elizabeth.”

“I know.”

Anita waved her hand at Soya. “You and Ville are still so early on in your relationship, Soya; it’s too soon to be thinking about marriage and children.”

“But I thought-“

“I joke with Jesse and Ville, hoping that if I joke around just enough they’ll actually do it.”

Soya laughed. “I’m sure it’ll work eventually.”

“A mother can only hope.” Anita chuckled, as she heard a car pull up the driveway. “Ah, there’s Jesse now.”

Sure enough, minutes later Ville and Jesse walked in through the door laughing, Jesse hanging up his coat while Ville went straight for the kitchen.

“Ah, there they are.” Ville said, leaning forward to kiss Soya. “The two most beautiful women in the world.”

“No need for flattery Ville, I’m still feeding you.” Anita teased, pinching his cheek.

“I would have settled for most beautiful women in Finland.” Soya said, as Ville took off his coat and sat in his mother’s vacated seat.

“Ah, but then it would have been a lie.” Ville grinned. “I see you had potato duty.”

Soya nodded. “Your mother didn’t trust me with anything else, as I haven’t been in her kitchen in thirteen years.”

“For all I know you could have gotten worse at cooking.” Anita laughed, handing her son a water bottle. “Where did Jesse go?”

“Bathroom.” Ville said, “I had to go talk to Seppo after we got out of the studio, and Jesse waited in the car for me.”

“What did you talk to Seppo about?” Soya asked.

“Ah,” Ville nodded, taking a sip of his water. “We’re not doing Helldone this year.”

“You’re not?” Soya pouted. “I wanted to see you perform.”

“Ah, sorry love.” Ville chuckled. “Fireworks beat out performing this year. I think eleven years of not seeing them we deserve a bit of a break. That and with Linde, Mige and Burton in talks with Dani, and Gas starting his own tour soon, we just decided to take a break this year.”

“Dani?” Soya asked with a frown.

“Filth.” Ville answered. “They’re going on tour with Cradle of Filth during their U.S. tour in February.”

“So you’ll be seeing the fireworks this year Ville?” Anita asked.

“It works out really.” Ville grinned. “As Soya hasn’t seen them in almost as long as I have; the last time I saw them was probably the last time you did, when we all went together.”

“I remember!” Soya grinned. “Mige nearly peed himself because he couldn’t get through the crowd to a bathroom!”

Ville laughed. “That I remember as well.”

“What are we talking about?” Jesse asked, wrapping an arm around Soya’s shoulder and kissing her cheek. “Sorry for being such a monster,” Jesse said with a roll of his eyes.

“You’re only apologizing because I was right.” Soya said grinning up at him. “If I had been wrong you’d have sauntered in here crowing about it.”

Ville laughed. “You were most definitely right.”

Soya raised an eyebrow in Jesse’s direction, causing him to sigh. “You were right, but I’m still sorry and I do mean it.”

Soya smiled at him, kissing his cheek. “Stop fretting Jesse, I forgive you. We’re friends again.”

“Well, now that you have all that settled, go wash up; dinner’s almost ready and your dad will be home soon.” Anita ordered. Sure enough, not ten minutes later, Kari walked in, kissed his wife and washed up for dinner.

Dinner with the Valos was, for Soya, a completely different experience than dinner with her family. Conversation was effortless as they started at one conversation flowing to the next with ease, at times carrying more than one conversation. While dinner with her family was always a timed event, one course having to be finished by a certain time so the next course could be brought out; the Valos followed no set schedule, sitting at the table talking and eating late into the night.

She’d always felt at home surrounded by them; she’d felt that while she didn’t fit in with her family, she fit in with the Valos. She was never judged, never patronized, just allowed to be herself.

“Ready, sweetheart?” Ville asked.

“Hmm?” Soya hummed looking at him.

“Take her home son, she looks tired.” Kari chuckled, pushing his empty plate away from him.

“No,” Soya said, leaning her head on Ville’s shoulder. “I like being here.”

“And we love having you.” Kari laughed. “But you look like you’re about to fall asleep.”

“Come on,” Ville said, as he carefully stood up so he wouldn’t topple Soya over. “You’ve had a long day.”

Soya nodded, standing up with a yawn, before leaning down to hug Kari. “I’ll see you later.”

“Of course.” Kari said patting her back, as Anita came out of the kitchen, walking towards Soya to hug her.

“Don’t stay away for two weeks again, I want you here tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that.” Anita chuckled hugging her tightly.

Ville laughed. “If you want those grandchildren, then can I borrow her sometime in between?”

Soya pulled away from Anita, hitting Ville’s arm. “Don’t tease your mother like that. Go grab the duffle with our clothes”

“Sorry.” Ville laughed walking towards the laundry room, as Jesse came down the stairs.

“Leaving?”

“Yes, little monster.” Soya laughed hugging him. “I’ll talk to you later, I’m sure.”

“I’ll pop up when you least expect me.” Jesse laughed, hugging her tightly.

“All right, let’s go.” Ville said, shouldering the duffle, giving his father a hug before kissing his mother’s cheek, as well as hugging his brother. Once goodbyes were finished, Ville loaded the bag in the car before getting into the passenger seat, where Soya already had the car turned on and had the heater blasting.

“Your home or mine?” Soya asked, putting the car in drive with a yawn.

“Yours.” Ville said. “It’s closer.”

“Good with me.” Soya said, pulling away from the curb.

“Do you want to talk about lunch with your father?” Ville said, five minutes into the drive.

Soya shrugged. “Not really, but I know I have to.” She said, sending him a small smile, before turning back to the road. “His kidneys are failing.”

Ville stared at her in surprise, mostly at the fact that she had just blurted it out, rather than circling around it until she got around to saying it. “Wow, Soya, I’m…” Ville shook his head. “God, that…”

“Yeah.” Soya said with a small laugh. “That was pretty much my reaction too, but he assures me that he’s doing well, and has years left. At least his doctors assure him of that.”

“Do you doubt it?” Ville asked, hearing the hesitancy in her voice.

Soya shrugged. “I don’t want to, anyway,” she said shaking her head. “He was telling me that he’s getting honored on the fourteenth, and he wants us to go.”

“Us?” Ville asked, as Soya parked in front of her apartment building.

“Yes, us.” Soya said, taking off her seatbelt and turning to him. “He wants me to go, and invited you to accompany me.”

Ville smirked. “What type of thing is this?”

Soya bit her lip, before smiling at him. “Um…well…there’s alcohol.”

“I don’t drink, Soya.” Ville sang as he stared at her amused.

“And people.”

“That I won’t know.”

“And dancing.” She grinned.

“That I hate.”

“And me.”

“Whom I can tolerate.” Ville teased. “Really, what’s in it for me?”

“A nice night out with your girlfriend, whom you adore.” Soya said with a shy grin, though by the look Ville saw in her eyes, he knew there was so much more to it than just a night out with his girl. “Oh come on!” She laughed. “Wasn’t this what you were saying you wanted, a night out with your girlfriend where we both dress up and go out?”

“Ah! Dress up! There’s a dress code!” Ville laughed.

“There is.” Soya said slowly, biting her lip, “I get to wear heels, and a long shimmery dress that usually fits like a second skin.” She said with a roll of her eyes, though she saw that spark of intrigue in Ville’s green eyes as well as the smirk that tugged on his lips. “And, I get to wear my hair up,” she said pulling her hair away from her neck, causing Ville’s eyes to go to her collarbone, where her fingers were trailing. “And I get to get all dolled up.” She said, her fingers going lower before going back up her collarbone.

“Witch.” Ville muttered gruffly, watching her fingers, before snapping his eyes back to hers, Soya grinned at him, causing him to lurch forward to kiss her, only to pull back when his seatbelt locked, nearly choking him in the process.

“Oh!” Soya said, clapping her hands over her mouth to stifle her laughter,

“Fucking…” Ville cursed pushing the button of his seatbelt down violently, releasing it before leaning forward again, uncovering her mouth and grabbing her lips with his, causing her laughter to die down with a moan.

“Fine,” Ville muttered against her lips, as he moved down to kiss her collarbone. “I’ll go.”

“Really?” Soya asked, her fingers rubbing the red line on his neck where his seatbelt had dug in.

“What’s the dress code on this thing?” Ville asked against her neck.

“Black tie.”

Ville groaned having expected that. “Seriously?”

“We’ll only stay for a couple of hours.” Soya assured.

“No, it’s fine.” Ville said, pulling back and resting his forehead against hers. “We’ll stay for as long as we need to, I don’t mind.”

Soya smiled, cupping his cheek before kissing him lightly. “I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”

“Yeah?” Ville smirked.

“Mmm.” Soya laughed. “We can pretend that I’m sixteen and leaving again, but instead of getting into the car, I follow you back into your house.”

Ville laughed, wrapping his arms as best he could around her. “That has so many potential possibilities it’s amazing.”

“It’ll be a fun night Ville, I promise.” Soya grinned, leaning forward again to kiss him.