“Goodnight Alex,” I murmur, taking off my seatbelt. He drove us both back home, parking my car perfectly in the drive-way. He signals towards the dashboard of the car and grins. The clock reads six am.
“Good morning hermosa.”
I giggle at him, biting down on my lower lip. I don’t know what it is about him, I feel carefree and alive when he’s around. He reaches over and takes hold of my hand unexpectedly, his warmth spreading through me immediately.
“Tell me your plans for the day,” he says quietly, his thumb drawing circles on the back of my hand. I shiver and close my eyes, looking away from him. I can’t do this, I can’t do this to Justin. No matter what he’s done, he’s still my boyfriend. I slowly pull my hand free from Alex’s hold, if he’s hurt by it, he doesn’t show it.
“My parents are away on Sunday so I have the house to myself for once. I’m planning on having a chilled day today and I have a appointment tomorrow for an apartment I’ve had my eye on.”
“Parents?” Alex questions.
“Adoptive parents. It doesn’t feel right calling them by their first name so it’s just Mum and Dad.”
Alex nods slowly.
“You don’t mind calling two strangers Mum and Dad?”
I shake my head, feeling the hole inside my chest begin to increase again.
“I don’t have any trouble calling Peter my Dad. He’s great. . . It’s Judy. It’s hard calling her my Mum. I can’t call one Dad and not call the other Mum, I don’t want to hurt them. They’re good people who took me in when they didn’t have to.” I explain, pain invading my chest.
It squeezes my throat so it’s hard to get the words out and form them correctly. Alex senses my pain and he reaches over, almost as if he’s about to take hold of my hand again but he doesn’t. He drops it back down to his side, clearing his throat.
“An apartment. You’re moving out?” Alex asks, changing the subject. I smile gratefully at him, feeling the hold on my throat begin to loosen.
“Yes, I need to move out. I have to get my own space, I’m twenty and still living with my parents,” I chuckle embarrassing-ly. Alex smirks at me, shaking his head.
“I’m twenty one living with my Papa. Nothing embarrassing about that hermosa.”
“You never get the urge to move out?” I ask, my eyebrow raised. I’ve never known anyone around my age to enjoy living with their parents.
“I’m loyal to my Papa but to answer your question, yes. I do get the urge to move out and maybe one day I will.” He smiles, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the steering wheel. Outside the car, the sun is beginning to rise, sucking the darkness and replacing it with light.
“I have to go,” I say quietly, opening the passenger door and climbing out. Alex mirrors my actions before tossing the keys to the car over it. I catch them effortlessly and Alex smirks, his eyes drifting down my body shamelessly. I can feel my body squirm underneath his gaze and he chuckles, knowing the effect he’s having on me.
“You’re impressive hermosa,” he drawls out, turning around lazily and sauntering off down the street. I watch him go, un-able to tear my eyes off him.
“Alex!” I yell just as he’s about to turn the corner. He spins around, dark eyes sparkling at me even from the distance.
“I had fun tonight,” I smile at him and the corner of his mouth tugs upwards into a smile. Despite almost being beaten and kidnapped, it was one of the best nights I’ve ever had. The danger excited me, bringing me to life.
“Me too beautiful, me too!” He yells back before disappearing. I almost immediately miss his presence, his confidence and his scent. I miss the danger he comes with and the way he makes my body react with a simple look.
“Alejandro,” I whisper, the name rolling off my tongue. I smile, fiddling with my car keys before turning around and en-tering the house.
*****
I strip off, pulling over an oversized shirt before rolling into bed and cocooning myself between the sheets. Sleep quickly washes over me and for the first time in ages, I sleep with a smile on my face.
I’m woken by a knock on my bedroom door. I groan, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Last night floods back to my mind and I smile again, unable to stop myself from feeling giddy with excitement. Alex feels exciting.
“Come in,” I say, my voice raspy from sleep. I straighten out my hair, combing through it with my fingers. My door opens and Justin steps in, a sheepish look on his face. I suck in a breath, closing my eyes.
I’m not ready for this.
“Ari…”
“No, Justin. I don’t think I can do this now,” I mumble, feeling hurt and betrayed by him.
“Baby, I am so sorry. Please let me explain,” he begs me, his eyes pleading. He runs a hand through his dark hair, his ex-pression full of guilt.
“Explain what? That you tried to force yourself on to me when I asked you to stop?” I hiss at him, careful to not raise my voice incase my parents over hear. Justin is apparently thinking the same thing and he quickly scurries over to the door, shutting it.
“Look, it was a mistake. A huge mistake. . . I got you these,” Justin mumbles, holding out a bag from behind his back. I remain quiet as he pulls out a small teddy bear holding a heart with the word sorry threaded across it in cursive writing. He also pulls out a tub of ice cream and some chocolates.
Despite the sweet gesture, I can’t let him off that easily. I shake my head, frustration filling my features.
“What you did was wrong, Justin. You can’t ever treat me or any other girl like that ever again.” I tell him firmly, holding my ground. He nods his head repeatedly, blue eyes widening at me —
“I swear it to you, it won’t happen again. It was a mistake Ariana, please.” Justin pleads with me, holding the teddy bear up to his face whilst he pouts in sadness.
“Am I forgiven?” He breathes out, pleading with me through his eyes.
“Promise me you’ll never ever do that again Justin,” I say firmly, my tone serious. He looks at me intently.
“Ariana, I promise you. Cross my heart.”
I slowly nod and he breathes out a sigh of relief, walking over to me. He places the gifts onto my bed and wraps his arms around me, burying his head into the crook of my neck.
“I’m so happy we’re okay,” he mumbles and I nod, biting down on my lower lip. “Yeah, me too.”
“Movies, ice cream and chocolate?” Justin asks, pulling back and grinning at me. I smile back at him, stepping out of bed and smoothing down my shirt.
“Let me get washed and I’ll be right back. Set up the movie,” I say, heading for the bathroom.
“Okay,” Justin grins, his eyes lighting up. I smile back at him, relieved that we’ve cleared the air. Justin really does seem remorseful for what happened and I hope it’s a one time occurrence.
I step out of my room and walk towards the bathroom, scrolling through my phone aimlessly. Right at that moment, a text flashes across my screen. I jump slightly from the text alert before scanning over it.
Hey Ariana! Inviting you and Justin for a get together at DownTown Club. We’ll be there at 10 – dress up! 🙂 -Kirsten.
A smile stretches across my face and I quickly text back a response, letting her know we’ll both be there. Looks like my chilled day will end up with an exciting night alongside friends. I’m complaining, it’s been too long since I’ve seen them.
“Hey Justin, Kirsten invited us Downtown tonight, I told her we’ll be there,” I let him in on the plans, stepping back into bed after brushing my teeth and a quick shower.
“Tonight? Damn, I thought it would be me and you.” Justin pouts, putting his arm around me. I reach for the remote and play the movie, settling back into my pillows.
“I know but it’ll be fun. I haven’t seen my friends in so long,” I whine, giving him my best puppy dog look. He sighs be-fore kissing the tip of my nose.
“For you? Anything.”
“Awesome, I can’t wait.” I grin, pecking his cheek quickly. We turn silent as the movie starts, vanilla ice cream settled be-tween us both.