Adelina Celine Torres
I hate right now.
I am home freaking alone--unless you count Mama and Avery--and out of every one of my favorite snacks, and to top it off my car won't start to get to the grocery store.
And its past midnight, but I'm hungry....so I have to walk.
It has been a little over a week since Ronny found out about my dad, and he hasn't let me stay home while Papa's home since then. I'm only allowed to be home this weekend cause Papa is out of town.
Drama queen. He doesn't understand Papa only hurts me very occasionally, and that I just need to not tick him off and I will be fine.
I slip into my favorite Ugg boots and toss on a huge hoodie since it's chilly outside. There's a convenience store a quick twenty minute walk away...note the sarcasm.
I should just Uber eats ice cream. Eh, I could use the exercise.
The cold air hits me hard when I step out of my house and I instantly regret choosing to walk to the store, but oh well.
I know what you guys are probably thinking: she's so stupid for walking around LA past midnight alone!
Well don't fret, I am equipped with a pocket knife and pepper spray incase anyone chooses to mess with me.
I tested my pepper spray aim on Ronny the other day, making him wear swimming goggles and try to kidnap me. He lunged for me and I spun around and nailed him in the face with pepper spray.
Also, Ron looks adorable in goggles.
I finally reach the store after a walk that feels way longer than just twenty minutes, and make a beeline for the freezer section.
Mint chocolate chip. Bingo.
I grab a large tub of it, then go to the chips aisle for takis. Yeah, I can handle spicy food or whatever.
"Thank you so much" I smile to the guy working at the store. After that, I step back into the coldness and wonder why I am in shorts. When I start to walk and turn a corner, I feel myself completely collide with someone, causing me to fall backwards onto my butt.
I feel a shooting pain in my torso form hitting the ground, my ribs still not fully healed.
"Ow." I mumble, looking up to see a man standing over me.
He has dark hair with gray pieces from aging, a stubble on his face, and oddly familiar hazel eyes. He's tall, over 6 feet at least, and wears black pants and a black coat.
"I am so sorry!" I exclaim, feeling awful for running into this poor man. "It's alright princess." He smiles down to me, offering me his hand.
I take it, letting him help me off the floor. I glance into my grocery bag to make sure my ice cream didn't spill or leak on impact when I fell.
"It's a little late to be out no?" He says to me, his voice deep and a little intimidating not gonna lie. I just shrug, "I wanted ice cream."
He laughs slightly, "Be careful, there's all kinds of people out at this time." He says, his eyes staring into my freaking soul.
"Alright." Is all I say. "Sorry again for hitting into you." I give him a small smile, moving to walk past him. After I pass him I glance over my shoulder and see him turned and watching me walk away.
Weird.
I shake off the weird vibes I got, figuring he's probably just a nice older man who was concerned I am out all alone this late. I imagine he has a cute little family, maybe even grandkids.
The rest of the walk home is nice and I actually am grateful for the weather cause I'm not worried about my ice cream melting.
Now to spend the rest hour and a half watching Dance Moms and devouring this entire pint of ice cream.
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"Man up." I tell Ronny, who is refusing to eat the worlds spiciest chip I ordered on amazon. I got two, one for each of us, and now he is backing out.
I never asked his permission, but I still assumed he'd eat it with me.
"It looks gross." he says, but I know he's just terrified he will look like a baby cause he can't handle the spice.
"It will be fun." I tell him.
He rolls his eyes, "Fine."
Yay!
We both eat our chips and at first I feel nothing.
World spiciest chip my butt--oh no.
It's starting to kick in. My mouth starts to water and my tongue feels like it is going to fall off, all while Ronny is sitting like he ate a tortilla chip.
"Man up." He teases me. A tear falls from my eye, "I can't...breathe...." I pour myself a tall glass of milk and chug it.
I take deep breaths afterwards, sticking my tongue out so that the air helps it somehow. "This was your idea." Aaron reminds me, and I glare at him.
"Do you feel nothing?" I ask, pouring another glass of milk. He shrugs, "I'm good with spicy food."
Of course he is.
"Then why were you not wanting to eat it?"
"Because it looked gross."
Ugh.
After spending the next ten minutes panting over the sink and drinking half a gallon of milk, I feel it start to wear off. "See, fun." I smile to him, now being able to say I ate the worlds spiciest chip.
He just rolls his eyes.
His phone dings on the counter and he picks it up, looking a little upset when he reads it. "I have to go in to work." He tells me, tucking his phone in his pocket. "Wanna come?" He asks me after a second or two.
My head shoots up, "To work?"
He shrugs, "I just have to handle a few things. You can sit in my office."
I pretend to think about it, "It has a couch." Ron says.
"Can I nap?"
He nods.
Sweet.
"Oki doki I will go." I say, unable to hide the excitement at getting to see where he works. I imagine a secret little warehouse in the forest..."You coming?" he asks, and I realize he grabbed his keys and is on his way out.
"Yep." I say, making sure I have my bag and following him. He is dressed pretty casual for work, just in pants and a shirt. I am in a navy skirt and a gray sweater, my hair down with mini braids on the sides like I always do.
"I want it to snow." I tell Ronny when he get into his car. "I know its California and it never does, but wouldn't it be so fun? Snow angels, snowball fights, eating the snow, building snowmen..."
"Snow sucks."
Gasp. "I forget you grew up in New York. Dude I'm so jealous you got to spend Christmases there!"
"What are you doing for thanksgiving?" Aaron asks me. Thanksgiving is just three days away, and even though I love the holiday, I dread it.
"Just dinner with my family."
He gives me a look. I pat his shoulder, "Ronny my whole family will be at dinner, you think Nick would let something happen?" I say, knowing he is upset about me hanging with Papa.
"Afterwards I pick you up." He tells me.
"Ronny, I can't just sleepover at your house every night."
"Why not?"
I pause for a minute, looking for a definitive answer to give him but coming up with none. I would say space, but I literally don't want space from him. "Because." Is all I come up with.
His car approaches a large very modern building just outside of the city and I awe at how huge it is. He parks and we climb out, "Stay with me." he says.
"Duh." I say back, walking beside him as he enters the building. He walks right past the front desk, not sparing anyone a hello or even a small smile.
We get into an elevator and go up to the top freaking floor, then walk through a series of hallways until we reach a large office with Aaron Hendrix labeled on the door.
"Holy cow!" I say, flopping on his super comfy black leather couch. I sit up and admire his office, which is huge. Book shelves cover one side of walls, a big desk with a leather chair behind it is towards the back middle of the office with two chairs on the other side of the desk, and the couch I'm sitting on has a big coffee table in front of it.
Next I run to the window, absolutely in love with the view of hills and trees, "Why have you never brought me here?" I say. He shrugs, walking over to me. "I will be back okay? Don't open the door for anyone."
"Okayyyy" I say, unsure why he is acting like we surrounded by criminals or something. Ronny leaves and I am left alone in his freakishly modern gorgeous office. Lucky for me, I spot a blanket folded in a little bin next to the couch, and happily drape it over me as I snuggle into the leather.
Nap time.
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