“What are you looking at?” Christian asked, his footsteps nearing as Mr. Ricci started the engine. I crossed my arms over my chest as Mr. Ricci pulled away and slowly made his way down the driveway. The farther they moved away, the more I knew. She was it. She was the answer to my problem. “Lorenzo?” Christian asked again.
I turned to face him, lifted my lips on one side, and simply stated, “My future wife.”
CHAPTER 3
AIDA
My stomach dipped, my nerves running rampant the closer to the restaurant we got. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gone on a date. Maybe that was why I was so nervous? Brad hadn’t told me where we were going, so I’d had a stressful few hours deciding what to wear. In the end, I let Vida choose. At least that way, I’d look pretty enough.
She’d paired my high-waisted, wide-legged pants with a simple white sleeveless top. To finish the look, I’d gone with a pair of heels, then shoved some flats into my bag. I was prepared for any situation—that was what I kept telling myself anyway. The reality was, I wasn’t ready for this. I wasn’t ready to be alone with Brad when I felt like I barely knew him.
He pulled to a stop outside a steakhouse, and I didn’t wait for him as I got out. I was on edge—more on edge than usual—and I wasn’t sure if it was the good kind or the bad kind. There was something in the back of my mind telling me to be aware of everything going on around me, but I didn’t know why. It was probably because this was the first date I’d been on in so long, or maybe my spidey sense had kicked in and was trying to warn me. Either way, when Brad took my hand to lead me inside the restaurant, I jumped out of my skin.
“Sorry.” I laughed, trying to sound easy, but I knew I was anything but that.
“No worries,” Brad said, his lips pulled up on one side in that smile I’d seen him use so often. It was the kind that I knew people melted at, but for me, it made me even more nervous.
What would happen after this? Would he expect anything of me? I wasn’t a virgin by any stretch of the imagination, but I also didn’t do this kind of thing often. I hadn’t had a man hold my hand since…well, damn, I couldn’t even remember since when.
Had it really been that long?
I rolled my shoulders back and tried to give myself a pep talk as we were shown to our table. It wasn’t long until our orders were taken, and then Brad started talking about himself. I listened intently, not wanting to miss any of what he was saying, and as soon as he paused, I opened my mouth, about to volunteer something about me, but before I even got the chance, he was back to talking about himself and what his plans for the future were.
By the time we’d finished eating, and the bill was placed on the table, I knew his entire life story, but he knew absolutely nothing about me. I bet he didn’t even know what my last name was. In some ways, I was glad he’d done all the talking because that prickly feeling I’d had since I got out of his truck hadn’t gone away, but I also knew there was no way I could go on another date with him.
Brad was all about himself, the typical high school jock who hadn’t changed one bit even though he’d been in college for a couple of years. I smiled at him as he stood and offered his hand, and this time I took it, knowing there was no reason to be nervous around him because I wouldn’t be going out with him again.
He pulled me closer to him as we made it to his truck, and once we were both inside, he asked, “Wanna go somewhere else and continue this?” Did he not realize how bad this date had gone?
My face reddened as I stared at him, wondering how to politely say no. Just as I opened my mouth, my cell beeped, saving me. I pulled it out of my purse, unbelievably grateful for the interruption.
Noemi: You need to get home right now.
I frowned at the message and typed a reply.
Aida: Why? Is everything okay?
I waited several seconds, staring at my screen as I bit down on my bottom lip, but when the read signal didn’t show up, I turned to face Brad. “My sister said I need to get home.” I showed him my phone, trying to prove that she had messaged me and that this wasn’t some kind of ploy to get away from him. I was glad I’d be getting away from him, though.
“Okay.” He smiled, but this time it didn’t quite reach his eyes, not like it had throughout the night. My stomach dropped, and I winced. I hated letting people down, and I wouldn’t be able to think of anything else but how I’d technically bailed on our night. Although a quick look at the time said it was already 10:30 p.m., so I hadn’t really bailed. Right?
The truck was silent save for the low singing on the radio. He’d talked nonstop, and now he wasn’t saying a word. I wasn’t sure which one I liked less…no, I did—definitely the silence. I couldn’t stand when there was no noise. It made me want to fill it with useless chatter and information, but more than that, it made my ears ring, almost as if the silence was so loud it was deafening me.
Brad pulled the truck to a stop a couple of cars down from the store, and relief flowed through me. It would only be seconds until I was out of the truck. I grabbed my purse off my lap and looked ahead. What the…
Two blacked-out SUVs took up the spaces directly in front of the store. It wouldn’t have bothered me if the store was open, but it was nearly 11 p.m. now, so why were they parked there?
I stared up at the apartment, seeing all of the lights on. Had they waited up for me? Were they watching me right now? My eyes widened. Had something bad happened? Noemi said I needed to get home right now, but my brain hadn’t computed that something seriously wrong could have transpired.
“I had a great time,” Brad said, his voice low. I felt his hand whisper over my knee, and I jumped in response—yet again.
“Sorry.” I laughed it off, trying to be easy breezy, but the lights being on in the apartment had taken over my brain, and all I could think about was my ma looking out of the window and seeing what I was doing. At that thought, I flung the passenger door open and shuffled out of Brad’s car. “Thanks for tonight,” I stumbled out. “Erm…” I hooked my thumb over my shoulder, signaling the store. “I better head inside.”
Brad opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, I slammed the door shut and twirled around. I didn’t turn back to face him as I walked past the SUVs, and it wasn’t until I was at the side door that led straight up to our apartment that I realized a man was standing in front of it—a man I didn’t recognize.
“Aida?” he asked. His face was a weird mixture of rough and smooth and his hair was in a crew cut, as if he didn’t have the patience to style it.
“Y-es.” He nodded, opened the door, and waved for me to go inside. “Who are you?” I asked, unable to keep my curiosity in any longer.
He winked. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
I frowned, not understanding what he meant, but walked by him anyway. My heels clicked on each stair as I made it up to the apartment door at the top. As soon as I opened it, Noemi’s face appeared. Her wide eyes told me something was going down, and when voices from the living room echoed toward us, she yanked me into the bathroom.