Chapter 14 Rosa
ROSA
Iran toward the bathroom, hoping Mateo had left the door unlocked, but he didn’t. I slap the door out of anger, and I hear his voice call out to me, but I’m too shocked to stop now. My ears are ringing, my head’s spinning, and as I reach the kitchen sink, I throw up.
I drank some water after I was sure no more stuff was going to come out. A shiver runs down my spine as I think of the possible outcome again. If Nathan and Mateo hadn’t been there, I would not have spent the night here, but at some stranger’s house instead, and I’d be in a much worse state now.
Mateo’s loud and fast footsteps get closer and closer to me, but I can’t move from the floor. I’m stuck, crunched up next to the cabinets, my face buried in my hands, the familiar lump starting to form in my throat once again.
“Rosa, hey. What’s wrong?” He crouches down to me, stroking my arm in a soothing way.
“I talked to Ivy… Was I really drugged?” I still don’t move my head. I can’t look into his eyes now or I’ll burst into tears.
“We don’t know for sure. You seemed more than just drunk. But you weren’t that sick. So I don’t know, I’m sorry.” He sighs and sits next to me, pulling me into his arms.
“I… I could’ve ended up in a stranger’s house… God knows what would’ve happened to me.” I trail off, trying not to think of the worst outcomes. I finally let my arm down, just resting my head on his shoulders while I fidget with my hands.
“Well, you still ended up with a stranger.” He chuckles, and I slap his thighs.
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” I snap back, anger taking over me.
“Okay, I’m sorry, bad joke. I just wanted to say that… Nothing would’ve happened to you. You were surrounded by friends, there’s no way they would’ve let you leave with a stranger.”
“You know, I was wondering, why did you stay with me? This is Nathan’s house. And yes, you’re basically a stranger.” I finally have enough courage to look up at him, and I realize how beautiful he looks from up close.
“I’m not leaving a woman behind in your state.
” He replies as if I asked the stupidest question.
Given that he has the most fun when he’s drunk after a party, it’s hard not to think about why he rejected me when he’s a certified playboy.
“Besides, it would’ve been hard to say no to you when you demanded cuddles. ”
My heart flutters at his smirk, and my face immediately heats up. This situation can’t get any more embarrassing, I swear. I hit the bottom. “You could’ve done more than cuddling.”
“Not when you were that drunk.” His hands trail up and down my arms, giving me goosebumps from the sweet feeling.
“Did you give up being a playboy?” I ask with a sly smile, but it doesn’t stay too long as I feel his fingers wander up to my collarbone, playing around my neck.
“For you, I’ll try.” Well damn. I have him wrapped around all ten of my fingers. Never thought I’d be the one to tame the playboy.
“You sound too confident that something more is going to happen between us.”
“I haven’t been able to think about anything else but you, since you ran into me that morning in Miami.”
“I’m not sure if I’m ready for a relationship right now, Mateo.”
I like him, and he probably likes me too. But I should focus on my career more, and a relationship doesn’t fit into my plans right now. That’s what one night stands are for.
“Who said anything about relationships?” He gives me the sexiest smile that humankind has ever seen, and once again, my heart flutters at the sight. He’s dangerous. “I’ll take anything you give me. Just be sober while doing so.”
I chuckled, and repeat his movements. I start to run my hand up and down his arm, and give a quick kiss to his palm. “Got it.”
“Good. So, what do you want for breakfast?” He jumps up on his feet, then pulls me up with him.
“What are the options?”
He walks over to the fridge, opens it, and then takes a big sigh. “Sausage. And salami. Mayonnaise and ketchup.” He looks at me, and I’m waiting for him to continue, but he doesn’t. Guess Nathan hasn’t been home for a couple weeks.
“Wow. Alright, I’ll take all of that.” I shrug and he gets to work.
“You’re not gonna leave me anything?” He comes closer and closer and closer, until he’s standing between my legs. His hands are on either side of me, his eyes burning into mine.
My cheeks start to burn, but I’m not giving in.
The corners of his mouth are slowly turning upwards more and more, and it takes every ounce of me not to wipe that smirk off his face.
He starts to raise his hand, inching closer to my face, while I’m contemplating whether I should scream at him to kiss me already or do it myself.
His hand goes past my neck, my face, my whole head, which leaves me confused. Then, I hear the creak of the cabinet behind me. He takes two cups out of the cupboard, and sashays away proudly.
That little—he tricked me. He’s good at teasing, goddamnit. I need to level up my game.
“Am I getting the premium Acosta treatment?” I smirk as I come back to my senses and look him up and down. What a sight for sore eyes. Messy, slightly wet hair, sexy body only wrapped in a towel, and is cooking. Seems like I reached Heaven.
“Damn right you are.” I’m about to ask if he knows anything about Nathan, but I hear my phone ring. I hop off the counter and head toward the bedroom. Speaking of the devil.
Nathan
I am alive and unwell
Rosa
Same
Where are you?
Friend’s house
You two hooked up?
Please, tell me my kitchen counter is safe
Everything’s safe, we didn’t do anything
I give you a comfortable free space, and you don’t take advantage of it? I am disappointed, Rosalia.
Not everything’s about sex, Nathan. And you know I was drunk.
Well, okay, kudos to Mateo for taking care of you. I’m glad you’re okay. But one night wouldn’t hurt.
Well, I obviously tried, asshole
I get another message, but I decide not to text back. I barely woke up, and he’s already pestering me to have sex. True friend.
I head back to the kitchen to find the breakfast ready and Mateo patiently waiting for me.
“It was Nathan. He’s alive and at a friend’s house.”
“Does it have to do anything with the recent text he sent me, questioning me why I didn’t have sex with you?” I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I’m gonna slaughter this man once I see him again.
“Ignore it. I’m begging you. He’s probably still drunk. Let’s just eat before it gets cold.”
We eat in silence, but it’s a comfortable one. Like a safe bubble is surrounding us. I like this feeling. After we’re done, I help him wash the dishes, then we plop down on the couch.
“Will you ever get dressed?”
“I don’t know. I’m pretty comfy like this.” He knows what he’s doing. Teasing me with a fun time I know won’t happen today. He’s cruel.
I’m about to get closer to him, but my phone starts ringing. Perfect timing. I look at the screen, and I see the name “Mallorca” pop up. I look at Mateo apologetically. I unfortunately must take it. It’ll be a painful conversation. Can’t see what ridiculous thing she came up with now.
“So I have this idea, and I want you to bring it to life.” What happened to hello? How are you?
“Hello to you, too. Alright, go ahead.” I let out an inaudible sigh, as she yaps for a solid ten minutes about how she wants to change the venue from the beautiful rural city to a huge house with a huge field that is next to the ocean, and that she wants white doves.
All these two and a half months before her wedding.
“Yeah, no, what you’re asking for is the bridal consultant’s job. So please, talk to them about it.”
“I thought that’s your job. Why can’t you do it?”
“Ma’am, I just told you it’s not my job. That’s not what I’m qualified for. Do you have a bridal consultant?”
“I didn’t think I needed one. Thought you’re taking care of everything.”
“I don’t. Do you want me to find you one on such short notice?” I emphasize the last couple of words, but I doubt she cares that it’s going to be almost impossible to find someone this late.
“Yes, do it. And have her call me tomorrow.” Tomorrow. Of course, pendeja.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Okay, bye.” Not a thank you in sight; she just hangs up on me. I am so not ready for bridezillas.
I click on Rylee’s name, an old friend, quickly calling her, hoping she has availability. It’s ringing, and ringing, and ringing, but she doesn’t answer. Well, I hope at least she’s gonna respond to my text, so I click on the message icon and send her a text. Let’s manifest.
Mateo and I spent the rest of the day together. He took me to a couple of places I haven’t been yet, showed me around his favorite parts of Monaco.
There was one that particularly stood out to me, which was a little park behind a museum, called Jardins Saint-Martin.
It’s basically a garden; it’s full of beautiful and unique plants and flowers, such as Yellow Sage, Coralita, and pistachio trees.
At the exit, there’s a flower shop where you can buy some of the flowers that are in the park.
He insisted on buying me one I liked, so now I have a bouquet of the prettiest blue lilies I’ve ever seen.
I feel like I got to know him a little better today. Maybe we’re getting along better than I thought.