Chapter 17
“Okay, be honest with me: how big is his cock?” Ashleigh asked with a maniacal grin on her face.
A tattooed guy was passing by our table, but stopped and arched a brow at her, to which my dear, darling of a best friend, flipped him off. Not so subtly, too, might I add.
The poor man, God bless him, took that gesture good-naturedly, and chuckled before walking away.
I wanted to hide under the collar of my coat, but instead, I glared at Ash and signed, What is wrong with you?
When you Sign a string of words – a sentence, basically – the order of those very same words is different from if you were speaking them out loud. But because Ash has known Sign for just as long as I have, she understands what I’m saying without any issues.
“What?” She tried to act innocent. “That’s the #1 question one asks when their best friend is dating a hottie, okay? It’s so common at this point that it should be a rule. I’m only doing my due diligence here.”
I rubbed both my hands over my face. That woman was a living, breathing migraine. One without a remedy.
I wasn’t sure how to respond to her question anyway because I didn’t exactly know the answer to it. Yet.
We were at The Publican for our usual end-of-the-month brunch. The restaurant was a few blocks from Ash’s workplace, and was also our go-to spot for whenever we needed those delicious, absolutely-necessary carbs.
We’d only just received our order of Frittata, cheese roll-ups, Blueberry Buckle, and Cherry Lime Rickey, when Ash had decided to ask me about the length of Myles’s cock.
I couldn’t say I was surprised. I’ve known her for a little over two decades, and she’s always been like this – inappropriately curious and alarmingly bizarre.
Given how maturely she’d behaved with a fellow patron just now – who’d merely been surprised by her interest in another person’s anatomy, it was safe to say that Ash wasn’t planning on changing in this lifetime.
Not that I wanted her to, if I were being honest. It was good to have some level of madness in one’s life, and Ash provided that in full, with a sprinkle of garnish on the side.
I wasn’t talking about your question, I signed, and then pointed in the direction the tattooed guy had gone to.
Ash clicked her tongue. “He was trying to dip his toes in an undippable territory, so he got what he deserved.” She then picked up a fork from the center of our table and stabbed it into a piece of Frittata. “Wait, is undippable even a word?”
I shook my head, both in slight annoyance and in answer to her question.
“Yeah, I thought so too.” She began eating, so I did the same.
It was yummy, the Frittata, and was exactly what I needed.
“So, is Miguel still giving you shit for dating Myles?” Ash asked.
He was, up until the moment I left the house this morning, so I’d say yes.
Ash frowned and took a sip of her Rickey, and I shoved a tiny piece of Blueberry Buckle into my mouth before chewing it slowly.
Av? has been behaving rather curtly with me, which is very unusual, given our rapport.
We haven’t done our regular TV binges since that night, and he’s even began ignoring Myles completely during his time at the house.
I’ve seen Myles hurting when Av? walks past him without a glance, but he doesn’t show any of it to me.
We’ve tried talking to him – separately and together – but he doesn’t even stay long enough for either of us to get much out before dismissing himself without a word.
He does, however, leave notes on my nightstand during the days he goes to the shop, telling me he loves me, but doesn’t respond to the texts I send him after that.
It was an overbearing behavior, if I were to judge it, but I didn’t know if it’d be right for me to fault him for this, only because he’s always been like this when it comes to the matter of me dating a guy.
I’ve only had two boyfriends in my life so far, both of whom decided to break up with me the moment my av? found out about them and decided to get himself acquainted with them. I’ve asked him multiple times why he does that, but he’s never answered me.
Frustrating, I know.
“I really wanna tell Av? to get the stick out of his ass, but that’d be a burn on his cane situation, so I don’t know…” Ash said, pulling me out of my train of thought.
Good Lord.
He’s my grandfather, you idiot. I can’t let you say that about him, I signed.
“But you can let him act like a domineering freak?”
I sighed.
He’s not domineering; he just doesn’t understand.
I had to spell out the word ‘domineering’, because there isn’t exactly a sign for it.
Was it right for me to defend Av? when he’d been nothing but uncooperative towards everything Myles-related?
“I’m sure he understands how attraction works, Rina,” Ash stated. “He married Irene because they were in love. Surely that includes mutual liking – something you and Myles have also been feeling ever since the two of you saw each other for the first time.”
She was right, wasn’t she? I just wish I knew how to make Av? see things clearly.
He’ll come around.
Ash huffed. “Yeah, when you’re old and wrinkly, and Myles has put a ring on someone who isn’t you.”
You’re fast-tracking too much. We’ve only just started dating.
“Doesn’t mean you can’t think of the future,” Ash said, and placed a hand over mine.
“I can see it in your eyes, babe, when you talk about him. I know you really like him, and I’m so proud of the two of you for going after what you want.
Life’s shitty as it is, and after everything that’s happened in the world in the last couple of years, I’d say that being aware of your needs and being brave enough to admit the same, takes serious balls.
Miguel needs to see that, and if he can’t, then it’s his fault.
I don’t appreciate you losing your ability to hope because he’s stubborn and won’t see reason. ”
I swallowed.
I just wanna be able to date Myles without feeling like I’m hurting Av? or doing something wrong. And, he’s a great guy when he’s not being awkward and silly.
The days when I was at home while Av? went to the shop, I mostly spent my time reading on my Kindle, or watching Netflix shows on TV while Myles and the others worked on the kitchen.
But when I was at do Acaí, he’d come visit me during lunchtime, and we’d have burritos with Cruz and the others in the half hour I got to spend with them all without worrying about customers and sale numbers.
Myles and I have even managed to get a couple of dates in since the French Market.
Even though said dates have been brief, they’ve still been wonderful and unforgettable.
Especially our recent one at the Oriole, where he all but turned blue in the face after tasting the classic King Crab he’d ordered for himself.
He’d told me – very confidently – that he wanted to try it out, so I’d gone along with it.
Little good that did him…
“Sooooo, you haven’t seen his dick, then,” Ash said flatly.
I blinked out of my reverie and scowled at her.
I’m going to kill you.
She laughed. “I was just trying to get your attention. You looked lost there for a second.”
Was thinking about the restaurant thing.
Ash laughed harder. “He did look rather cute with that kinda-constipated expression on his face, though, not gonna lie. I’m pretty sure he gained at least a thousand new followers on his Instagram after posting that story.”
I rolled my eyes.
I can’t believe he put that on his social media.
“Well, I can believe it. I may not have met him yet, but with everything I’ve seen on his IG, and everything you’ve told me about him, he does seem like…a unique creature.”
I chuckled. He’s pretty adorable, I signed. How’s Dave?
Ash all but swooned all over our table at the mention of her boyfriend. “He’s hot, just like the last time you met him,” she answered with a smirk.
I chuckled again and gave her a thumbs up.
Her and Dave have been dating for a year, and in the time I’ve known him, Dave has been nothing but amazing to Ash.
I mean, he wouldn’t still be breathing if he wasn’t.
I may look like I’ve stepped out of a Grimm’s novel, but I was fully capable of conjuring up graphic, gruesome murders in my head, thank you very much.
I’m happy for you.
Ash grinned. “I know, and I’m so glad you’ve found someone like Myles.” She then perked up a little. “We should go on a double-date soon. It’ll be so much fun, I can already tell.”
I nodded. It did sound fun, and I was sure Myles would be onboard with the idea.
As if summoned by Lucifer himself, my phone pinged with a text from him.
Ash let go of my hand and wiggled her brows at me, to which I smiled and shook my head at her.
Beauty: Tell Daniel I said hi ;)
I laughed.
Me: I’m not at the shop right now, but I’ll be sure to convey your message to him later.
Beauty: Ah, yes; you’re out with Ash.
Me: Do you want me to say hi to her as well?
Beauty: If you want to… But my interests lie in a certain baker only.
I giggled, and took a sip of my Rickey. Ash was busy on her phone while finishing up her Frittata.
Me: You do realize that you’re only fueling his fire, right? You’re practically giving him more and more ammunition against you.
Beauty: It’s not my fault he makes it so easy.
Me: He only flirted with you once, Myles. For TWO SECONDS. Come to think of it, it was more like an aspiration of his than actual flirting.
Beauty: So you’re saying that all the free pastries he gives me when I visit the shop are for nothing? I’m hurt, Rina.
I pursed my lips.
Me: He gives you the extras from the day before, you sweet thing.
Beauty: ?_?
I couldn’t help but laugh again.
Me: I’m sorry :’)
Beauty: How could Daniel do that to me? I thought I was special!
Me: You are, just in a very different way.
Beauty: Yay?
Me: ? ? ?
Beauty: Mr. Ribeiro glared at me right before heading out for lunch. That’s progress, right?
My heart ached as I read that message once, and then a second time.
Me: Oh, Myles; I’m so sorry :(
I honestly couldn’t understand why Av? had to behave this way at all, and I was so upset with the way he was treating Myles.
Honestly, if it were anyone else, they’d have already quit the job and not even cared about the damn contract.
That little fact itself should be enough for Av? to realize that Myles wasn’t like the others.
But I guess my grandfather really couldn’t see past his mulishness to give my guy even a single chance.
Beauty: It’s okay, really. I’ll prove to him that I deserve to be with you.
I felt an array of emotions swirling inside me as I read those words.
Me: But that’s the thing, Myles: you don’t have to prove yourself to anyone. I didn’t want you to prove yourself to me, so Av? shouldn’t want it, either. You’re an amazing person, and that’s all that matters to me. I just don’t know why it’s not enough for him.
Beauty: He is pretty strange that way, your grandfather. He won’t talk to me; he doesn’t want me to date you. But still, he wants me to continue working on the renovations, and even leaves us alone every alternate day to go to your shop. It’s crazy.
Me: I couldn’t have put it any better :/
Beauty: Anyways, I have to get back to finishing up the kitchen floor. I can’t believe it’s come together so fast. Did you ask Mr. Ribeiro about the appliances? I think he wanted a few new ones for you.
I shoved a piece of cheese roll-up into my mouth before typing.
Me: Yeah, we’d decided earlier this year to change them all after we got the kitchen renovated, so that’s what we’re going with. should deliver them tomorrow or the day after.
Beauty: Cool. Paul can help set them up once they’re here.
Me: Yay :’)
Beauty: Gotta go :(
Me: Nooooo.
Beauty: I can’t have you running around a floorless kitchen, Rina. That’s wrong on so many levels, that I can’t even begin to count them on hand.
I snickered.
Me: Fine, go do your hammering and nailing. I’ll see you when I get home.
Beauty: That sounded so wrong and inaccurate in terms of the flooring process, but I’ll let it pass because you’re uneducated in the field.
Me: Did you just insult me?
Beauty: Yes ???
Me: ·? ? ,·?
Me: I guess I deserved it.
Beauty: Again: yes.
Me: Fuck you :*
Beauty: Aww, thanks.
I chuckled.
Me: I’ll see you later, you weirdo.
Beauty: You’re just showering me with compliments today, aren’t you?
Me: There’s more where that came from, if you’re interested.
Beauty: I’m outta here. See ya later. Peace.
I grinned and slid my phone into my purse.
I really did luck out with him, didn’t I?