Chapter 14 Daniela
DANIELA
“Any of you ready for lunch?” Vinnie asks.
“No,” I say. “I can’t eat. Not with all this new information.”
“I understand,” Vinnie says. “Let’s go home.”
“I can take you,” Hawk says.
“That’s not necessary,” I say. “I mean, Vinnie’s going home, and that’s where I live.”
“You sure?” he asks.
“Yeah. I think I need some alone time. I need to let all this stuff soak in.” I bite my lip. “Or maybe not think about it.”
“I understand,” Hawk says. He gives me a chaste kiss on the cheek.
Once we get home, Robin heads home in her own car, and though I should say hi to Belinda, I go straight to my suite and lie down in my bed.
It’s Saturday.
I wish it were a weekday, because I’d be in school and wouldn’t have to be thinking about any of this.
Then my phone buzzes.
Speaking of school…
It’s Jordan.
I don’t have the strength to deal with him today. He keeps hitting on me.
But on the other hand, I could use a distraction.
“Hello?” I say into the phone.
“Hey, Daniela, it’s Jordan.”
“Hey,” I reply.
“Gina, Lavender, and I are going to Splash Zone. I remember you said you might like to try a waterpark, so do you want to come?”
“No, but thank you for asking.”
“Hey, this is a group thing. I’m not hitting on you again. I swear.”
I sit up. “So the three of you then?”
“Yeah, we want to blow off some steam. And it’s a perfect day for the waterpark.”
I consider it.
Why the heck not? It’s not like sitting around ruminating is going to do anything.
It’s like the other day, when I got all the toppings for my ice cream. You have to live for today, because who knows where you’ll end up the next day?
Every day I thank God that I’m alive after what I’ve been through. Any of those men that my father sent to me could’ve ended my life, and I doubt my father would’ve given a shit.
“You know what? Sure. I’ll go.”
“Should we pick you up?” he asks.
That would require me telling him where I live, which I really don’t want to do.
“No, I’ll just meet you there in an hour.”
“Perfect. See you then.”
I walk into my bedroom and open the drawer where I keep my bathing suits.
I have two one-pieces, three tankinis, and about seven bikinis, including a white string bikini that has never been out of its package.
I brought it from Colombia. Threw it in my suitcase when I was quickly packing to escape my father.
I try it on and step in front of my mirror.
I can’t help it.
I smile. I look darn good. I want Hawk to see me.
He’s probably twenty minutes outside of Austin by now, but I call him anyway.
“Hey, sweetheart. You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah… I… I just need a distraction, and some friends from culinary school invited me to go to Splash Zone.”
“Splash Zone? I haven’t been there in ages.”
“That’s kind of why I’m calling.” I scratch the side of my head. “I mean, there’s not much we can do until Vinnie does his research, right?”
“Honey, you should go. I want you to have fun.”
“I want you to come too,” I say.
“I don’t know your friends, and I—”
“Please, Hawk,” I lower my voice. “Besides, I have this new white string bikini that I’d love for you to see.”
“You drive a hard bargain.” He pauses a moment. Then, “Absolutely. I’m in.”
* * *
Hawk and I arrive at the waterpark a few moments late, and we find Jordan standing near the entrance.
“Daniela, hi.” He looks at Hawk, noticeably miffed. “Hi.”
“Jordan, this is Hawk Bellamy. Hawk, Jordan Jones.”
Hawk and Jordan shake hands. Both of their jaws are rigid.
“Where are Gina and Lavender?” I ask.
“They went to the little girls’ room.” He looks. “Here they come now.”
“Hey, Daniela,” Gina says, smiling. She looks adorable in a white jumpsuit that enhances her dark skin. Lavender is, of course, wearing lavender. The girl knows how to stick to her brand.
“Gina, Lavender, this is Hawk Bellamy.”
Lavender’s jaw nearly drops as she scans him from head to toe.
They all shake hands.
“So there’s a problem then,” Jordan says.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“Most of the rides take two people. So we have an odd number now, and someone will be the odd one out whenever we go on rides.”
“Don’t be silly,” I say. “It’s a waterpark, right? So won’t most of the rides be on big rafts?”
“She’s right,” Lavender says. “This is no big deal.”
“I’m happy to be the odd man out,” Hawk says.
I grab his hand. “No way. You’re my partner on the rides.”
Jordan huffs. “Fine. It’ll all work out. We’ll take turns if we have to.”
His eyes tell a different story though.
A story that haunts me, because it reminds me of the look my father got whenever he found out I was pregnant again with one of his friends’ babies.