Chapter 13 Rosa
ROSA
Iwake up to the sun lighting up the room and sheets rustling beside me. I don’t want to open my eyes yet, as my body is screaming for more rest, but when a hand snakes up from my leg to my waist and fingers dig under my shirt, my eyes pop open.
For a moment, I contemplate between screaming in his face and going back to sleep, trying to gaslight myself that it’s just a dream, that I’m not actually lying in the same bed as Mateo Acosta; his hands are not around my waist, my hands are not on his chest, and his woody, citrus scent isn’t invading any of my senses.
Did something happen? Why am I here? Better question: why are we both in Nathan’s bed, and where is he?
I haven’t been to this place before, but I often FaceTimed him when he was home.
And I know a One Direction fan when I see one.
It would be hard not to notice the giant cardboard cutout of Niall peeking out of his closet.
I only remember that Mateo was being weird to me after he was the one who ruined my outfit. Then I ran into Kyle, who was much much nicer, then… I puked. But I know that wasn’t in the bar. That’s it. So basically, I remember nothing. Thanks, brain.
The man beside me creeps closer, and his hold tightens. Oh dear Jesus, he’s about to wake up. I quickly close my eyes, hoping he won’t notice that I’m fully fucking awake.
“Buenos días, carino.” A deep, raspy morning voice spiced with the hottest accent fills my ears, and my cheeks turn red instantly. Well, there goes me being mysterious. I slowly open my eyes, and I see his sleepy eyes already locking onto mine. “How did you sleep? How are you feeling?”
“Did we have sex?”
He bursts out laughing at my question. I don’t know what’s so funny, asshole. I just want to know if I should bury myself right away, or I should be relieved.
“Are you sore?” Why do people have to answer a question with a question?
“No,” I answer simply.
“There’s your answer.” I furrow my eyebrows at his nonchalant response.
“What the hell does that mean?” I ask with a slightly raised voice. I lift my hand from his chest to punctuate my annoyance, but with a gentle grab, he pulls it right back to where it was.
“You’d be sore if we were together, Rosa.
You’ll remember every single thing when I have my way with you.
” He puts his hand back on my waist, resuming the soothing circles he started before I made a complete idiot of myself.
“Nothing happened, I promise. You were…under an influence, and Nathan and I brought you here. Then you puked, and you went to shower, and you kissed me, and I kissed you back. But nothing else happened.”
Okay, so we’re back to burying myself into the core of Earth, cause I’d be damned if this wasn’t the most embarrassing thing to hear. “Was I…flirty?”
“Very. Oh, and you shoved your breasts in my face. You should do that again, sometime, when you feel like it.”
“Excuse me.” He chuckles and tightens his hold around me when I try to get up.
“Where are you planning to go?”
“To the toilet. I’ll try to flush myself down to Diagon Alley, buy a wand, come back, and obliviate all your memories from last night.” He bursts out laughing again. He’s laughing at me for the second time this morning. I don’t like it.
“Please don’t. I don’t want to forget about those perfect tits ever.”
“What? These tiny balloons?” I snort. “Please. You don’t have to suck up to me.”
“Oh, I would gladly do that. And don’t talk about your balloons that way. They’re the perfect size.” I can’t take it anymore. My face is burning from embarrassment. I duck my head into the blanket and try to suppress the sound of Mateo’s laugh, cause again, he’s laughing at me.
“Would you please stop laughing at me? It’s not funny.
I’m an adult, and last night I acted like a horny teenager.
” His laugh only turns louder after I say this, and I feel a lump forming in my throat.
Yes, I’m an adult, but I still can’t take it when people are openly laughing about my embarrassment.
He gently lifts my head, and his smile drops when he sees the tears swelling in my eyes. Am I ovulating or what the hell? Am I really about to cry over this ridiculous thing?
“I’m sorry.” He starts stroking my cheeks in a soothing way, and the lump slowly dies down.
“Look, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.
You are very desirable, Rosa. I found all of those things you did hot and sexy, not at all cringeworthy or humiliating.
I was contemplating taking you to the bedroom a lot of times. ”
“But you didn’t.” I try to look down, but he’s not letting my head fall.
“Let me finish. I only rejected you because I want you to be sober when you’re saying yes to me.
I want you to fully feel what I’m doing to you, and what you’re doing to me, and that you actually like it.
” He smiles so sweetly at me, and my heart turns into a puddle.
There are really men out there like this nowadays?
“Okay. Thank you.” He nods, and I smile back at him. I am genuinely grateful. He didn’t take advantage of my state, and he still found me hot, even when I was puking into a damn bowl. Now that’s what I call a superpower.
“Good. Now, I’m gonna take a shower, but wait for me here, okay? Don’t sneak out. I’ll cook something for us. If Nathan has anything in the fridge, that is.”
I chuckle and respond with an okay. I was thinking of sneaking out after this absolutely mortifying conversation, but I changed my mind. I’ll give it a chance, see if this will lead anywhere. Into his pants, hopefully.
After he closes the bathroom door and starts running the water, I immediately search for my phone.
I have to call Lana and announce who I shared a bed with, and if she thinks I should grab my stuff and leave as soon as I can or not.
And also, I should check on Nathan too. I’m getting concerned about him.
We slept in his house, and he did not come home. I hope he’s okay.
After I find my phone under the bed, I check if there’s anything urgent. I see missed calls and unread messages from a lot of people. I see Ivy’s worried messages, so I decide to call her first.
“Hey, Ivy, it’s me, Rosa.” I did an awful thing last night, and I really hope she will forgive me. She told us we can drink and have fun, that she’ll take it from there, but I crossed the line.
“Rosa! Oh, thank god. You’re alive. How are you?” She sounds relieved.
“Well, aside from a headache, I’m okay. I just feel bad about what I did.
You gave us the go-ahead to have fun, but I drank too much.
This was a mistake on my end, so I’m sorry if I messed up the night and let you down.
” It’s quiet on the other end of the line for a while.
I’m about to ask if she’s still there, but then I hear her voice.
“I gave you the go-ahead to have fun because all of you worked your ass off for days, weeks, and months beforehand. After midnight, I was good with less staff, because everything was settled. There’s nothing to be sorry for, I’m just glad you’re okay.
” She’s too forgiving. She treated me like a long-lost friend when I first arrived two weeks ago.
“You hired me for a job, and I didn’t finish it. Why are you so forgiving?”
“You did your job, Rosa. We finished it. It’s not your fault that you were drugged.” For a moment, my brain doesn’t comprehend what she just said.
“But I—Whoa, wait. I was what?”
“The guys who took you home, they were talking about how you might have been drugged, and that’s why it hit you so hard.” Oh my god. So it wasn’t the alcohol. I knew I wasn't a lightweight.
“I’m sorry. I’m gonna have to call you back, Ivy.” I need to think this through. I need a moment.
“Of course. We’ll talk later, alright? Thank you again for your hard work, Rosa. See you.” I mutter a quiet yeah before I drop my phone on the bed and just stare in front of me. I was possibly drugged.
This is hitting me hard. Someone made sure I drank a lot so they could’ve taken advantage of that. They wanted to rape me.