Chapter Seven
By the end of the first month since they started talking, they had fallen into a routine. Phone calls between work and school. Late night chats keeping them both awake into the wee hours of the morning. Aurelio asked about her day, listening to the highs and lows. She told him about her coworkers, Mac and Flory. He listened eagerly, taking in every word like gospel. She would ask him about his day but he would always respond with simple ‘Work is boring, tell me about you.’ Or ‘I would rather listen to your voice then hear mine.’
Work and school always sucked; Mia was convinced. After all her late nights spent juggling classes and shifts, she was certain nothing could be worse. But the phone calls and text had added a ray of sunshine to other wise mundane tasks. The joy that would build in her belly as he shifts came to an end or when her class would let out had created her wearing a smile more often then not.
Her feet screamed in protest as she climbed the stairs to her loft. Aurelio hadn’t said a much while she cleaned the diner and closed. Mac had stayed with her again, the kid refusing to let her lock up alone. It had all started about 2 weeks ago. Out of nowhere, he’d appeared at the end of her shift, long after his own had ended. She had been mid phone call with Aurelio, although the call had been interrupted when Flory had left, Aurelio hanging up for a few while she said goodbye and chatted with the older woman. When she was alone again, only a few patrons remaining anyway, Aurelio had called back. Earbuds in while she cleaned and finished handing out checks before locking the door, she had set down silverware to begin polishing. Mac had rolled in suddenly as Aurelio was telling her about a recent car show he had been too. She had given mac a raised eyebrow, telling Aurelio she would call back later when Mac gave her a little ‘Don’t mind me’ hand gesture and slid into the booth with the silverware and began to polish while she bussed the last few tables.
At first, Mia thought he was just bored, hoping to snag a free meal from either her, which both she and Flory always offered anytime he rolled in. But when she dropped the food he just smiled and mouthed a silent thank you. She raised a brow again and shrugged. When his plate was empty and he lingered for another 45 minutes, she finally asked, “What’s up?”
“Oh,” he stammered, a flush creeping across his pale, pimpled face, hands diving into the almost empty tub of silverware. “I figured I’d just hang out until you’re done and help you lock up.” Confusion stalled Mia’s response, so she shrugged and continued her work. Mia had thought it weird, telling Aurelio about it as she finished her side work. But he said it was great; he was glad she wasn’t alone in the diner and had someone to see her to her car safety.
From then on, whether scheduled or not, Mac was there, helping her clean and lock up. She eventually convinced him to stop working on nights he wasn’t clocked in—no sense in giving David, their manager, free labor when he was usually such a jerk.
The night had gone much the same, but as Mia trudged up the last few steps, the bright lights of her floor stinging her tired eyes, she felt disappointed. Aurelio had to hang up early and Mac had flown out the door behind her, his lights trailing off before she was even buckled. Her mind was too tired to think hard on it but she was hopefully to hear from Aurelio later, hopefully before she fell asleep.
Suddenly, a shuffling sound sent a jolt of adrenaline through her. She froze, peering over the top step on the last set of stairs before her floor. Tufts of blonde hair drew closer, loud footsteps accompanying the approaching figure. Torn between bolting back down the stairs and her mind screaming that she was overreacting, she stayed still as the face came into view.
“Hi there,” greeted a handsome, tall man with long blond hair that hung partially over his deep green eyes.
Mia forced a smile and ascended the final steps to the landing.
“You wouldn’t happen to be Terry, would you?” he asked, his smile widening.
Mia let out an awkward laugh, shaking her head. “No, god no! Terry’s a sixty-something bald, fat man.” She looked herself up and down before meeting his gaze. “I don’t think I fit that description.”
“No,” he chuckled, a light sound from his full lips. “You definitely do not.”
Heat flooded Mia’s cheeks as his eyes roamed over her, making her acutely self-conscious in her classic 50s diner uniform that David had forced them to wear.
“I’m Mia.” She extended her hand, breaking his gaze as she tried to shake off her discomfort.
“Oh, right. Pleasantries.” He grasped her hand firmly, and she matched his grip as best she could, shaking it politely, just as her dad had taught her.
“I’m Oliver.”
She smiled again, releasing his hand, but his fingers lingered, sending a shiver up her spine as he caressed her fingers before letting go slowly. Caught in his gaze, she felt like a fish ensnared by a shark.
“Well, if you’re looking for Terry, he lives one floor up,” she said, pointing to the stairs behind her. “But it’s late for him to be expecting company.” Mia pulled out her phone, the screen illuminating the late hour—close to 11 PM, far too late for anyone not living in the building to be out.
“I worked a second shift at the station, so this is the only time I could meet,” Oliver explained, leaning casually against the wall.
Mia was acutely aware of the stairs behind her and the way he boxed her in with his presence. Steeling herself, she mustered a polite smile and attempted to move around him. Undeterred, Oliver fell into step beside her.
“Terry said to come by as soon as I was off,” he continued as they walked toward the doors.
“Well, like I said, he’s one floor up.” She reached the doorway and paused, a sudden instinct stopping her from revealing her loft. Following her gut, she pivoted to face him directly, turning toward Janet’s door instead.
“May I ask why you’re coming in so late?” she asked, projecting a bravery she didn’t feel. All she really wanted was to bolt into her loft and lock the door behind her.
“Yeah, I’m looking at the lofts,” he said, leaning closer. His breath was warm against her ear as he pointed to the door next to hers. “That loft right there.”
Mia didn’t need to look. She closed her eyes for a moment, overwhelmed by his cologne as he stepped back. Opening her eyes, she forced a smile, though her cheeks were tired of the effort.
“That’s great,” she said, a bit too loudly. “Well, I’m sure Terry will be down…”
As if summoned, the heavy sound of Terry’s footsteps echoed on the stairs. Oliver turned to see him as he rounded the last few steps, panting from exertion.
“Evening, Mia,” Terry greeted, his breaths coming in short bursts. “You must be Oliver.” He reached out a plump hand spotted with age. As the two shook hands, Mia seized the opportunity to slide her key into her door. She opened it quickly and quietly, slipping inside in one smooth motion. As she went to close it, a hand shot out to stop her.
Oliver stood there, that same smile beaming down at her. “Leaving so soon?” he asked, his voice dripping with sweetness.
“Yes,” Mia replied, clipping her words as her temper flared. “Good night.”
She pulled hard, feeling his grip tighten against the door. In that brief moment, as he relented and released it, she swore she heard him murmur, “See you soon.”
Inside, Mia shook off the bad vibes and made her way to the bathroom. She reached for her phone, fingers hitting Aurelios number without her even thinking. On the second ring he answered.
“Hello, Beautiful.” He called, his nickname filling her with glee, the earlier tension fading.
“Hello Aurelio.” She responded, her clothes hitting the bathroom floor. She turned the knob on the tub, the gently trickling of water sounding as she dipped a toe in.
“Ahh, tub time huh?” Aurelio said, “My favorite time.” He gave a little laugh, deep and mischievous. Mia let her body fall into the tub as she gave a simple ‘mmhmm’ as response.
“Sorry for hanging up earlier, was looking like a job I have lined up for tomorrow was not going to happen.” He said, a deep sigh escaping. “Anything happen while I was occupied?”
“Not really.” She said, biting her bottom lip as she felt the unease of her recent interaction settle back in. “Just a weird moment in the hall.” She looked to the open bathroom door, to the loft door beyond and felt the moment come back. The nerves and unease from the stranger outside it. She wished she had closed the bathroom door, something she never did.
“Tell me about it.” Aurelio said, not really asking.
“There was a guy outside my loft.” She pictured Oliver again. “He was looking at the lofts he said, but its so late.”
“Really?” Aurelio said, his tone shifting from the light one he had begun with. “Yeah. It’s almost midnight.” She heard shuffling from his end. “What did he look like?”
“Tall, around my age I would say.” She drew up his image. “Blonde hair, green eyes.” She heard a humph from Aurelio and focused back on the phone.
“Did he give you a name?” Aurelio asked, the sounds of papers rustling in the background
“Oliver, I think” she stopped the faucet, the quiet of her loft settling around her. “He was, I don’t know. Nice?” “Is that a question?” Aurelio asked, but his usually ease was gone. “Did he do anything?”
“No. just, the way he looked at me.” Mia gave a shiver in the warm water. “He was like a wolf looking at a sheep.”
“Well,” Aurelio began but Mia didn’t want to spend any more brain power on it.
“Don’t worry about it. He’s gone and we are here.” She splashed the tub water around, hoping Aurelio would perk up.
“Yes, we are.” His voice was deeper. She felt a shift below the water, her thighs giving a little ache. Over the few weeks they had been talking, they had skirted around playfully. Neither had committed to taking talk further then that, talk.
“How’s the water?” his voice was like velvet, deep soft and soothing. She closed her eyes, lips parting as she spoke quietly.
“A little cold.” She said, the warmth not enough to quell the goosebumps on her arms. “Empty.” She bit her lip as she breathed the last word out.
“hmm.” She heard the deep rumble from his chest. “Send me a picture.” The words hung in the air, the dare. She felt her eyes open, her mind frozen as she took the phone from her ear. Without a second thought, a moment to reconsider, she snapped a picture. She looked at it, her legs poking out of the water, the bubbles hiding what was under the surface. She smiled coyly and hit send. Another, deeper, rumble sounded as Aurelio groaned.
“Fuck I hate bubbles.” She heard him say, a laugh escaping her lips. She waited, the silence growing as she heard Aurelio’s footsteps. She heard a door close and then he spoke again.
“Mia.” His voice was deep and lucious, she felt it vibrate through the phone and straight into her body.
“Yes, Aurelio.” She tried to keep her voice even, nerves causing her bite down to hard on her lip. She gave an exhale as the pain brought her back to center.
“I want you,” he spoke softly, the growl low in his throat as he spoke. “drag your fingertips up your leg.” Mia felt her fingers move as the words registered. Slowly, she let her fingers graze her skin, her knees poking above the water as she slid her fingers up. She felt the goosebumps on her skin as she relished this touch.
“now what do you want me to do?” she barely spoke, her throat tight as she reached her upper thighs.
“Keep going.” She heard him grunt once, her fingers brushing the edge of slit. She let one dip in, a soft gasp escaping her lips as she did.
“ohh, Mia.” Aurelio said as she let another gasp slip free, her fingers working the inside of her pussy, her clit throbbing with need.
“Aurelio.” She breathed, his own grunts and moans climbing down the line to her. She felt her need rise higher, desire and lust taking over as she took a deep breath.
“Scream Beautiful.” Aurelio said as she peaked, her cries ringing out as he let out a deep cry of his own. She felt her mind float down, reality settling in around her, she sat up, the phone next to her, still on speaker.
“Mia?” she heard Aurelio call after a moment. “Are you still there?” there was an edge of something there, worry maybe.
“I’m here.” She said, her head light. “That was.” She began, pausing as the tension rose.
“Perfect.” Aurelio said, filling the gap. “At least for me, I hope it was for you too.” She felt her smile return, the dirty truth hanging there.
“That was perfect.” She repeated, a sweet laugh escaping Aurelio as she giggled herself.