Dalton
~
When I’d gone to open the door, the last thing that I had ever expected was a short woman in her eighties wearing a bright yellow track suit and silver-colored hair sticking up all over the damn place.
I mean, seriously.
Nonetheless, as I’d heard her explain how she’d come right over to check on Leandra because Mariah Rollins was awful, I had become an instant fan, despite the track suit thing.
Plus, I could only hope that I had that much energy when I was in my eighties.
She seemed like she could exhaust the youth right out of a person, but it was hard not to like her quirkiness.
“This is my boyfriend, Dalton Summit,” Leandra answered, trying not to laugh. “Dalton, this is my neighbor, Ms. Elena Ruiz.”
The older woman immediately scowled. “Wait...I’ve seen you around before, no?”
“Leandra and I have been friends for a few years already,” I replied before walking over to take her hand. “It’s a pleasure to officially meet you Ms. Ruiz.”
She tittered as I kissed the back of her hand. “Oh, my...well, it’s nice to meet you, young man.”
Straightening, then stepping back a bit, I said, “Well, I’m in dire need of some coffee, so I’ll leave you ladies to it.”
Then, just like that, I was completely forgotten. “So, what was your mother about this time?”
“Oh, no,” Leandra rushed out. “You’re going to have a seat, then explain to me why you were sending Ruben on his way.”
“Well, surely that can wait,” Ms. Ruiz replied, bristling a bit. “I’m here to make sure that you’re okay, dear.”
Though it was probably rude as hell to listen to them as I made my coffee, I couldn’t help it. Ms. Ruiz was very animated, and I found it entertaining as hell.
“Would either of you ladies care for some fresh coffee?” I called back as I set the coffeemaker to brew.
“Thank you, no,” Leandra answered like I knew that she would. Though she wasn’t a stranger to the caffeinated monster that was coffee, she didn’t drink it as regularly as I did.
“How kind of you to ask, but I’ll pass,” Ms. Ruiz replied. “I’m more of a tea kind of person.”
I turned to face her, making a mental note of that little factoid. “What kind of tea?”
“Well, I don’t like to be picky, but I prefer Bellocq White Wedding Tea if it’s available,” she said, looking like she’d love a cup right now. “There’s just something so soothing about tea, don’t you think?”
“I haven’t had a whole lot of experience with tea, so I’ll just have to take your word for it,” I told her, tossing her a quick wink just to see her blush.
“Enough about tea and coffee,” Leandra said. “I’m waiting for an explanation about Ruben.”
“Who’s Ruben?” I asked, clearly just to be nosey.
Instead of Ms. Ruiz answering, Leandra was the one to explain. “He’s Ms. Elena’s current beau, and he’s having issues with Trent Tutelage sitting next to Ms. Elena on the bus whenever they ride together.”
“As any good man would,” I remarked seriously. “If Ruben isn’t doing everything that he can to protect the gem that he has, then he’s not the man for you.”
Ms. Ruiz tittered again, and it really was sweet. “Oh, look at you.”
“Ruben also wants to make things between them a little more serious, but Ms. Elena is playing hard to get,” Leandra went on, a sly grin on her face.
“I am not,” Ms. Ruiz denied. “I’m simply...well, it’s not the thing to rush into a relationship quickly, you know.”
“Ms. Elena, you’ve been dating Ruben for months,” Leandra pointed out. “I’d hardly call that rushing into anything quickly.”
“I don’t know, baby,” I said, seeing if I was reading Ms. Ruiz’s situation correctly. “If I lost you too early, I can’t say that anything after that would ever really feel right.”
Leandra’s blue eyes widened a bit as soon as she finally realized how she might have been reading the situation wrong all this time.
I mean, it was one thing to date after being widowed, but it was quite another thing to replace the love of your life in every aspect, and lots of times, older couples chose to stay single with their memories.
I could see loneliness making Ms. Ruiz get back out there, but it was clear that her heart still belonged to her deceased husband.
Even from the distance of the kitchen I could see Leandra’s eyes glisten a bit. “Yeah, I can’t imagine anyone else ever making me feel the way that you do.”
“Well, I can tell you that a person may experience many loves in their lifetime, but you only get a true love once, and I’ve had mine,” Ms. Ruiz said. “As much as I adore Ruben, he needs to accept that he will never amount to anything more than what he is right now.”
“Have you told him that?” Leandra asked quietly.
“No,” Ms. Ruiz sighed. “But he’s leaving me no choice. Cruel to be kind is what it’s going to have to be, I suppose.”
I watched Leandra place her hand on Ms. Ruiz’s knee as she said, “Or else Ruben will completely understand, seeing as how he’s been widowed himself.”
My chest hurt a little as I watched their interaction because I couldn’t believe how badly I had misjudged Leandra all these years.
I had accused her of being shallow, conceited, and vain, but it was clear that she was none of those things.
Leandra Rollins had a good heart, and I’d been too stupid and self-absorbed to see it.
I had let jealousy cloud my vision, and all because I’d been convinced that I’d never be able to have her.
I really was a jackass.
Luckily, I’d been given the chance to make it up to her, and I planned on spending the rest of my life doing just that. She really did make me want to be a better man for her, and I wanted to give her all the things that no one else had ever been able to give her.
“You know, I think you ladies could do with a nice relaxing pedicure this afternoon,” I said, meaning it. Love was always a heavy topic, and it could ruin the entire day if you let it.
“Oh, I can’t recall the last time that my feet were tended to,” Ms. Ruiz cooed. “I mean, I’ll paint them when I can, but I haven’t had a pedicure in ages.”
“Then maybe Ruben isn’t the man for you,” I teased. “After all, what kind of man doesn’t treat his girl to pedicures?”
“Well, the kind that isn’t certain of where he stands would be my guess,” she sighed, taking responsibility for her role in the mess that she’d found herself in.
“Never mind that,” Leandra said, patting her knee. “We’ll get the works, and it’ll be my treat.”
Even though it was an innocent remark, it was also a swift reminder that Leandra’s financial worth would always be greater than mine, and I was very aware that it was something that I was just going to have to get used to.
Nevertheless, I made more than enough money to be able to afford pedicures for my girl, not to mention the sweet lady who really rocked track suits like nobody’s business.
“Yeah, no,” I said, not caring how chauvinistic my next words might sound. “It was my idea, so I’ll be treating, and I don’t want to hear any arguments about it.”
“Oh, what a gentleman,” Ms. Ruiz fluttered, and had she any idea of the things that I’d done to Leandra last night, she wouldn’t be saying that now.
“He’s something alright,” Leandra muttered, though not low enough for me not to hear her.
“And maybe Ruben wouldn’t mind having a coffee with me while we wait on you ladies,” I suggested. I mean, if Ms. Ruiz was this important to Leandra, then only an asshole wouldn’t take a personal interest in her also.
Ms. Ruiz looked back at Leandra as she said, “Oh, I think we have a keeper here, dear.”
“Which is a good thing since she’s never getting rid of me now,” I snorted, serious as a heart attack.
Leandra just smiled at me, and if she could just smile at me like that for the rest of my life, I’d die a happy man.
It reached her bright blue eyes, made her cheeks pink, and she looked like she was fucking glowing, and I wanted to keep that look on her face permanently.
Though I knew that it was an impossible dream, I wanted Leandra to never have another bad day in her life.
“Well, it just so happens that I don’t want to get rid of you, so sounds like it’s working out for everyone,” she quipped.
“Okay, in addition to coffee, I need a shower and to check out a few things on my schedule,” I informed them both. “So, how about you ladies do your thing, then call me when you’re ready for your pedicures?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Ms. Ruiz replied eagerly. “I’ll even call Ruben to let him know that we have plans today.”
Hopefully, Ruben liked to talk sports.