Chapter 16 A Measly Bullet
I parked my car in the driveway and quickly jogged up the stairs before making my way into the house.
The living room was toasty, thank God, and as I closed the Dutch door, took off my boots, and began making my way up to my bedroom, I stopped when I saw Av? sitting on the leather couch, just inches shy from the left-side coffee table.
I walked over to him with a smile, and then signed, You’re up late.
He looked at me with an expression I couldn’t put a label on, and then swallowed once. “Where were you the whole day, pequena?” he asked. “The only message you sent me was one during lunchtime, asking me if I’d eaten and taken my medications.”
I grimaced at that. I felt deeply guilty for not having contacted him more throughout the day, and also ashamed to admit that I’d forgotten about it.
Myles and I had spent hours at the French Market, and he’d only driven us to do Acaí twenty minutes ago so that I could get my car and head home.
I knelt in front of Av?, fisted my left hand, and rubbed it in a circular motion across my chest. I’m sorry.
“I called the shop, but Remi said you were out with a friend,” Av? stated. “Carina, where were you?”
I could see it on his face – the plea. He was silently begging me not to confirm his suspicion; quietly asking me to prove him wrong.
Well, I couldn’t.
When I didn’t answer him, his features pinched. “Eu achei que você entendesse e soubesse melhor que isso, Carina,” he said. I thought you knew and understood better than this, Carina.
I worked my jaw when it tingled. I then tapped my chest once, and crescented my hands before turning them upside down and moving them left and right to say, I do.
Av?’s gaze hardened. “Do you really?” he challenged.
I clenched my hands to simmer my frustration at his insistent enmity towards this. I loved him so much, but that didn’t mean I’d let him question my choices as if I were a thumb-sucking infant.
And so, instead of dragging a conversation that would most definitely turn into an argument, I got to my feet, signed Good Night to him, and ran up to my room. Once inside, I shut the door, pulled my phone out of my jeans pocket, and all but collapsed on my bed before sending Myles a text.
Me: He knows I was with you today :’(
Beauty: Will I be shot in the head as soon as I get to your house tomorrow?
I chuckled, and felt myself starting to relax.
Me: Why would you say that?
Beauty: I’ve seen the rifle above your fireplace, Rina.
I bit my lower lip to stop myself from laughing.
Me: And how do you know it’s real? It could very easily be a prop.
Beauty: Because Taron has one just like it. And also because I know what a real gun looks like.
Me: So what, you can’t take a measly bullet for me? And here I thought we were star-crossed lovers.
Beauty: I’ll negotiate and take a wedgie instead, how about that?
I covered my mouth with a hand as I laughed.
Me: Kinky. I like it ;)
Beauty: Pain isn’t kinky :/
Me: It is for a lot of people.
Beauty: Seeing you blush when I touch you is my kink.
I felt heat coursing through my body after reading that.
Me: How did we move from you being afraid of getting your brain blown out, to you flirting with me?
Beauty: I’ll always flirt with you, even if I’m bleeding out at your feet.
I shook my head and smiled.
Me: You’re crazy.
Beauty: I’m blaming the Rum Cakes for my mental dysfunction.
Me: Or maybe the twelve cheese empanadas you had at the Market today.
Beauty: Those were pretty addicting, weren’t they?
Me: And so were your kisses after that. Nothing tastes better than a pair of lips that are smeared with cheese and crispy dough.
Beauty: I love it when you talk dirty to me ;)
I couldn’t help but laugh again.
Me: You think Av? will let you continue working at the house after that?
He didn’t reply instantly, so I sent him another message.
Me: Did you get home alright?
Beauty: Yeah. Sorry for the late response. Mr. Ribeiro was texting me, so I had to get back to him.
My heart pounded in my chest. Why would Av? text Myles?
Me: What did he tell you?
Beauty: He told me where the keys were for when I come in tomorrow. He had to switch its place, because apparently, there’s a cat in your neighborhood that steals things from the sneakiest of places.
I swallowed my relief and quickly texted him back.
Me: Yeah, that’s Jack Sparrow. He’s too stealthy for his own good.
Beauty: You gave him a name?
Me: Kinda. That’s what everyone in the area calls him. He’s been around for a while.
Beauty: But why call him Jack Sparrow?
Me: Because he doesn’t have an eye. His left one was infected after a fight with another cat around four years ago, so everyone in the neighborhood came together to rise money and get him a surgery for it.
Beauty: And he still steals from you guys?
Me: I think it’s his idea of fun. He doesn’t steal anything, per se. He just hides it for a while and then puts it back in its place later.
Beauty: Aww :’)
Me: Yeah. I love him. He’s lovely.
Me: Can I ask you something?
I flipped on my stomach and put a pillow under my chest as I waited for him to reply.
Beauty: Of course.
Me: Why do you think my av? hasn’t canceled your contract yet?
Beauty: Do you want him to?
I clicked my tongue. He sure was slightly louco, that guy.
Me: Of course not, you dummy. I’m just confused, given his reaction on me being out of the shop the entire day just to spend time with you.
He didn’t text back instantly. It made sense that he was just as confused about Av?’s reason behind this as I was.
Beauty: Maybe because he trusts me, knowing that you trust me, too.
Me: I think the trust factor is correct. He knows you’re a good guy, but for some reason, he doesn’t want us to be together.
Beauty: And what do you want, Rina?
My heart raced again, but for an entirely different reason this time.
Me: I don’t wanna let go.
It’s one of the truest things I’ve said – ever. I wanted to try and not give up; I wanted to hope things would turn out great, but not hope too much at the same time.
Beauty: Me too.
I grinned.
Me: I can’t wait to see you in the morning.
Beauty: And I can’t wait to kiss and hold you again.
Instead of replying back with a text, I angled my phone against my face and sent him a selfie.
Beauty: How dare you take the sleep off my eyes by sending me that photo!
I snickered.
Me: I’m so not sorry.
Beauty: I know. You’re evil, plain and simple.
He then sent me a photo of him pouting at the camera. His hair was mused, and he was wearing a grey t-shirt that hugged him snugly.
Me: You really are a beauty, aren’t you?
Beauty: If only you agree to be my Chip.
Me: I thought you’d call me your Gaston.
Beauty: Jeez, woman; I have a preference, and Gaston doesn’t qualify for that.
Me: So you like underage people?
Beauty: That sounds so wrong and morally hurtful.
Me: I’m sorry!!! I was joking :(
Beauty: I know, and you’re forgiven. What I meant was: my type is cute and curious, and you’re both of those things.
Me: What am I, a rabbit?
Beauty: ………
Beauty: We really need to work on your comedic timing. It’s so off the rail that it’s barf-inducing at this point.
I started to laugh, but ended up yawning instead.
Me: I’m tired. And full. And sleepy. Not in the exact order, but still.
Beauty: Ditto. I have a client meeting in the morning, so I have to be up early.
Me: Do people really come to your office at the crack of dawn and ask you to fix their broken shit?
Beauty: More like 8a.m., but yeah.
Me: The dedication, though.
Beauty: I know.
My phone slipped from my hand, and I realized that I’d come close to dozing off and had lost my hold on it.
Me: Okay, off to sleep I go. I almost dropped my phone on my face, and that’s not a good sign.
Beauty: I wish I was there to see that.
Me: Why are you like this?
Beauty: ???
I laughed and shook my head.
Me: Alright, I’m out. Byeeeee ???
Beauty: Look at you being all adorable and upping your emoji game for me.
Me: I have to keep up…
Beauty: I know :)
Beauty: Good night, Rina.
I sighed and turned to my right.
Me: Night-night.