Circumstances

"Why didn't you offer to walk her home?"

I concentrated on not breaking the spiraling apple peel as I got closer and closer to a naked apple. Gigi used to say if you could peel an apple in one sleeve, your wishes were bound to come through. "Ronald came to pick her up."

"Shiiit." Gigi sucked her teeth, as she reapplied the sunscreen on her veiny tanned legs.

"Watch your mouth old lady." I said as I proudly placed the one sleeve apple peel back in the bin to add to our compost pile back home.

"Ronald's been chasing every new women that flies by this way for the past 5 years. None of them successful. This lady won't be also."

I cut a slice of the apple and reached across to put in my Gigi's mouth. "Mind your business." I cut myself a slice and bit into the sweet fiji apple we grew in our own backyard. I had planted it myself with Gigi when I was 10, with nothing more than a hope and a dream. It was nice to taste the fruits of our labor.

"Turn around, let me put some sunscreen on your back."

I did as I was told, my back turned as I continued cutting up apple slices. I could feel the cold sunscreen, squirting on my back, before the warm fragile bony hands of Gigi spread them across. I reached a slice up and felt her teeth graze my fingers briefly as she accepted the piece.

"Wouldn't you prefer it was a nice pretty lady putting this sunscreen on instead of my ancient ass?"

I chuckled. "I would." I readjusted my hat and sunglasses, before reaching out for her pills and a bottle water. "Here you've had some apples, take your pills."

I felt the sting of my grandmother's slap on my back, as she sucked her teeth again.

"Always telling me to take some damn pills. Give it here." She wiped the rest of the sunscreen on her arms and opened her mouth as I inserted the 3 pills and put the bottle of water to her lips.

I watched and waited for her to open her mouth to show she'd swallowed everything. Her gold canine tooth glistened in the sun. I smirked and leaned over to kiss her warm forehead. Gigi was born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, before immigrating to the states when she was 5. Her, her sister and her mother spent about 15 years of their life in Detroit, before she moved West Coast to LA and met my Grandfather.

Gigi's frail hand pressed against my chest as she looked up at me firmly. "I'm serious Lan. I don't want to be the reason why, you're not chasing these girls out here."

I sighed and released her. "You're not."

She sucked her teeth like she always did as she adjusted her straw hat. "Then what is it? When we saw her at the supermarket, I haven't seen you stare at a woman for that long since you were just a little hornball."

I chuckled and laid down on the mat. Taking off my hat, I used it to shield my face from the beating sun and closed my eyes.

"She's not a little girl Gigi." I sighed. "She's a grown woman."

"And what are you?"

"She's too good for me." I replied. She intrigued me. What was a clearly smart, well-off woman doing working part-time at a convenience store? She was way overqualified for the position. In fact, I'm sure she could have easily applied for Jeff's position and gotten it. She used to work in an office. Said she got bored of a desk job and just moved. She was elusive, she was smart, and seemed financially stable. I mean she was living in the Rosewood apartments, and that meant she was able to put down a 6-month deposit on a 2k a month condo. Her part-time job of $18 an hour must just be to pass the time.

What would a 25-year old high-school dropout have to offer a woman like that? I sighed again and closed my eyes. At least in my dreams she wanted me. And I was okay with that.

"What have I told you?" Gigi asked. "Keep believing she's too good for you and she will be."

She's just right for me. This woman made everything about me race. She was kind and friendly. She was also a tease and a flirt. She stared at you like she knew you. Like she could peer into your soul.

I knew people found it hard to look me in the eye, so I made it easier on them by not looking at them. But she always seemed to want to make eye contact, and it didn't feel like it was simply to gawk or gush on my eye. But to acknowledge that she sees me. That she is seeing...me. I inhaled sharply and put my hand on my sun-kissed abs, My finger tracing the ridges of the firm muscles.

It would be nice if---feeling myself twitch, I immediately stopped my train of thought. I wasn't going to use my imagination and get a hard-on with my granny reading beside me. Time for a no.

I don't know when I had drifted off to sleep, or how long I'd been sleeping, but I was slowly coming back to. Gigi's laughter filled my ears as I groaned and sat up. Removing the cap from my face, I was thankful to still have my sunglasses on as the sun still shined intensely. I put the cap on my head and stretched, with a nice satisfying moan.

"There goes sleeping beauty." Gigi teased.

It was the soft chuckle that followed that made me whirl around to notice there was somebody else. I blinked, as my lips parted.

Was I still dreaming?

Aquina smiled warmly, "Hey."

I swallowed hard and straightened up as I readjusted my cap. "Hey." I lowered my gaze.

"I saw your coworker with her mat and asked her to join us. We got the best section on the beach."

I nodded as I turned to look in the beach bag, to try and occupy my mind. I've seen her at the beach before, always from afar. Her body was nice. Her skin always shining and smooth. She looked great in a bikini and today was no exception. Except today she was sitting much closer than she ever had. With my one glance I had captured her image in my head. She had slightly oversized black cat frame glasses. She wore a yellow two-piece bikini, that hugged her just right. Her stomach adorned with green waist beads, wasn't flat, but nor was it too protruding. I wanted to rest my hand on the slightly pudgy flesh and squeeze it before lowering--- FUCK, FUCK , fuck... calm down.

"I hope you don't mind." Aquina spoke up.

I shook my head, looking in the bag as if I had trouble finding the sunscreen that was staring right up at me.

"Of course he doesn't mind." Gigi exclaimed. "He's been telling me----"

"Gigi, can you get my back." I called out loudly as I quickly grabbed the sunscreen to shut her up.

I could see Gigi's light brown eyes overlaid with glaucoma twinkle in amusement. I widened my eyes to her, my jaws locked as I put some sunscreen on my hand and applied it across my chest. For a moment, I was distracted from chastising Gigi as I saw Aquina's eyes follow the movement of my hand across my body.

Thank God for these slightly large swim trunks. Her gaze shifted lower, and I immediately bent slightly to apply some to my thighs and legs. Bending made my semi-erection less visible as it scrunched up the shorts. I quickly checked myself.

"Oh Lan, these arthritis hands of mine." Gigi sighed moving her small fingers.

I lifted my head to my grandmother in surprise. Was she really going to do this? We held each other's gaze silently communicating.

Stop.

But this is so fun.

Gigi stop.

Wouldn't you rather she do it?

"Uhm...I could help." Aquina spoke up.

I swallowed hard.

"Oh would you dear?" Gigi asked.

Aquina nodded and smiled. "Yeah sure."

"Okay while you help my grandson, I'm gonna head on over to the restroom, man this old bladder isn't what it used to be." She groaned as she tried to get up.

"Gigi..." I whispered as I quickly stood up to reach for her arm, to assist her. I saw Aquina had also reached out. "I'll come---"

She smacked my arm. "I can go piss by myself thank you." she reached for her cane and turned sweetly to Aquina. "He's worse than an old man, always nagging."

Aquina giggled as my grandmother waved at her and took her time to slowly make her way towards the boardwalk. We watched her limp for a while, even with the aid of the cane.

I sighed and turned back to catch Aquina watching me.

"It's cute how much you care for your grandmother."

I sighed and sat down, my legs, bent, feet flat on the mat, allowing my reaction to her presence to be concealed. "She's a pain in the ass."

Aquina chuckled and moved closer on her knees and reached over. Her arm stretched, elongating her frame, she picked up the bottle of sunscreen. She gave me a sneak peek of what her body looked like in that position. What a great sight. Her dark brown ass up, covered with the thin yellow swimsuit material. Her waist beads reflected the sun. I could see the vine and flower tattoo from the back of her neck, down her spine to stop right by the birthmark above her round, if-it-was-slapped-would-surely-jiggle ass.

Fuck. I bit down on my bottom lip. Fuck, I really should have masturbated this morning. I lowered my eyes and took a deep breath.

Stop acting like a teenage boy. I adjusted my sun glasses and my cap.

"Do you still want some help with the sunscreen?" she offered as she sat up on her knees.

Did she have any idea what that position was doing to me?

"Uhm no, it's okay, you don't have to." I replied, only after the words were out, did I realize I was mostly mumbling.

"It's no problem. I'll help you protect your skin."

She moved behind me and I could feel her presence even before she touched me. I hugged my knees loosely as I waited in anticipation. I licked my bottom lip and stared out at the sea as I felt the cool cream and the pressure of her firm hands on my warm back. She massaged the cream up my back and shoulder, pressing at all the right pressure points. My toes curled slightly. She moved her hands down my spine, spreading her fingers to touch my side, rubbing right above my waist band and moving back up.

I closed my eyes and regulated my breathing. My heart was pounding but she didn't need to know that.

Inhale slowly, exhale slowly.

"You have a nice strong back." she whispered.

"Thanks." Was the only reply I could offer. There was no point in denying the obvious, I was going to accept it, endure the difficulty of the rush of blood between my legs, and calmly wait for it to go away. It would have been so much easier if her fingers didn't feel amazing against my skin. Imagine if she moved to the front, Running those hands down my chest, tracing my abs softly as she rubbed in the cream, sliding her hand lower, brushing over the fine hair as she dipped lower--- I abruptly pulled away from her and turned.

Even with her glasses on, I saw her brows furrow slightly as though confused. "Are you okay?" she asked. Her hands, shiny from the remnants of the lotion.

"Yeah." I nodded. "Thank---thank you."

"Ticklish?" she offered up gently as we stared at each other through our sunglasses. She was offering me a way out from the awkwardness.

"A little." I took the peace offering.

She smiled and moved away from me to her mat. She turned and opened her beach bag, and I used that opportunity to adjust my swim trunks. I couldn't lower my legs. Not right now. The tent was too obvious.

"Can you do me?" She asked, turning and showing me her sunscreen. "I haven't reapplied since I left the house and I barely ever manage to get some on my back."

I nodded as I watched her squirt the white cream on her hand. I closed my eyes behind my sunglasses.

God, help me.

I was able to calm myself down. The full erection going back down to a semi, which was fine as I was behind her and out of sight. I applied the sunscreen all over her back lightly, resisting the urge to trace my fingers along her tattoos. I watched as she applied the sunscreen to her arm and legs and stomach.

"Also, if I'm intruding, please let me know okay." Aquina spoke up calmly. "I truly don't mind. I did get here when you were sleeping."

"You're not."

"Your grandmother is really sweet and funny." Aquina's smile revealed the slightest dimple in her left cheek. "And surprisingly hood."

"She is." I agreed with a chuckle as I continued rubbing her back. I should stop, the sunscreen was almost gone. Her smooth dark skin glistened in the sun. It literally seemed to shimmer like an undiscovered jewel. With hesitant fingers, I slowly traced the orangish red poppy flower near her shoulder.

"You can press a little harder you know." Aquina spoke up. "I really don't mind."

"Okay." I snapped out of my daze and resumed massaging the cream into her body. She never asked for my fingers to wander all over her back. Focus. I pressed my palm firmly against her, with the same pressure she'd done to me earlier.

I watched her face from the side and saw the slight upwards tilt of a smile. I could see through her sunglasses the partially darkened beach. It felt like looking at life through her eyes for just a moment. I smiled.

"Thank you." She whispered.

I nodded. "No problem. Your skin is really soft."

What the fuck? Why did I just say that?

I stopped and lifted my hand off her back. What the hell?

Aquina looked back at me and chuckled. "Thanks. And you have a really great body." She turned around and put her sunscreen back. "I kind of low-key knew it." she stated. I sat down behind her and stared at her. My heart racing.

If you think she's too good for you, than she'll always be too good for you. Now. Now's the moment to say something. You'll chicken out after if you don't. "Uh...I was wondering-----"

"Aquina! Hey! Over here!"

Ronald waved eagerly from a distance, his mat in his arms. I watched as Aquina lifted her hand and waved. Ronald beamed as he rushed over to us.

"You know how to swim don't you?" Aquina whispered as she stared at Ronald making his way over, tripping over a couple's beach umbrella.

"Yeah."

She turned to face me. "I wish I had been a little more confident in asking you for swimming lessons." she replied sheepishly.

Swimming lessons? I looked behind her to Ronald grinning stupidly. He dropped his mat excitedly and immediately began pulling off his shirt.

"Sorry, I'm late." He talked excitedly. "But I'm here and---"

"I already started lessons with her." I spoke up abruptly.

Ronald froze with his shirt halfway off. Aquina turned to me; her mouth dropped open. She pushed her sunglasses partially down her nose and stared at me, an eyebrow arched with a small smirk appearing on her brownish pink lips.

I continued. "I told her I would teach her since you weren't here." I lifted my head to Ronald, who finished taking off his shirt and darted his eyes between Aquina and myself, his smile not as confident as before.

As if on cue, Aquina turned to Ronald and smiled up at him guiltily.

"You know I've been a lifeguard since I was 16 Ronald, so it just makes a little more sense." I added.

"A lifeguard..." Aquina repeated with a slight nod.

"Oh...okay...well I could...."

"I'm sorry for always troubling you." Aquina spoke up quickly as she gently touched Ronald's hand. "You don't have to worry about giving me lessons. Lan's doing a great job, you enjoy your weekend."

"Oh I don't mind." Ronald replied as he took off his shoe. "I can take over—-"

Aquina turned to me, and I shot up and extended my hand. "Wanna go for round 3?" I asked. "We'll work on your floating again."

Aquina nodded without hesitation and took my hand, allowing me to pull her up.

"Floating, floating is important to learn." Ronald agreed. "That was going to be my first lesson---"

"Enjoy the sun." Aquina cut him off and waved. "Put sunscreen, the UVs are really high right now." she called out to him, hurriedly as I pulled her. I did pull her. It was childish of me I know. But I just figured the longer we stayed, the greater the opportunity of Ronald somehow getting his way.

Ronald nodded. "I'll---I'll put more sunscreen." He dug into his bag staring at our departure as we grew further from him.

"I wasn't expecting you to do that." Aquina chuckled as she walked alongside me. Her warm arm brushed against mine. "You surprise me." She squeezed my hand gently.

Realizing I was still holding her hand, I slowly let it go. This could be overstepping. She probably squeezed it, wondering why I was still holding her hand without her consent. "I could...I could probably be a better teacher than him. I've been a swim instructor."

"Of course you have." she grinned and made her way happily to the water. "Come teach me instructor."

I smiled as I watched her. She was full of life. I loved it. I looked back to see Gigi standing on the boardwalk. She eagerly waved for me to follow Aquina. I smiled at her and she gave me an eager thumb up.

Naughty Gigi.

**

Water was dangerous.

Water was magical.

It could destroy as well as create.

This salty liquid was creating a bigger need for this woman in my life. Watching her laugh, and shriek, and hang on to me, out of fear was tugging at my heart and my loins. Gigi had put in work to keep Ronald out of the water, because I was surprised, he hadn't followed us.

Surprised he hadn't come to lay claims on this woman in my arms. He was foolish. He was foolish indeed.

I wouldn't trust another man in the water with her. His hands touching her wet body. Allowing her to cling on to him. To enjoy the accidental touches, the brush of intimacy. Skin to skin contact between two people with chemistry was stimulating. Skin to skin contact while wet was electrifying.

"I got you...I got you..." I encouraged as I held her up, my arm around her waist. She had kicked her leg up while floating on her back, causing her butt to sink and she went into panic mode.

Aquina latched on to my shoulders as she took deep breaths. Her body pressed against me. I could feel her breasts moving against my chest. Her labored breath in my ear, she hooked an arm around my neck as she wiped the water off her face.

I am a gentleman. I am a gentleman.

After wiping her face, she wrapped the other arm around my neck and turned her face to me.

Her smile warmed my belly.

"I lasted longer that time didn't I?" she whispered.

I nodded, unable to speak. I wonder what she thought of me as she looked at me. She even held her smile for a long time. Most people would have looked away by now. Uncomfortable with the prolonged eye contact. With the silence. But she accepted it. Her eyes roaming over mine for a couple seconds longer before she looked around the sea with a satisfied sigh.

"I think we made great progress today right?" She turned back to me.

"Do you want to go further out?" I whispered.

She looked at me hesitantly, her arm actually securing itself more around my neck. She shook her head and laughed. "I don't trust myself."

"I'll hold you." I said as I moved further out with her in my arms. "You just hold on to me." I moved slowly and her legs immediately wrapped around me, as I swam backwards. I watched her as she looked around, scared but willing to trust me. The noise of the beach sounded a million miles away as we waded in the water.

Just the two of us.

The fear left as she smiled once more.

"I've always wanted to do this." She admitted softly. "Be in the middle of the ocean holding on to my lover, just like this." she closed her eyes and lifted her head to the sky, allowing the sun to illuminate her like the apparent goddess she was. "I dreamt something like this."

My hand instinctively pulled her body closer to me. Aquina lowered her head and squinted at me. She smiled and lowered her head some more, her forehead barely grazing mine.

"You're beautiful." I whispered, unable to hold back these words that kept spewing out of my mouth whenever I touched her.

It took a couple seconds as if she was replaying my words around in her mind, before she lifted her eyes to me. "Are you sure you want to say that?" she whispered.

"Who is that?" I whispered, pulling away the vine curtain, to stare at the most enchanting person I'd ever seen. She sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the large vibrating blue crystal. Eyes closed as she made the glass bowls to sing a smooth frequency. Her white flowy dress, revealed the most tantalizing smoothness of her upper thigh. There was a glowing crystal around her neck that seemed to vibrate. Flowers adorned her head of locs that flowed down her back. Some braided, some twisted, others spiral curls to add a most alluring femininity to her presence.

"That's Elder Jacu's daughter." Yona whispered as he tugged my arm. "Hurry brother, let's go. We must not be in this sacred temple."

I pushed away my younger brother's pleading hands. Drawn to the vision of beauty before me. Her dark face was illuminated by the light of her crystal and the blue lights beneath the singing bowl. Across her forehead were white circled pattern. Down her neck were two straight white lines.

"La'oki." Yona pleaded with me as he gripped my arm.

I took a step forward. My foot stepping on the soft lush grass. The tuning fork in her hand stopped, engulfing the temple in silence. I froze as her eyes opened and she whirled her head in my direction.

Her dark eyes widened in surprise. Her mouth parted slightly as she gasped.

I couldn't look away and neither could she. I smiled at her with a slight nod of my head in greeting. She lowered her eyes and smiled softly, taking her time to lift them back up to meet mine once more.

"Let's go. Let's go." I allowed my anxiety ridden younger brother to pull me back urgently, the vine curtains, once more shielding me from the woman who'd captured my heart.

The beautiful vibrations of the singing bowl resumed, and I turned as if in a daze. A smile on my face as we rushed out the golden temple. The sacred temple that powered the majority of the island of Atlas. I had to see her again.

"Lan?"

I blinked, focusing back on her. The very real and tangible woman in my arms in the middle of the ocean.

Aquina chuckled as she tilted her head. "I said are you sure you want to say that?"

I nodded.

"I might hold you responsible for your words." she teased poking my cheek playfully.

"You're beautiful." I repeated seriously.

The smile slowly faded from her face as she held my gaze.

"Do I have a chance with you?"

It took a couple seconds before that infectious smile of hers returned. She looked up at the sky and closed her eyes, her smile getting bigger. "I told you I dreamt this moment didn't I?"

"So is this your dream or mine."

Aquina dropped her head and lifted her head. "This is mine." She smiled mischievously before pressing her soft lips against mine.

I closed my eyes and savored the kiss. It was even better than my dreams. Soft, delicious, perfect.

Aquina pulled back slowly. "And now it's reality."

I lifted my head and closed the gap between us again. My lips eager to reunite with hers.

Aquina pulled back abruptly and shrieked. "I felt something touch my foot!" she hugged me tight, clinging to me as she shook her leg.

"Maybe it was seaweed." I tried to ease her mind as I began to swim back. "No worries."

"It felt so weird." I could feel her legs tightening around me, and I chuckled. "I'll get you back to safety."

And I did. Carrying her all the way out the water. When we were back on the sand, she finally loosened her grip around me. She smiled as she unwrapped her legs from around my waist and I carefully aided her back to her feet.

"Thanks." she grinned and winked at me, before running back to our mats. I'm just a man, I looked at her ass as it moved up and down with each step she took. I watched it for quite a while and couldn't help myself. I finally tore my eyes away, only to look up to see the huge grin on Gigi's face and the disgusted glare on Ronald's. I grinned and ran my hand over my face and hair as I jogged on over to them.

"Well, you two looked like you had fun." Gigi commented, her eyes wide and smile even wider.

Aquina laughed. "It was fun." She wiped herself and sat down content with a smile on her face.

Ronald was quiet by her side, staring off at the sea.

Gigi winked at me as she extended the towel to me. I quickly dried myself and sat next to Aquina who had put her oversized sunglasses back on. I exhaled heavily, feeling my body surging with energy. I knew I was grinning and couldn't stop. I picked back up my own sunglasses and put them on before reaching inside our cooler. Gigi grinned as she hit my arm with her cane. I took out three bottles of electrolytes. I opened one for her and handed it to her. I opened the second one and turned and handed it to Aquina.

"Here, electrolytes are good for your body after swimming."

"Thanks." she took the opened bottle and brought it to her lips. I watched her drink as I opened my own bottle and drank from it.

I felt Gigi's nudge of the cane again, and I elbowed her leg to leave me alone.

"You got anymore in there."

Ronald's question snapped me out of my dreamlike state. "Oh yeah, sure." I turned and grabbed a bottle for him and extended it to him. "Here you go."

"Thank you." He mumbled and drank rapidly from the bottle.

I watched as Aquina reached into her bag and took out a Tupperware. "I made some lentil and mushroom Jamaican patties." she offered as she extended the Tupperware to me.

I grinned as I took the flaky golden treasure. I will eat whatever she put in front of me.

"Would you like some?" She offered up to Gigi.

I grabbed one for my grandmother and handed it back to her, without looking and was rewarded with a cane hit to the back after she took it.

Aquina chuckled and extended the Tupperware to Ronald.

He smiled brightly. "It looks delicious." He took one happily and shot me a look.

I ignored the side eye because I didn't care. She'd offered it to me first. "It's amazing." I grinned stupidly.

She smiled and bit into her patty. We made eye contact and smiled again as we ate the food.

I can't wait to kiss her again. My heart hadn't slowed down since we were in the water. I needed to calm down.

"It's such a nice day." Aquina exclaimed happily, making the rest of us smile in agreement. "I'm glad I moved here." She moved the Tupperware towards me, and I eagerly grabbed another patty after stuffing my face.

"I'm glad you moved here." I agreed.

I heard Gigi's amused giggle in the background. I didn't care about Ronald's eye roll and heavy sigh as he shot a couple glances between Aquina and I.

"I'm gonna get in the water." He spoke loudly and stood up.

Aquina smiled and nodded at him. "It feels nice. You're gonna like it."

I turned to Gigi and reality slowly crept back in. I got up and started to pack our stuff. "Gigi, it's time to head home. We've had a lot of sun." she was tired. Too tired to argue. I took the bottle of electrolyte from her hand and put it to her mouth, letting her drink some more. "Sorry." I whispered as I adjusted the hat over her long grey wispy hair. "I swam for too long."

She brushed my apology away and patted my cheek. "I'm happy." she whispered back. I helped her get up and she looked past me. "Oh these old bones child. I need a nap."

Aquina nodded. "Thanks for inviting me to sit with you guys."

I folded the towel and the umbrella quickly.

"What are you doing for dinner?" Gigi inquired.

I looked up from folding the mat.

"Uhm...nothing planned yet."

"Why don't you come over?" Gigi grinned. "Saturdays are when Lan makes his best meals, his not a stickler for me eating bland food on Saturdays."

"I uh..." Aquina looked at me for confirmation.

I don't think she eats red meat. Chicken? Is she vegetarian? Pescatarian? Nothing, I've seen her eat had meat in it. Play it safe. "Uhm, I was going to make mushroom steak, with king oyster mushrooms." I shrugged. "If you'd like that. No pressure." I had to go to the grocery store on our way home and get some mushrooms. Gigi will be fine without her T-bone steak today.

Aquina grinned and nodded. "I would love that." She looked up at Gigi. "Thank you for the invite, I would love to come to dinner."

"Great! We eat at 7." She pointed her cane at me. "Lan can text you the address, or do you already know where we live?"

Aquina shook her head. "No, I don't know."

"It's not too far from you." Gigi turned to me. "You said she lives in Rosewood right?"

Aquina looked at me.

I swallowed hard. She didn't really need to let her know I told my grandmother where she lived. It made me look like a stalker.

"It's like 10 minutes away. Lan can walk you back home----wait why don't you just pick her up for dinner and then walk her back?"

I looked up at my conniving grandmother with a sigh as she grinned at me. I looked at Aquina apologetically.

Aquina grinned. "Sure, I'll be ready by 6:45?" She asked me.

I nodded, swallowing back the excitement that she'd agreed to Gigi's shenanigans so fast. She likes me, she has to. Was this happening? Kissing me in the water, wanting me to be her swim instructor, accepting dinner invitation.

Gigi winked at me and wobbled away.

I waited for a couple seconds. I knew my neck and ears were feeling hot and it wasn't from the sun. I lifted my eyes to Aquina smiling so sweetly at me.

Damn she was gorgeous. She looked like a priceless painting with the way the sun was shining on her.

"Don't feel any pressure to come—"

"No pressure." She shrugged. "Unless you don't want me to—"

"I do." Damn really smooth Lan, you could have waited for her to finish her sentence. I chastised myself slightly.

Aquina smiled and leaned back on her mat. "You don't have to change dinner for me." She added. "But I also appreciate you noticing my diet." She leaned forward and hugged her knees to her chest. "I like that."

I like you. I smiled. "I'm glad."

"You're cute." She smirked. "I bet you know that."

"You're cute." I replied leaning into her with more confidence and an inviting smile.

I don't know how entranced I looked to her, but she laughed softly. "Now I see why you're so popular. That smile can go from cute to sexy in a split second."

I wanted to kiss her. My eyes drifted down to her lips.

She pressed her index finger against my lips. "You better go, your Gigi's waiting for you." she whispered before running her index finger across my parted bottom lip and blowing me a kiss.

I chuckled and retreated. I could wait. I leaned into her and kissed her cheek with a smile on my face. "See you at 6:45." I whispered. I quickly gathered my stuff, giving her several backward glances, enjoying that she never took her eyes off me.

**

Aquina

I'm happy. I'm super happy. I feel light. I feel like I can float.

I chuckled and shook my head in disbelief.

Can y'all believe it?

This guy had a little more swag in him than I thought. I mean, nothing like he is at work. I don't blame him. Work is to work, play is for play.

Also don't tell him, I don't know how you would, but I heard he'd taken Saturday off so i switched days with Hailey. What? Surprised?

Hailey wasn't. She was a real one, even went so far to tell me Lan was probably getting his Granny to the hospital for a check-up and would most likely end up at the beach.

You see it was people like that, that I needed in my life. Those silently routing for me and paving the way for me to be successful.

We worked different shifts yesterday and the day before, I hadn't been proactive enough. I had restrained myself after the little brush of the lips. I had wanted to go back and confront him, but had finished packing instead.

I just didn't want it to be awkward. Maybe I had misread it. But what had really happened is that I had doubted myself. I second stepped my actions, and before I knew it, Ronald had showed up, umbrella in hand and Lan had quietly gotten his stuff and left. I wish a part of me had just asked him to walk me home.

But guess what?

Today was even better than that.

I actually did something, without doing too much!

The end results? Chef's kiss.

Uggh them lips. That hold, his smell, the smirk...man when a guy was fine damn was he fiiiiooonnnee.

Okay excuse me for a moment, I'll calm down.

I just haven't been this excited about a guy, or a kiss or even a human interaction in this manner in a long time...or ever. Kind of scary to be honest. Less in control of yourself. I looked down at my watch 5:15. Plenty of time to get ready for dinner.

I ditched Ronald.

I know! I know! Listen....okay i don't know. Like author can you please get him another woman? Please? He's persistent, but he's not for me, and i just knew he was going to want to walk back together, but honestly this 10 minute walk from the beach to the condo, i wanted it in silence. I wanted a walk without him asking a million and one questions. I was trying to be nice, but sometimes he just talked too damn much.

I know that's mean...uuughhh. I guess I'll text him, that I had to leave urgently.

I reached for my phone when I heard screeching of tires. I looked down the road in confusion. Three cars were racing, but pressed against each other as if trying to run the other off the road. A green sports car, a black jeep in the middle and a yellow Honda, all going extremely fast, there was smokes as tires rubbed against the other cars.

"What the f---" I stared in confusion at a scene that looked like it should have been in a racing game.

An orange car quickly veered off the road, gained control and managed to pass the three cars. Another white car coming from the opposite end, wasn't so lucky as it swerved to try and avoid them, it's back hit the black jeep, while the yellow Honda crashed into it's side.

I gasped as the white car spun in the air and crashed into the window of the flower shop. Everybody on the sidewalk stared at the scene in shock.

The green sports car, swerved to the side and quickly, regained control, reversed and tires screeched as it zoomed off.

Fear.

I don't know how I knew, i just knew. The driver of the green van was----the owner of the white car came out, luckily unhurt, cursing out the two drivers, who surprisingly came opened the doors of their not so damaged vehicle.

I took a step back.

Both big thick guys had on white shirts and dark green overalls.

My heart raced as I took another shaky step back.

They both had on oversized army green bags, with a hose attachment. One's head was bald, pasty skin, expressionless face with beady black soul less eyes. The other slightly tallers, thick neck, black hair and same expressionless face, same beady black eyes.

My legs refused to move as i felt myself hyperventilating, my beach bag dropping to the ground.

Go!Go!Go!

I can't move

The two guys calmly walked up to the frantic screaming guy, lifted their hoses and sprayed him, A gray fume filled the air. The guy shook and contorted before dropping to the floor.

Then the screams started. The running. They sprayed everybody in their way. They all shook and dropped. They were walking up so calmly, moving their heads as if seeking as if.

Please AUTHOR, fight of flight! Let me run!

The black-haired man with the thick hair turned and met my gaze. His face vibrated to look like that of oversized pig's head, as if unable to fit the current frequency.

I know them.

I turned and ran down the sidewalk. My heart pounded as the screams in front of me increased. People running in confusion, looking back was their mistake.

Don't look back.

Don't look at them.

I ran faster, passing a couple of people that were ahead of me. I knew this feeling...

No! Please!

I felt a force shove me, my head hit the pole and vibrated as i fell to the ground.

Intense pain shooting through my head, my eyes watering as I tried to shield them.

Don't look at them.

I could feel their dark presence.

Don't look at them.

The screaming stopped. All I could hear was my loud desperate breathing.

Tears rolled down my face as I squeezed my eyes shut.

I groaned as pushed forth one more burst of energy. My vision blurred as I ran to the nearest house, swaying in my run, almost toppling over.

I had a concussion. I grabbed the golden doorknob, on nothing but a prayer. The door was open.

Thank you author.

I rushed in and slammed the door. But as it closed, through the crack, the two guys' eyes met my own.

The latch shook in my hand as i closed it. Shaky legs stepping back cautiously. My head hurt so much.

There was hard kick and I jumped. The second kick, the latch broke and the door fell like paper to the floor.

Their hoses were up before I could take the next step. The fumes, engulfing me, my body shaking, numbing my senses, restricting my breathing as I dropped to the floor, going into total blackness.

"Aquina get up."

I shot up, grabbing my desk as I looked around in confusion. "What happened?" I whispered.

"Damn girl, that power nap took you out." Henry looked over his cubicle at me. His green eyes widened as he nudged his head. "Mr. Riki six-o'clock." he gave a quick grin behind my shoulders and sat hid back behind his cubicle.

I rubbed my forehead and groaned. "My head hurts."

"Hopefully it's from all the hardwork you're doing and not the sleeping, right Ms. Vochy?"

Sighing i closed my eyes and relunctantly got up. I forced a smile on my face and turned to my boss. "Yes, Mr. Riki." I was a blink short of any eyeroll and my eyelids were feeling etremely rolly today.

He touched his belt and grinned. "Come by my office, I got some papers, I need you to make copies for the stakeholder meeting."

"I'm not your secretary."

"What?"

I heard Henry choking on his coffee. The cubicles grew deadly silent.

I swallowed hard and straightened up. "I'm not your secretary, I'm Mr. Guild's."

Mr. Riki chuckled, his mouth turning up into a snarl. "Sassy."

I sighed and lowered my gaze out of frustration at the condescending remark.

"I like it." His eyes narrowed. "My office in 5 minutes." He brushed his thick arm against my body and passed me.

I turned and stuck my middle finger up at his back.

He turned and I quickly sat down.

After a couple seconds Henry stood up and looked over his cubicle again. "Damn you woke up from that nap and chose violence."

"My head hurts." I muttered feeling nauseous. "I need to go home." I picked up my bag, and felt my phone vibrate. I reached in and took it out.

Ronald my love.

"Ohhh Fiancé's calling." Henry sang.

I stared at the name in confusion.

"Fiancé?"