Diana

I woke up this morning to an excruciating headache. Due to staying up all night because Fiona could not stop talking about her day with Dante.

I was definitely surprised to come back to his place and not find Fiona crying her eyes out and wanting to leave immediately. Instead, she bragged about how fun Dante was.

Last night I also had to give Fiona the 'talk.' about her period that she had been avoiding. I never got to experience that talk with my mom, so I wanted Fiona to have that. It went well.

Now we are in my office, which is actually my boss, Edward, office but we share it. Since I am his nurse assistant, he wanted me to be near at all times. At the moment, it was our lunch break. Edward sat behind his desk. Fiona sat on the beanbag we had next to my desk. And I was standing up, going through the file cabinet.

"Mama, what are you getting me for ma birthday?"

I shrug, "Well let's see, I gave you a roof over your head, clothes on your back and food to eat, so that should be enough." I laugh at my joke, but I see she doesn't find it funny by the scowl she is giving me.

"Seriously Mama."

I stop laughing and shrug again. "I don't know, girl. I stopped knowing what to get you after you went to middle school."

I try to play it off nonchalantly, like I'm not worrying about it, but I know that I'm completely worried about her birthday. I was always worrying or panicking. I don't think there's ever been a moment in my life where I was relaxed.

"What about a party? I've got all the details. It's gonna be a sleepover themed party. Like the ones in the movies."

"You know I can't afford that right now, Fiona. Maybe next year, alright?" I turn back to the files so I don't have to look at Fiona's disappointment.

"What about you, Uncle Edward? Will you throw me a party?" Fiona turns to Edward, who is engrossed in the computer screen. He takes his glasses off as he stands up.

"I'm very busy, Fiona. I will get you a present though." He replies in his British accent. He pats Fiona's head before leaving the office.

Lunch is about to end, so I figured I'd get my last few minutes to check my phone and maybe go to the restroom. I see there is a message from Lily saying she's bringing Fiona a gift tomorrow and a missed call from Dante. I figured he was probably calling about when to have dinner with his family.

When I call back, he answers after the second ring, "What?" He says, annoyance in his tone.

"Is that how you always answer the phone?"

"Yeah. What do you want?"

"You seriously answer the phone like that? What if it's like someone you know? For example, your m-"

Did I feel like annoying him the way he did to me? Yes, I did. Was I ashamed? Not at all.

"Does it matter?"

"Yes. No wonder Detective Daniel doesn't think this relationship is legit. I would never be in a relationship with someone that answers the phone like that. "

"Daniel doesn't think we're legit because he's a worthless asshole who's been out to get my family for-" He exhales a deep breath, "Diana, what the fuck do you want? Did you just call to annoy me?"

I smile to myself proudly at his reaction. "You called me."

"No I didn't."

"Yeah, you did. You called me ten minutes ago."

"No I did not." He says more irritatingly.

"I can literally screenshot and show you. "

He pauses for a minute and clears his throat. "Shit, I forgot about that. I called because I need to know when you're available so we can get this family dinner over with. Since it's just mine, this shouldn't take long."

"Fiona's birthday is two days from now, so I guess we can do it tomorrow."

"Can't. I'm busy tomorrow."

"With what?"

"Why are you so damn nosey?"

"I'm not. "

"I'm not even gonna try," He blows a breath again before speaking, "You get anything for Fiona's birthday?"

Anger rises inside of me after he says this. "Yes, I did as a matter of fact. I hid them in my closet. Just because I'm not rich like you doesn't m-"

"Didn't mean it like that, Diana. Just wanted to know if I could get her a little something. "

"Like what? I think it's illegal to give a child a gun."

"Yeah it is. But I was thinking of a party. Like a small birthday party for her. With your permission, of course, I know you're protective of her. "

A feeling I can't describe grows in my stomach and, for once, it's not pain. I don't like it one bit. Especially because Dante is making me feel that way.

"You would do that for her? It's expensive and she's wants friends over, not to mention t-"

"Money is not a problem for me when it comes to her. It's settled. Give me the details and she can have her birthday party at my place. I'll pay for everything."

"Dante." I warn, thinking this is some stupid prank or something.

"I love it when you say my name baby." He replies and I know he has that stupid grin on his face.

I knew what he was doing when he said stuff like that. He was trying to make me fall into his trap by saying things like that. But I wasn't going to fall for it.

"Don't call me that and do you think before you say something?" I ask, genuinely curious. He couldn't possibly be that bold.

"Yes. I think it and then I say it. That's usually how that works, Diana." He replies as if I'm the dumb one. "Don't tell Fiona. I'll pick you guys up at six on her birthday." With that, he hangs up.

I disregard that and think about how Diana can finally get a birthday party. I go back inside the office cheerfully. When Fiona looks up at me from her phone, I hide my excitement.

"Why are you happy?" She asks, annoyance written all over her features.

I shake my head, trying to prevent the smile that is trying to sneak up as I respond, "Nope, nothing. I am not happy."

She stares at me for a moment before returning to her phone. I would have to keep this secret for two more days. Nothing I couldn't handle. I've been keeping tons of them for years now.

For the rest of the day, I stay in the office answering phone calls, and if a patient needed me, I would assist them. Feeding, brushing their hair and other things. The next two days go by the same way. Fiona went back to school, so I was able to get more work done.

Fiona's birthday arrives quickly and after giving Dante the details about the party and the friends to invite, everything is ready.

There is a knock on the door as I look in the closet for Fiona's birthday gifts.

"Answer that, Fiona." I say, knowing who is at the door.

I hear her go to the door and hear her gasp as she opens it.

"Dante?" she shouts in surprise.

"Happy birthday. " I hear Dante's deep voice respond. I can't tell what it is, but I hear him hand her something and she opens it. She gasps again and squeals as I reach further inside the closet.

I know you're in here.

I had managed to buy a necklace and a hoodie she had been begging for with the money I saved up. The necklace had "Pretty girl" on it, the nickname I called her. And the hoodie had her favorite character, Mathew Grey Gubler, on it from Criminal Minds.

"Where's you Ma?" I heard Dante ask her.

"In her room. Next to the hallway closet,"

I hurriedly try to find the gifts in the midst of clothes scattered around my closet as I hear Dante come towards my room. When I turn around and see him standing in front of my bed, he smiles. That stupidly stunning smile. His dimple deepening.

"Practicing your arch, I see."

"Shut up. I'm trying to find her present," I respond and turn back to the closet.

As I'm searching, I feel him come behind me and swallow hard. He bends down, making his dick slightly touching my ass.

I shudder as I feel his chest on my back as he breathes down my neck. I pretend to be unbothered by his closeness. He wanted a reaction out of me, but I wasn't going to give him one.

He trails his hands down my arm to my hand on the clothes and he speaks, "I can feel your breathing getting faster, Diana."

"It's not." I deny.

"Yes it is."

I spot the wrapped gifts hidden underneath a jacket. Something inside of me snaps and I push Dante off of me and grab the gifts, hurriedly stepping away from him and going to the bathroom. Fixing my hair and makeup a little before going back out.

"Ready?" I ask him, pretending whatever that was didn't happen.

He stares at me for a moment before answering, "Yeah." He walks out of the room and I follow.

Fiona puts down the wrapped gift Dante has given her on the couch and stands up.

"Where are we goin?"

"It's a surprise." I reply, smiling.

She looks between us and raises an eyebrow, "Is Mama pregnant or somethin?"

My eyes go wide and Dante chuckles, "No, no, no! Not that kind of surprise. "

"Then what is it?"

"You're not supposed to know. That's why it's a surprise. Now come on. " Dante responds, opening the door for Fiona and I. I lock it once we're all out and when I try to open the car door Dante reaches in front of me to open it.

"I don't need your help." I protest and open the door myself. He shakes his head and walks to the driver's seat as Fiona and I get in.

The whole drive to Dante's house, Fiona goes on about how she hates surprises to try to get one of us to give the jig, but it doesn't work. When we reach his house, she says,

"Dante's house? Ya could have just told me that."

Dante puts his arm around her shoulder as we get closer to his door. "You'll see."

He unlocks the door and we step inside.

"There's nothin her-"

"Surprise!" Tons of middle school girls spring up from behind the couch and kitchen.

I smile happily at her, "Happy birthday pretty girl."

"Happy birthday, Champ."

As the girls in matching pajamas surround Fiona, shouting streams of happy birthdays, Fiona turns to us, excitement all over her features.

"A birthday party?"

I nod. "Just like the one you talked about. Matching pajamas, your friends, popcorn, everything you wanted."

She smiles widely and wraps her arms around me. "Thank you Mama!"

I hug her back but shake my head. "This was all Dante's idea. "

He scratches the back of his neck, "Couldn't have done it without your mom's help."

She pulls both together, making her able to hug us both at the same time. "Thank y'all. Best birthday ever!" She hugs us for a little while longer before rushing off to her friends who have gone back to the couch.

My little girl is growing up.

My baby has now entered her teenage years. It was just yesterday she was taking her first steps. God, time was going by too fast. Pretty soon she'll be off to college.

Before I am able to stop it, a tear falls down my cheek as I watch her.

"Are you crying, Ambrose?" Dante asks, shocked.

I was shocked myself. I hated showing emotions, especially in front of people. I quickly wiped the tear and shook my head.

"No." I mumble.

Dante stands in front of me. "Holy shit you are. Little Ms. Fierce is crying."

All sadness leaves my body at his comment and I hit his arm, "No I wasn't."

He grins, "Yeah you were." He walks away and I follow him as he walks upstairs. When he goes to his room and turns the light on, I stand at the entrance.

"Are you gonna come in?" He asks, removing his jacket and throwing it on his bed. I take a glance at the white tank top he is wearing and my mouth goes dry when I see his abs.

I shouldn't be looking at him like that.

Despite the words in my head, I can't take my eyes off his chest.

"Oh, you like what you see, huh? " Dante grins as he catches me staring.

I avert my eyes and clear my throat, " No, I don't."

"I don't think you wanna be trapped with sixteen hyper middle school girls downstairs, so come in, Diana."

After hesitation, I step inside. "How did you manage to get all of their parents to agree to this sleepover, anyway?" I ask, taking a seat on his bed.

"What? I didn't know they had to agree. I just went through Fiona's mutuals on Instagram and told them to come to her party. "

"Seriously? Dante, you're supposed to let their parents know."

He shrugs, "That's the kid's job. I did my part. "

I get up to explore a little of his room as he goes to the bathroom. I notice another tiny statue of a lion on his dresser. I walk up to the dresser and pick it up.

I wonder where he got it from.

I notice there are collections of tiny animal statues all over his dresser. Animals of all sorts. Lions, cheetahs, horses, elephants, turtles, snakes, even sharks. It was almost like a little zoo.

I pick the lion and cheetah up. "I'm faster than you." I say in a deep voice. Making the lion face the cheetah.

"Pfft. As if." I say in a higher pitched voice, pretending it is the cheetah.

"You wanna bet?" I make the lion say, going back to a deep voice for the lion.

"You're on."

I line the lion and cheetah up. Moving the rest of the statues away. Once there's room for them to race, I count down.

I speak in my normal voice, "On your mark... get set... Go!"

I scoot the lion up, making him go faster. I've always preferred the lion, anyway. Once the lion has reached the finish line, I speak in a deep voice again,

"Now what! In your face!"

I move the lion around to dance in celebration and I join him. Pumping a fist in the air.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

I jump slightly and drop the statues when I hear Dante. Turning back around, I watch him come closer with a confused smile.

"Were you playing with my animals?" He questions and sits on the bed.

"No."

"Yes you were." He smiles and points to the scattered animal statues. "Wow you were! I thought you were talking to one of the girls, but no, that was you. You're a little fucking weirdo!" He laughs as he confronts me and I shake my head in embarrassment.

"No I wasn't. I... I was fixing them."

He stands up, moving closer to me. I step back, bumping into the dresser as he stares down at me.

"Why are you so close?" I say as my breathing starts to quicken.

He doesn't answer, only lowers his head. His lips inches away from mine as he reaches his hand next to my waist.

"Excuse me." He says just as I think he is going to kiss me and reaches for a statue.

I move away from the dresser and back away to the door entrance. If I stayed in this bedroom with Dante any longer, my body would betray me into doing something I would regret.

"I'm going to go. "

He turns around from the dresser and stares at me.

"You sure? I have a guest room. You can sleep there until the morning. "

"I'm fine. I'll come back in the morning to pick up Fiona. " I start to walk away.

"Diana, it's cool. I can take her home. I-"

"Seriously Dante, it's fine. She has to go to school and all of that it's fine. I'll see you next week." I say before walking away.

•••

Hey y'all! Did you notice the happy birthday song? I'm very proud of that I'll tell you that much.

Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter and if you did please, vote, comment and share!