Leo

My blood type is O negative. Meaning it's the universal donor.

Having this blood type surely comes in handy many times in the army when someone needs an emergency blood transfusion.

And I try to donate as much as I'm allowed.

There's a branch in Miami Medical where one can donate blood. And that's where I'm currently waiting in the lobby for the elevator.

I enter the cab and smile when I see a pretty familiar face. I bypass a few other passengers and stand beside her.

She's wearing those damn cute blue scrubs that are molded to her petite figure.

There's a box in her hand that doesn't look medical. She leans a bit into me and says in a low voice. "Are you following me?"

I look down at her hazel eyes. They're full of mischief. "Are you following me?" I counter.

"I work here." She deadpans, shifting the box in her hands.

"And I'm a patient here," I say, while trying hard not to laugh. It's been three times so far that we meet unplanned. I'm not big on signs and what not, but maybe this one could be.

The elevator stops, and two people get off. When we ascend again, she opens the box and extends it in front of me.

"Would you like a cupcake?" There are indeed cupcakes. They look pretty gooey. So I grab one. I don't eat healthy when I'm home. It's my time to eat real food and not MRE—Meals Ready to Eat. Which mostly contains a lot of nutrition to keep us full for a long period of time. We do occasionally get something sweet, like skittles or pound cake, but I don't really consider those real desserts.

"You made them?" I lift it in front of my eyes and inspect the layer of icing on top. My Nonna has made enough cupcakes and muffins to know what makes them good.

"Si. It's my recipe." She closes the lid and tilts her head up to peer into my eyes. "Well, someone else invented it before me, probably, but I came up with it myself. So it's my recipe." She shrugs.

I like her way of thinking.

I peel the paper away and dig my teeth into it, taking a big bite. I haven't eaten a cupcake in so long, I can't remember when the last one I consumed was. And this tastes amazing. It's not dry at all and there's a hint of a spice that I think is cinnamon that gives it a kick.

"What's your verdict?" She asks, eyeing me carefully.

I swallow the bite and take another one, nodding. After swallowing the second bite, I say the truth. "Really good. Is it your birthday?" With my free hand, I motion to her box of cupcakes.

"No," she shakes her head and scoots closer to my side when a group of what looks like doctors enter the elevator. She nods to them, then continues speaking to me. "Every once in a while I feel gracious and bring some for the break room."

That's nice of her. I take another bite and look at her, noticing her rolled-up sleeves. There are a few tattoos on display and I quickly scan them—a few words and numbers, a flower I can't name, a little butterfly and a few more.

"And you were feeling gracious today?" I nudge her shoulder with mine. More like with my upper arm with our height difference.

She chuckles. "You could say that." The metal doors open, and she takes a step forward but looks sideways at me. "That's my floor." She gives me a small wave. "I guess I'll be seeing you around." She has a small smile tugging up her lips, insinuating how often we've met with no prior forethought.

"Ciao." I wave back before the doors close and hide her from me. I take the last bite of my cupcake and wish I had another one. They come close to my Nonna's cupcakes. But I'll die before I tell her that.

•••

With my eyes closed, I fist my fingers around the stress ball they handed me.

"Hey there, stalker." My smile develops before I even open my eyes to see her face.

Josephine is standing next to me, and even though I'm sitting on a chair, our eyes are on the same level. I'm surrounded by relatively tall people, and it always surprises me how petite she is.

But even though she's around five two, her tattoos make her appear lethal.

"Josephine," I greet her with a nod.

She shakes her head at my use of her full name and looks down at the monitor to hide her smile. "Are you feeling dizzy? Lightheaded?"

Those questions are not strange, since I'm donating blood. Especially from her, a nurse.

"No, I've got about five more minutes left." The machine attached to my vein beeps, reminding me to make a fist and get the blood pumping.

"So you're like Robin Hood, huh?" She bites her lower lip. "Protecting us while in the army and donating blood." She looks around then inches closer and whispers so no one hears her. "Are you secretly a vigilante at night, too?"

Playing along, I lean in as well. "I plead the fifth." I try hard not to smile.

She purses her lips, making them that much closer to my own, and crosses her arms as she leans back in her original position.

"Hmm, I guess you wouldn't be a good one if you told me."

I smile at how serious she looks.

"But I can keep a secret." She tries to reason.

"I bet."

We both chuckle. She again looks around, then back at me. The sun from the window behind me shining on her face, making the few freckles on her nose glint and her hazel eyes appear more honey colored.

"Are you feeling alright?" The nurse who's been with me asks. I glance at him, seeing his genuine smile as his eyes glance at the monitor, then back at my face.

"I'm okay. Thank you."

"Do you want something sweet to eat or drink?" He asks further.

I look at Josephine, still on my other side. "Do you have one of your cupcakes with you?"

She gives me an apologetic look. "Ah, sorry. They usually sell out fast." She beams.

"Bummer." I glance back at the other nurse. "Some juice would be nice, thanks."

He goes to retrieve that for me and I look back at Josephine.

"I have to get back to work, but nice seeing you. Again."

"You, too."

I watch her walk away and before I'm tempted to look somewhere else; I look away.

•••

I put my hands around my eyes and peek inside her store, but see no one. I'm here to pick Isabella to head out for lunch.

I've already texted her I'm here, but since she gave me her key, I use it to open the front door.

Izzy's shop is like a museum and a shop combined into one. She designs her own clothes and sells them online and in her boutique.

Walking inside after locking the door again, I call out her name. "Izzy, I'm here."

She doesn't answer and even though the lights are on; I don't see her yet. My eyes subtly and quickly scan my surroundings, taking notice of every sound. The sound of cars buzzing in the distance, a dog barking, the sound of soft breathing as I near the cashier's desk. I purposely make my footsteps loud as I walk further inside, past the checkout table where I'm one hundred percent sure Izzy is hiding behind.

I make a split second decision between letting her believe she actually surprised me or turning around and scaring her.

The sound of clothes ruffling is loud in my ear as she gets behind the desk and jumps onto my back.

"Boo." She says in my ear in a really scary tone.

"Oh, no." I flail my arms. "There's a monkey on my back."

She laughs and slides down. I turn around and give her a hug.

"You like my outfit?" She's wearing jeans that are a soft yellow color with a top that reveals more than it covers.

"I like this," I gesture to the scarf she has on top of her hair. "What's it called?"

"It's a bandana." She grabs her small purse that I'm not sure even her phone fits inside. "It's Balenciaga."

"What saga?"

She gives me a look. "It's a high end brand."

I touch the material, and while it is soft, my shirt from Target has the same texture. But I don't tell her that. "Feels nice."

"Right? Okay let's go."

I wait on her while she locks the door and makes sure the security cameras are on before she takes my arm and leads the way.

We're walking to the restaurant since the weather is amazing in Miami in May.

After a few minutes, Izzy groans. "These heels. I don't know why I even bother."

Looking down, she indeed has heels on, but they're not those that are really thin.

"Can you give me a piggyback ride?" She gives me a look of fake innocence. "It's only a few more minutes."

I heave out an exaggerated sigh but turn around to give her my back. "Hop on."

She squeals and jumps on my back when I lower a little. Putting my hands under her knees, I adjust her and she wraps her arms around my shoulders.

"I think I'm dating the wrong brother." She says after a while. "You're really good at this. Luca would just jostle me and lean back so I fall on my butt."

"I'm used to carrying backpacks and walking long distances."

Suddenly, I see a camera in front of me. "I'm filming this for Luca. Say hi."

I smile at the camera and say hello.

When we reach the restaurant, we take our seats and order some lunch. We both order a salad and sandwiches.

"So," she takes a sip of her orange juice. "How are you?"

I chuckle. "I'm alright. How are you?"

She leans back in her chair and gathers her curly hair to one of her shoulders. "Oh, I'm great. Business is blooming. My boyfriend is the best. I'm healthy and well. The weather is nice." She winks, "The sex is amazing."

I chuckle again, glad to hear she is happy and healthy. And that the sex with my brother is 'amazing'.

"Well, I don't have a business, so it's not blooming." I speak. "But I'm healthy as well, the weather is nice, like you said. And I don't have a girlfriend and I'm not having any sex." I shrug.

Our food arrives and we both take a bite out of sandwiches.

"That reminds me." She sets her fork down and steeples her fingers under her chin. "I'm going to get you a girlfriend."

"You are?" I repeat.

"Yes. I'll be your wing woman."

I laugh and shake my head. "I told you I don't need a wing woman." I may be a bit rusty in the women's department, but I know the right moves.

"I'm a great matchmaker." She touches her high end bandana to make sure it's in place.

"I think I want to meet someone in a more ... organic way." I tell her.

"I mean, look at Antonio and Sara. If it wasn't for me, they wouldn't be together and happily married."

Izzy has been best friends with Sara since college and she's the one who hooked them up.

I decide to humor her. "Alright." I nod. "Do you have anyone in mind?"

"As of right now, not really. But I promise I'll find you someone."

"I appreciate the support."

"But in the meantime, you need to find someone to have sex with."

I groan and scratch at my facial hair. What is up with my cousins wanting me to have sex?

It's true that it's been a while since my last sexual encounter, but my relationship with my fist is good. For now.

"What?" She asks. "You're the one who said you're not having any sex."

Her phone rings and I'm thankful for the distraction.

Honestly, sex is the last thing on my mind right now. Do I want to have sex with another person and not just my hand? Yes. But when I'm home for only a few weeks at a time, I want to spend as much time as possible with my family and not waste hours on a woman who I'll never see again.

"Hey, love." I recognize my older brother's voice.

"Hey, baby. How are you doing?"

He sighs. "The client suddenly pushed the deadline to three weeks from now instead of seven. Like we agreed to in the beginning. It's messing with the entire planning."

"That sucks. I'll make it up to you tonight." She pokes the inside of her cheek with her tongue. She's really subtle. Not.

"Oh, I'm sure. Fuck, I just wanna be inside you right now." Luca groans.

"Look who's with me!" Izzy says, louder than necessary, and whips the camera in my direction. But it's too late. I already heard what Luca said.

"Oh, hey, Leo."

"Hi," what he just said is nothing compared to other things I've heard them say.

"Since you're having fun together, I'll let you go." He says. "See you later, mi amore."

"I love you, bye." She winks and disconnects the call when he returns the sentiment. "Sorry about that."

She doesn't sound sorry at all.

"No, you're not."

"No, I'm not." She confirms, and we both laugh. "I heard you're having a sleepover with Nicole tomorrow." She says after paying—insisting it's her treat. "And I'm not invited?" She fake pouts.

We grab our stuff and stand up. "Sorry, some other time maybe." I say, but I know she knows that apology isn't really sincere. Nicole and I are the closest. Everyone knows that. And I like to spend one-on-one time with only her.

I turn my back to her.

"Umm, what are you doing?" She asks. I glance over my shoulder to see her frowning in confusion.

"Piggy back ride."

She doesn't need me to explain any further. She lets out a delighted laugh and gets on my back.

"Now I know I'm dating the wrong brother." A few seconds of silence. A sigh. Then, "Even though he gives the worst piggy back rides, I love that man with all my heart."

I love how much they love each other. You can literally feel it.

I quicken my stride and jostle her a little. She laughs and I capture her laughter and save it up in the folder in my memory that's filled with the laughter of my other family members. Sounds that I play on repeat when I'm on the field or when I feel down and need a reminder of what I'm fighting for.

• ••• •

A/N:

Now I want some cupcakes 🧁😋

Can I just say I love Bella and I miss her😩

If you want to know what she was wearing, the picture below represents her outfit.