Chapter 10

***

It's Sunday morning and I feel much better. LA has graced us with sunshine, so I'm going hiking with my two best friends. My homies, my crazy sisters, my ride or dies.

"Why do you look so hot!" Anna exclaims with a grin when I get in the backseat of her white Jeep. She's in black biker shorts with a crop top, long blue nails, hoop earrings, and a baseball cap.

"Did you get water? It's going to be hot. I brought extra if you need any," says Zhoe from the front passenger seat. Her forehead in a perpetually creased worry, eyebrows flawless, new boobs on display.

"Thanks babe, I got water." I smile at her then turn to Anna. "Bitch, look who's talking! Shut up before I jump you."

"Come and get it." She purrs and narrows her eyes suggestively.

"Oh, yeah?" I match her sly smile and pounce forward, causing her to scream and laugh.

We drive for twenty minutes to an iconic hiking destination in LA. The 130 acre park offers great views of Hollywood, and it's just the happiest place to be. You see every type of dog running left and right, tongues out, tails wagging. It makes one buzz with serotonin.

Looking at my surroundings, I grimace at the parched mountains. The climate here is so dry and the trees are so lifeless, it's enough to make you feel guilty for carrying a water bottle.

I remember hiking in Armenia. Around alpine meadows, wildflowers, medieval monasteries and cherry blossoms. Passing by golden apricots and ambrosian pomegranates. Soft soil beneath your feet as you—

Did I just step in some dog shit?

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I groan, lifting my white sneakers to inspect underneath. My foot starts to warm, hinting just how fresh this gift is.

"I'm over this hike," Anna whines. "I say we go to a hookah lounge and enjoy a cheese board with a glass of Rosé."

"Don't do this again. You stopped in the middle of the hike last time too." I shake my head. "How are you okay with leaving things half finished?"

"I get bored." She shrugs, smirking at me. "Besides, you shouldn't be saying that to me considering you left Jake at the nightclub half finished too."

And I still thank the Lord for that.

The only thing they know about Jake is that he's a handsome stranger I kissed at a club. I even sent them the blurry picture I took of him when I got home. But as far as they know, we never saw each other again.

And I'd like to keep it that way. I don't need any more reason to have him in my mind.

Today's hike is about forgetting and getting lost in nature. Which is why, when we finally make it to the top, I'm filled with pride and joy.

Until I notice everyone's on their phones.

"What are people taking pictures of?" I throw my arms up in defeat. "Seriously, look at your surroundings. Enjoy! Live a little!"

"Ourselves." Anna drawls behind me. I turn to see her taking a selfie with pouted lips and a Tyra Banks smize. I try to be annoyed, but I love her too much.

So roll my eyes and wander away to explore the hilltop solo.

Ah what a beautiful fried up tree. When's the last time you had water, buddy?

I bend down and empty my water bottle onto its roots, knowing the only thing it benefits is my conscience.

Children's laughter breaks me out of my thoughts. I follow the sound to see where the commotion is and notice a bunch of boys in green uniforms.

Oh God.

On the other side of the hilltop, a familiar figure is kneeling in front of a kiosk, surrounded by kids. Dirty boots, army green pants, sleeveless black shirt. With sweaty biceps and damp messy hair. A dimpled smile with a paintbrush in one hand. Jake's teaching the kids how to paint.

I'm just over here. Salivating like a bug-eyed chihuahua.

"Excusez-moi, who this be?" Anna drawls next to me in a 'French' accent.

"Oh, damn..." Zhoe pops on my other side, sliding her eyes over him with approval. "Yes, Mia. Yes."

My eyes go wide. "No, I was just trying to see what they're doing."

"Gee, I don't know." Anna giggles. "They're holding paintbrushes dipped in paint and swiping it across a surface. I believe it's called painting."

I smack the tip of her hat down. "Can we go? We're done, right?"

"You sure you want to leave? It's finally getting interesting." Zhoe smiles while eyeing Jake.

My foot itches to kick her, but that would confirm signs of jealousy. Which don't exist.

"We can share him." Zhoe continues, oblivious to the things I was doing to her in my head. "I'll take the head, Mia will take the arms, Anna will get everything from the hips down."

"Jesus Zhoe, we're not butchers." Anna chastises."We can just write a schedule and split into shifts, I'll get Mondays and Wednesdays, you'll get Tuesdays and Fridays, Mia will get Thursdays and Saturdays. On Sundays he'll get a day off to rest."

They're insane. So am I. Because I'm laughing with them.

We lean into each other like twisted, thirsty women, cackling at the prospect of sharing a male sex slave.

"Shhh...." I try to cover Anna's mouth, but I'm folded over, holding my stomach.

"You think I'm kidding, but I could do it in the bushes right now." Anna pries out of my grasp to hump the air.

"Oh my God, why am I friends with you."

"Because you're worse."

"I thought it was you." Jake's husky, testosterone-dripping voice says behind me. I freeze like a naughty raccoon that got caught with its hands in the dog dish.

I turn around, blink a couple of times, then chuckle.

"Oh, It's you! I almost didn't recognize you." I wave him off then smile at Zhoe and Anna. "Guys, this is Esteban. He works at the university cafe."

I widen my eyes slightly at Jake, hinting at him to go along. He lifts his eyebrow for a moment with disapproval, but then probably notices my desperation and smacks his lips.

"Wow, Mia. You ask me out on a date and then don't even recognize me? Was I being used for free coffee this entire time?"

"Uh..."

"Wow Mia, you really overwork yourself." Anna smacks my arm, making me wince. "How can you ask someone out and not even recognize them?"

Come on. Use your words. Say something.

"Um..."

Well done. I'm so proud of you.

"If it's any consolation, she's been standing here drooling over you for the last five minutes." Zhoe adds matter of factly.

I squeak, nearly choking. Now I regret wasting water on the dead tree. Jake looks at me with a crooked smile.

"Has she? That's good to know, considering I can't take my eyes off her."

Anna and Zhoe "aw" in unison. I can hear them telepathically setting me up with him already. One's popping champagne while the other's waving handcuffs.

"Are you a kindergarten volunteer?" Zhoe asks, pointing at the kids who are painting the kiosk he was kneeled in front of.

"No, I'm an Eagle Scout. I brought the kids to repaint some kiosks here."

"Oh, the city asks you to do that or something?" asks Anna.

"No." He smiles, stretching his back. "I built them when I was a scout. People ruin them over the years, so I come every once in a while to fix them up."

"I barely have motivation to go from my bedroom to the kitchen." Anna says.

"Speaking of going, we should probably do that." I add quickly, plastering on a smile.

"Are you almost done?" Anna asks Jake, completely ignoring me. "Do you want to have brunch with us?"

"Anna, he's probably busy." I flash her a warning glare, but she's looking at the kids who are... indeed packing up. Damn it.

"Plus, I think you can distract her from thinking about her nightclub crush."

My mouth falls on the ground. "Anna! Shut up!"

"And you're definitely a distraction." She continues, motioning her hands up and down his body then around his face.

"She has a crush on a guy from a nightclub?" Jake is feigning ignorance, a smirk fighting in the corner of the mouth I want to punch.

"Yeah, some guy that apparently was the best kisser she's ever had, but I bet you can beat that."

"Anna, dear, I think you're having a heat stroke." I say with deadly innocence and take her water bottle from her. I tilt it over her head and pour some.

She gasps and jerks back, mouth in an 'o' shape. She shrieks in disbelief when Jake chuckles. "Do you see what she's doing to me?"

"Mhm. She's very feisty for her size." His deep voice teases, making me glare.

"I'm not small, you're just a giraffe!" My heart rate runs with rising panic. This is all too much and happening too fast.

"Mhm, don't you just love that?" Anna narrows her eyes, no doubt testing him.

"It's cute. But I respect her as a person. She's very strong and thoughtful."

I'm stunned for a moment. Zhoe mumbles 'damn' and sticks her bottom lip out, seeming impressed. Anna throws her arm around my shoulder and points at Jake.

"I like you. You should have brunch with us."

I step out of her hold, overwhelmed and frustrated. Jake's not taking this seriously and I can't think straight. This is too dangerous and unnecessary.

"You guys go. I'm going home." I turn around and walk away.

"Babe, hold on!" Anna catches up and grabs my arm. "What happened? I thought you liked him?"

"Anna, just drop it. I want to go." I pull away, refusing to look at her.

"Did I do something wrong?" Her voice gets small and I'm immediately flooded with guilt.

I look up at her innocent eyes, staring into me with concern. Her tone becomes soft and regretful. "I'm sorry, it's just, he can't stop looking at you and you can't stop blushing. I was just trying to help."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap." I hug her and she squeezes me back. "Can we just leave, please?"

"Of course, whatever you want." She kisses my cheek and grins. "Let's go."

Zhoe joins and we all turn to say bye to Jake, who's standing by himself and staring. He holds my gaze for a moment before raising his hand and waving.

"Bye, Mia." He smiles innocently.

"Bye, Jake." I drawl sarcastically and wave back.

"Jake?" Zhoe furrows her eyebrows. "I thought his name is Esteban."

Ah fuck.

When I become mute and frozen, Anna and Zhoe gape and get close.

"Mia?" Anna looks at me suspiciously and lowers her voice. "Is this who I think it is?"

"Your nightclub Jake works at your university cafe? Why would you lie to us?" Anna chides, tilting her head.

"Did you finally tell them I'm your student?" He chirps behind us. Zhoe and Anna freeze.

The birds from nearby trees fly in panic as my two friends scream. I look down at the ground, praying for it to open up and swallow me whole.

"What is this kinky coincidence!"

"Anna, open up the photo she sent us!"

"Which one? The one she Facetimed us about at 2 AM?"

"Yes. The one she said she was going to look at every single night!"

The two fucktards get their phones out and start searching, Jake is laughing his ass off, and I'm planning to leave the country.

A/N
Jesus Christ, Mia's friends are WILD.  Bahahaha