Chapter 6
Mandy:
All my mouth could do was water at the thought of enveloping it's juicy, soft, and meaty texture. I need it… I want it. My stomach growls as I stare at the cook flip our burger patties on the grill right behind the counter where Nick and I sat. I was becoming rather impatient, per flip equaled a hungry stomach growl.
"Can you stop staring at the man like you want to eat him too?" Nick snaps.
"I'm just starving… I'm usually less intense while I wait for my food." I took a sip of my root beer.
We are in Dave's Diner, according to Nicholia this is the place to get the best burger. While we drove over here he told me how he would vacation down here in Miami with his family and they'd always stop here. Even though we stick out like a sore thumb dressed the way we are no one is starting just all enjoying their meal at eleven at night.
"Bacon double steakburger with cheesy-fry." Finally my food!
"And a Gouda cheese steakburger with extra sauteed onions and plane fries." I look over to see what Nick's burger looked like, but I'm starving and everything and anything is looking rather delectable to me.
"Enjoy," I smile at Nick before I began to devour my food. I had drunk too much too quickly, hopefully, now I won't be too tipsy.
"You were hungry," Nick chuckles as he cleaned the grease from the corners of his mouth. He had pulled his hair into a loose bun prior to eating.
"I was famished… thank you for bringing me out tonight, I really had fun," I say cheerfully at him. "I really like your godmother, she reminds me of those aunts you see on tv and movies." I laugh.
"Are your aunts too horrible to mention?" He asks veering to face me.
I frown, that's right, he doesn't know I am an orphan that never got adopted… So I don't have anyone like Glorianna who prays for me… It truly felt nice when she said she'd pray for me… it's the first time anyone does.
"Mandy?"
I cleared my throat and pushed away my sad thoughts. I continuously blinked trying to fight back the tears. "Um...I don't have any aunts to compare to, I am an orphan."
"I get your sentiment… all my brothers and sisters are adopted. After my mother had me she went barren, she loves me and my siblings equally… as if she had carried them herself, but after adopting four kids my father had to put an end to the adopting. If it was for her, she'd adopt each and every kid she could." His smile is so bright, he truly loves his mother. "My brother Edward, he is the oldest of the kids she adopted. I watched how hard it was for him to adapt to his new home while still living with his hunting past… countless nights he spent crying and just tormenting himself…" Nick spoke like it was hurtful what he was saying.
"Adelaide and I are orphans… she's my only family," I say as tears cascade down my cheek. Nick wipes my tears away and gave me a wide smile.
"I want to show you something."
We drove close to the beach, Nick helped me take off my heels and threw them in the car. He took off his coat, he also threw that in the car. He took my hand and led me to the beach. The sand, the sound of the waves crashing at the shore, the moon in the clear sky, the distant sound of music and people simply was serene to me. I look at my hand that held Nick's hand and began to think about how this is the first time a man has ever held it in a charitable way. Nick led me to a wall that was right by the edge of the beach and lit it with his phone flashlight.
"Here," he points at a small red handprint. "That's my hand… this one down here is Edwards, and over here is Katrina's, Samara's and over here…" he points at the smallest handprint. "This one is Konstantine's."
"All five of the Dragomir kids… back when life was well… you know we grow up and responsibilities are thrust on to one." He says letting go of my hand and raking his finger through his hair.
"I wish I had momentum like these…" I say looking out to the beach crossing my arms trying to stay warm.
"Cold?" He asks, taking big steps in the sand. "We can go now."
He stood on a rock but because of his fancy shoes, he fell down, taking me in the process. We both laugh uncontrollably as we struggle to get up. The way we knocked over is how romantic couple falls one on top of the other but due to us having sand all over it takes away the pizzazz. I sat in front of him trying to clear my face from sand but I just look like I'm slapping myself at this point. Nick clasp my hand and with his free hand, he cleans my face. He's only a few inches away from me, if I move to my left a bit and lean in I could probably kiss his cheek.
"Mandy?" Nick says. "Why are you starting?"
"I'm not starting… I was. Checking to see if you have sand in your face…" nice save Mandy!
"Well do I?" He leans in closer.
"Do you what?"
"Hav-have sand in my face?" I stare at him, is it the booze making me feel some type of way while I look at him? It must be.
"No… you're perfect-perfectly fine." I laughed as I got up, "shouldn't we start heading home?"
"Alright."
Did you know what I truly hate from Florida? Is not their gators, not swampy land or even their extreme humidity. No, I fucking hate how the weather changes in a split second. Nick and I were unable to return home due to a fucking thunderstorm, Nick claims he knew nothing of it so I won't hold it against him for not checking the weather. Thankfully, one of Nick's henchmen bought us some clothes. But what I find odd is the fact that Nick got a room that has only one bed. He says that there is no other room available for such short notice. I joked that I left him broke after the auction, he assures me that that's not the case.
"I'll sleep on the floor." He says as he plants the stack of blankets on the floor. "You can have the bed.
"Are you sure there isn't any other room?" I ask as I comb my finger through my hair.
"I said what I said. Geez, do as you wish and check."
"We work tomorrow, how are we to expl-"
"I already informed someone that we'd be out for the day on some business-related trip." He says annoyed.
"I've never missed a day of work…" I plop on the bed staring down at the floor. I wonder what everyone must be thinking. Horror runs across my face as millions of things run through my head making each situation and false rumor worse for my case.
"I shouldn't have come." I say under my breath.
"What? What was it you said?" Nick asks.
I glare down at him. "I should have just stayed home, I should have just said no to this stupid idea." I say to him.
Nick frowns and crosses his arms. "You just said a few moments-"
"I was tipsy! Now I'm sober and mad!" I almost shouted, I get up from the bed.
"Why are you mad? Do you even understand yourself? Constantly doubting yourself, but too stubborn to admit you have a great time?" Nick retorts.
"Excuse me? Who the hell do you think you are? You don't even know me, why the hell do you think you can just dissect me and my life for your pure entertainment?" I spat.
"Dissect? I simply wanted you to have fun, is that a crime?"
"You needed a cover story and I was it."
"Wait a minute… How am I the bad guy here? I have been nothing but kind to you since the first time I met you." Nick says upset. "Know what, I'm not going to argue. Take the room it's yours, I will have someone escort you back home in the morning." He walks past me and grabs his wallet and phone from the counter. "I advise you to listen and allow my men to do their job. Have a nice night Mandy."
I felt sick as I watched him leave the room. I don't know what came over me. I need to say sorry. wait..
"Don't," I say right when he shut the door.