As soon as Diane plops on a chair in front of the vanity mirror in hers and Charles' bedroom, he gets a brush. "One plait or two?"
"Ummm...just one, please!"
"Okay." He starts quietly singing the song Breakfast at Tiffany's like he does whenever he drives, so she giggles. "What?"
"Oh, just admiring how adorable you are when you sing." Diane grins at their reflections as Charles smoothes her hair down and begins combing it, starting from the bottom and getting all the tangles out. He's so soft with her as he does it. Even when the brush catches the knots slightly, it doesn't hurt that much since he gets rid of them painlessly, the right way.
Charles grins. "I'm glad you don't think it's dorky!"
"Nah, I like it." Diane beams as he starts braiding her hair from the top of her head and goes all the way down to the bottom. His fingers are steady and careful, treating her hair like it's delicate, which it is. She runs her hand over her braid and enjoys how it's so tight and well done. It reaches to her mid-back and a few strands dangle down the sides of her face. "Wow, you did an excellent job, thank you!"
"Anytime, baby. I dunno if I ever told you this before, but I love you, my beautiful Princess Di."
Diane gasps and her heart glows as her gaze meets his. She feels warm all over and she sighs dreamily. "I love you too, my handsome Charles!" Still swooning and smiling, she twirls her braid around her finger a few times and they kiss passionately with him leaning down to mold his lips onto hers.
Later that evening, Leon presents his woman with white roses and takes her to a fancy candlelit dinner where oysters are on the menu and there's a wide open space for whirling around the floor. He's aware that he doesn't need to go all out for a proposal like they do in the movies, but he knows her inside and out and he's positive that Aleida would love him doing this for her. She's so mesmerizing in her red sparkly dress and he makes sure the box with her ring inside won't fall out of the pocket in his slacks. He doesn't want the night to be ruined by such a stupid mistake.
First, they dance while he serenades Aleida with a song, "The Lady in My Life" by Michael Jackson. Leon enjoys holding her close and swaying with her in tune with his voice. She has her arms wrapped tight around his waist.
"There'll be no darkness tonight
Lady our love will shine
Lighting the night
Just put your trust in my heart
And meet me in paradise
Now is the time girl
You're every wonder in this world to me
A treasure time won't steal away..." He takes a breath, leans down, and his lips softly glide over hers. Aleida smiles against his mouth. She tastes and smells sweet, like the orange soda she'd just gulped down and the cherry lipstick she's currently wearing. It's a heavenly combination.
"Yo, this is where we went on our first date!" she realizes aloud once their lips separate.
Leon winks at her. "You ready to slurp down oysters, sweetheart?"
She nods excitedly as he twirls her and her curly hair fans out around her, landing perfectly over her shoulder and down to her chest. "Pero...what's the occasion?"
"Well, your birthday's comin' up, I thought I'd spoil you a bit before then." He inhales and exhales before starting to sing again.
"So listen to my heart
Lay your body close to mine
Let me fill you with my dreams
I can make you feel alright
And baby, through the years
Gonna love you more each day
So I promise you tonight
That you'll always be the lady in my life..."
"Me encanta este canción, querido," she murmurs against his chest. "So romantic, you like makin' me swoon, huh?"
I love this song, darling
"I sure do!" He fingers her gold dangly earring and continues crooning the lyrics.
"Lay back in my tenderness
Let's make this a night we won't forget
Girl, I need your sweet caress
Reach out to a fantasy
Two hearts in the beat of ecstasy
Come to me, girl..."
"Mmm..." Aleida sighs. "You're so good at this..."
"Gracias," he tells her and rubs her smooth jaw with his thumb. "I wanna make my lovely queen the happiest woman in the world. You look so pretty tonight, by the way, but you always are!"
"Ay, muchas gracias, guapo." Aleida giggles gently as he keeps going.
"And I will keep you warm
Through the shadows of the night
Let me touch you with my love
I can make you feel so right
And baby through the years
Even when we're old and gray
I will love you more each day
'Cause you will always be the lady in my life..."
"Any reason why you chose this particular song?" she asks with a sniffle. He can tell she's already choked up, and he has to act fast.
"Stay with me...I want you to stay with me..." he belts out as he gets down on one knee and takes her left hand in his. She gasps loudly and covers her mouth. There's some moistness shining in her now wide eyes. "Aleida Diaz...when you were gone, I was miserable. I was scared I'd never see you again and I was terrified of what those monsters were doing to you. When you rescued yourselves, it was like the hole in my heart was filled up again, because you complete me, mi amor, ever since the day we first kissed, right outside this place. I love you so much and I'm blessed to have you! I'll hang out with you forever if you're cool with it. I wanna be with you always, for the rest of our lives!" He pulls out the black box and opens it, showing her the sparkling diamond ring. "Will you marry me?"
She removes her hand from her mouth and her lips curve into a bright, wide smile. "Oh, yes! ¡Ay dios mío, sí, por supuesto! Oh my..." With tears swimming in her eyes and spilling onto her blushing cheeks, she grabs onto his open shirt collar and they kiss tenderly. They then embrace while making out passionately. After breaking it off, they smile at each other. Aleida and Leon gaze into each other's eyes and she wipes tears from her face. "I can't wait to wife you!" Aleida shrieks and fans herself. She's absolutely glowing in the club's neon purple and red lights and he basks in her beauty.
"I'm lookin' forward to bein' your hubby! Let's be McDiaz forever!" She cracks up elatedly and Leon just grins down at her. "She said yes!" he hollers jovially at the several people who are staring at them, and their audience applauds and cheers. He slides the ring over her finger and it fits her just right. Resting his hands on her hips, he kneels and kisses her pregnant belly a few times. "Did you hear that, kid? I'm gonna marry your mama and be your daddy! You got two loving parents right here and a brother and two sisters at home!"
Aleida laughs above him and scratches the back of his head lightly. He beams up at her and pulls himself back to his feet. "Oh, Leon, you're the best, king!"
"As are you, my Aleida." He lifts her hands in his and gently presses his lips to her knuckles.
"Are you sure?" Diane asks, flipping the light switch so their bedroom is bathed in yellow. Alex is at a sleepover since Monday is full of teacher conferences, so the couple has the night all to themselves. They're planning to take full advantage of it. She'd disobeyed her own rule of waiting half a year to give herself to Charles. She wants to do it now, at the three-month mark in their relationship.
"Yes, I'm positive, leave it on, please! I'd like us to see each other while we make love."
"I just gotta warn you, I have a lot of scars. You may wanna leave once you notice them like Lee did." She climbs onto the bed next to Charles.
"Please don't be afraid, sweetheart. He was just a son of a bitch. I would never do that to you, I promise." He lays his hand on the side of her face and his thumb strokes her cheek. "Never."
"I was all alone," she tells him softly. "I had breakdowns at work, like at my maid job…"
"Lee!" Diane screams repeatedly. Everyone is staring at her like she's insane. "You promised me! You said we'd stay together!"
"Ma'am, you have to calm down-"
"Where is he?" she blubbers to the receptionist, gripping the edge of the desk.
"I don't know, he just left-"
"Did he say where he was going?!"
"No, I'm so sorry I can't be more helpful."
She runs to the wall and collapses against it, sobbing openly.
"I know, and it hurts me like hell to think of you in that position, my queen. I'm always with you, though."
Diane nods against Charles and she starts to smile. "Yeah, but I've never shown you my naked body. Don't expect beauty…because not only did others mark me up, I did, too. I used to cut myself and I have huge scars on my thighs. Bill just told me not to get blood everywhere."
"What a dipshit, not even watchin' out for you! Well, I will. You're not still self-harming, right?" His loving eyes are filled with concern.
"Nah, I ain't, I stopped that. It was in the past."
"Oh, good, I'm glad, my darling sweetie pie."
She beams at one of his many pet names for her. As they lay side-by-side facing each other, they start making out slowly. Then, she reaches her hands under his shirt and sighs dreamily at how warm he is. She trails her fingers through his chest hair and he hums as he pulls her closer. They only separate when he removes his shirt. Diane is, again, in awe of how handsome he is. She unbuttons her black blouse shyly as she watches her fingers tremble a little. We're really about to do it, holy shit! she mentally screams at herself.
"So, um...how does this work?" She laughs awkwardly. "Of course, I know...but should I strip all the way before giving you head, or…maybe I need to do this first." Diane unzips his jeans, but he puts his hands over hers, stopping her momentarily.
"Let me look at you." Biting her lip nervously, she meets Charles' gaze. "God damn, you're beautiful," he murmurs, trailing his knuckles up and down her jawline. His eyes travel from her face to her slightly open top.
"Thanks, babe! You're quite handsome yourself!"
"Thank you, dear. Is it okay if we do some foreplay first?"
She nods. "I'd love that...thank you."
"I want to make you feel good, alright? Just let me know if you'd like me to stop, and I will."
"Mm-hm." Nobody has ever told her that before and she's so blessed that she's finally with the right man this time.
Charles places soft kisses on her stretch marks and along the harsh red jagged line running across Diane's belly when she lifts her shirt up slightly to show him where that despicable Nazi had dug his razor blade into her fragile skin all those years ago. She starts to shrug out of her blouse and he assists with taking it all the way off. He gives her a few soft pecks from her cheek all the way down to her shoulder, especially paying attention to the areas where she'd been hurt before. His lips linger on a huge pink mark right near her bra strap and then he locks his adoring eyes on hers.
"I can't say it enough...you're so lovely."
Beaming, Diane unclips her pink bra and reveals her bare breasts. She glances down when he takes them in his hands and she sighs with pleasure as he massages them, kisses her unhealed injuries there, and brushes his thumbs across her already pert nipples a few times. He sucks on her breasts and she mewls softly while blushing hard. Closing her eyes, she leans her head back and tries to relax. She can feel him stroking her belly as his tongue swirls around her nipples and up and down her cleavage.
His lips go to the top of her vagina, up her bellybutton, onto her ribcage, then her breasts, up her collarbone, her jaw, her nose, her forehead, her neck, and then, finally, her lips. She sighs giddly.
"Honey, is it cool if I get you out of these pants?"
Diane giggles and reopens her eyes. "Yeah, go for it!"
Slowly, he undoes the tie in her pants. He slips them down her hips, to her thighs, exposing her lacy neon purple underwear and the scars littered around that area. He presses his lips to the old, faded gashes she'd made on herself; he's very slow. Grinning, she leans closer, but he gently pushes her back. He tousles her hair and pecks her forehead. His gaze sweeps over her as she's just laying there, doing her best to kick her pants the rest of the way off. "You're hella pretty," he praises her. His tone is so gentle that she melts. Her rapidly beating heart is a puddle and she grins bashfully.
Normally, she'd feel extremely vulnerable and scared, but in this moment, she doesn't. She trusts Charles. They kiss passionately before he closes his eyes and reaches down to touch her, first outside of her panties, but then inside. He gazes intently at her as he takes care of her. She loves it so much; his fingers are threading through her vagina hairs and rubbing her center until she moans out loud a few times. She chews on her bottom lip, but keeps flying through her orgasm as her juices flow onto his fingers. "Don't stop," she gasps out. "Please, keep going...ohhhh! Ohhh, Charles! Yes! Aaaaahhh!"
"You like that, baby? Am I making you feel good?"
"Yes!" she shrieks through her panting and sounds of extreme desire. "Oh, god, yessss!" The wetness because of her arousal is so strange; she hasn't felt it in such a long time. It feels better than before, probably because she knows Charles will actually stick around. "You're amazing, this feels...ohhh…" His fingers continue pumping inside of her most erogenous zone as they make out again. "Aaaahhhh, Jesus fucking...you're magical…how you play with my clit is so..." She clenches up and they both laugh as something wonderful explodes inside of her lower region and she's soaking. "Mmmm, you fingerbanged my pussy good!"
"You deserved every bit of that, my love."
She swoons and then kisses where his erection is straining against his jeans. "Okay, now I'm gonna pleasure you back if you're fine with it!"
''Course I am!"
So, she gives him a hand job. His large cock is already moist and hard as a rock for her. It turns her on immensely, as if she wasn't already. He looks very satisfied and then she sucks on the tip and swirls her tongue around it. It's so big that she'd thought she'd choke, but she doesn't at all. He's holding her head and massaging the back of it, tangling his fingers in her brown strands. "Are you enjoying this?" she checks.
"Hell yeah!" He grunts and she swallows his cum while pulling away from him. "Oh, Diane...you're amazing."
"So are you," she breathes out. "Can I, um...get on top of you? That way, we can do the deed...if you're still up for it."
"Oh, for sure!" He pulls out a condom from his nightstand drawer and tears it open with his teeth. Diane thinks it's hot and her insides tense up as she bites back a moan. Charles rolls it over his stiff penis.
"That's so sexy," Diane murmurs as she straddles him and slowly lowers herself so he's inside of her. "I want you in me, babe. Yeah, get it in there..." It's uncomfortable at first, but as soon as she gets herself going, riding her boyfriend, the pain is long forgotten. Her vaginal walls are so tight around his boner. "Oh, Charles, you complete me!" Diane sighs as she rocks back and forth and he thrusts up inside her. They're grunting and moaning each other's name. He traces his fingers around her nipples and starts kissing her everywhere, making her giggle.
"You complete me too. God, Diane, you're so wet!"
"You're so hard, your dicky feels so good in my pussy, oh my god," she moans. "Ohhhh, Charles, the things you do to me! Aaaaah..." She's still for a moment, reveling in how fantastic this is. She rolls off of him, just wanting to cuddle for now. He seems fine with that.
They hug each other, their naked bodies touching and legs tangling like vines. She's so warm in his arms like always, but he'd just lit a fire inside of her that she doesn't think she'll ever be able to put out.
With butterflies filling her belly, Aleida bounces on the balls of her feet next to Leon as they stand in front of her children, who are seated on the sofa. Daya is in the middle of her little siblings. Aleida squeezes Leon's hand and glances at him in anticipation. "Okay, so I just wanted to make a surprise announcement...Leon and I are gonna get hitched! We gonna be eternally McDiaz!"
Daya beams. "Whoa! That's fantastic, you guys, congratulations!" She gets up and they gather her in a group hug.
"Yaaaaaay!" Emiliano and Christina shout with glee and clap their hands. They run to the circle and join it.
"I'm getting a new daddy!" Christina says joyfully.
"Me, too!" Emiliano pipes up.
"I called my mom, too, I told her I found this great girl who I wanted to marry!" Leon says, beaming at Aleida. "She's real ecstatic for us and she can't wait to meet you, sweetie pie! My Aunt Irma as well, she's thrilled!"
"That's fantastic, I'm lookin' forward to introducing myself to your tía and the incredible woman who made such a beautiful man! Now, I gotta tell mis amigas!" Aleida says excitedly. She wraps her kids in her arms and kisses Leon before racing to her phone. She calls Gloria and Diane at once and gets them on a three-way. She tries to say hello first, but she ends up cackling hysterically and covering her face.
"Lei, what's happenin'?" Gloria answers.
"Yeah, you're like, hella giddy!" Diane chimes in.
"My man popped the question, bitches!" Aleida finally gets out. They gasp slowly. "Leon, he...he proposed, and in such a swoon-worthy way!" She presses her hand to her pounding heart and stares dreamily at her new piece of jewelry. "I melted!"
"Holy shit! He finally put a ring on it!" Gloria chuckles. "Well, ¡felicidades!"
"Yeah, damn, I'm so exhilarated for you two!" Diane adds. Aleida can hear the smiles in both of their voices.
Aleida giggles and rubs her stomach. "Gracias, las dos. I'm just over the moon! So, he took me to the oyster bar that we went to on our first date, he got me flowers, he sang a cute Michael Jackson ballad to me while we slow-danced, of course we dressed up, and...this fine Sunday evening was just perfect!" she gushes. "We just told mi familia while we were holding hands! Ya know, all three of my babies. The fourth one found out when he asked."
Thanks, you two.
"That's hella amazing, wow," Gloria murmurs.
"Mm-hm, I bet you're enjoying your bling!" Diane says.
"I am...but the whole night was special...I won't forget it. Leon's just too sweet...how he smoothed over my jagged, rough edges, I'll never know..." Aleida turns her left hand until her ring glitters under the light. She can't stop admiring it.
"Same way I did! With a lot of love and patience," Gloria tells her.
"Very true!" Diane agrees. "By the way, ladies...I got some incredible news to share, too. Charles and I just had some mindblowing sex! He was so soft and gentle with me...damn, I still got some tingles in my nether regions."
Aleida and Gloria both shriek together and all three women dissolve into giggles. "Ay dios mío, Diane, get it!" Gloria cheers.
"Sí, mama! I bet y'all were on fire!" Aleida shouts.
"Oh, we were," Diane says breathlessly. "The best kind."
As Benny and Julio chase each other around the playground that Leon has built with Fahri and Adarsh's help, Daya and Aleida push Christina and Emiliano on the swings. The tire swing hanging off the tree is ready to be used and Michaela is spinning around on it by herself, squealing and laughing. Leon had also made a porch swing and Gloria and Fahri sit close together as they watch the children having fun.
"You like your new headbands?"
Gloria smiles at him. "Yes, thank you!"
"You're welcome, Glo...I just saw 'em in the store and they reminded me of you."
She presses her lips together and feels a blush coming on. "That really means a lot to me!" She clears her throat, wanting to hide the fact that she still has a crush on Fahri. "So...I had an idea for when I teach the boys how to swim in the spring. They'd start in the shallow end of the pool and use their hands to walk along the bottom as they float along, learn to tread water, paddle, and eventually do the different strokes. Aleida, Leon, and I are gonna take 'em to the YMCA...would you like to accompany us there?"
"Of course, yeah! That would be great."
She nods. "Cool. Leon will be installing a pool in the backyard when the weather gets warmer. Can you believe it, he and Aleida are gonna tie the knot!"
"I know! What a neat development in their relationship."
"Mm-hm..." Gloria crosses her legs, sits her elbow on her knee, and props her chin up with her fist. "They're made for each other."
"Definitely," Fahri agrees. The way he's staring deep into her eyes and beaming at her makes her whole body warm up. "You look happy."
"Oh! I am." Gloria nods, beaming. "Um, everything's going so well."
"Hey, do you mind if I just..." He reaches toward her and she squints her eyes in confusion. "You, um, you got a dead leaf in your hair. Must've fallen off that tree above us. It's right..." He points to where it supposedly is.
"Let me try removing it." She attempts to brush it off herself. "Did I get the sucker?"
"Not quite. Here..." He pulls it out of her strands and shows her while smiling. Everyone knows that's a smitten person's excuse to touch someone else. She grins at him in return. Gloria's proud of herself for staying calm and allowing him to do something as simple as taking an unnecessary, annoying thing out of her hair. She's really pushing herself to go forward in their friendship and even turn it into something more than that.
"Gracias," she tells him pleasantly and puts on her yellow and pink checkered beanie.
"¡De nada!"
"Look, Mama!" Julio points at the sky.
"It's snowing again!" Benny chimes in gleefully.
Sure enough, white flakes are falling gently and there's enough on the ground that they've moved on to making snow angels with their kids. Gloria hums softly under her breath as she moves her arms and legs through the snow while giggling. Fahri holding my hand, Fahri caressing my hair, Fahri not being a creep, Fahri being a gentleman, Fahri making sure me and my boys are comfortable with him...Fahri, are the only thoughts spinning in her head right now.
"Ma says Sophia has a fuckin' penis, you like that? She used to be a man!" Daya hisses.
"What?" Adarsh appears to be puzzled as they walk into the courtyard before school on Tuesday. "I'm not even interested in her as more than a friend! Could you not be transphobic about this?"
Daya rolls her eyes. "I apologize...I didn't realize I was being rude. I shouldn't turn this into a big deal, we ain't even together! I'm just, ya know...wondering."
"I was going to Sophia for advice on how to get you to trust me, and I tutor Michael and watch him a lot in general because I'm saving up for a car," Adarsh explains. He raises his hands and lets them fall at his sides. "Half the time, his moms aren't even home."
Daya gapes at him. "You know, you could babysit for my siblings too, it wouldn't hurt!"
"I-I was afraid you wouldn't be comfortable with a guy babysitting your sister! Especially after everything she's suffered through because of one man or another," Adarsh says awkwardly.
"Of course I'm fuckin' comfortable, I know you won't do nothin' to her!" Daya sighs sharply. "I'm sorry for being such an insecure, jealous bitch...I get it from my mom, I know that's no excuse...but could you like, maybe always reassure me that you love me as a friend and stuff 'cause I got issues with trust and that's what Leon does for my mom?"
"Sure, I will."
"I...I mean, not that I expect you to go for me in a romantic way, but..." She trails off and nervously fidgets with the green bangles around her wrist. "I thought you maybe had a crush on me...I just wanna get this cleared up so I don't fall for someone and it's one-sided, and-"
"Daya," he interrupts her and takes her hands. "I like you, too. I've enjoyed your company so far, and I'd be happy to take our friendship to the next level."
Her cheeks heat up and she grins. "Really? Like, you wanna kiss me or something?"
"Yeah." He beams at her. "I've wanted to for a while now."
She leans in halfway and waits for Adarsh to close the gap. When he does and their lips touch for the first time, excited tingles shoot through her whole body.
"Wow..." they both murmur in unison.
"Oh my god, girls, guess what?" Daya bursts out as Flaca, Maritza, Blanca, Karla, Shani, Nicky, Alex, Michelle, Taystee, Alison, Poussey, and Lorna come up to her. She'd asked them to meet her there shortly after her smooch with Adarsh. She doesn't let them answer. "Adarsh and I locked lips!"
They gasp excitedly and start giggling. "Holy fuck, for real?" Blanca wonders aloud.
"That's absolutely marvelous!" Karla chimes in.
Daya nods her head yes and does a fist pump. "It was the most amazing thing ever!"
"Aaawww, that's so cute, I'm hella pleased for you!" Lorna tells her, clasping her hands together in front of her and beaming.
"Too adorable!" Flaca gushes. The others verbally agree with her and they have the same expressions of jubilation on their faces.
"Now we can plan your wedding!" Maritza says cheerfully.
Daya chuckles and waves off the comment. "Nah, too early, but fun to think about! Yo, speaking of marriage, Leon's gonna be my stepdad if you catch my drift!"
They're all squealing now and fanning themselves. "Ooooh, yay!" Flaca and Maritza chorus while jumping up and down.
"Oh my gosh, this is too magnificent! So much sweetness, I think my heart will burst! When's the big day?" Lorna asks eagerly, grabbing Daya's arm.
"I dunno, they haven't picked one out!"
"Well, we gotta tell 'em congratulations!" Nicky says.
"Yeah, you all must be beside yourselves with joy!" Shani exclaims, lightly squeezing Daya's shoulder.
"We are," Daya says through a laugh. She's grinning so hard her cheeks hurt.
Alex glances over at her with an emotional look in her eyes. "This is beautiful...I know you've gotten the loving family you've always wanted ever since Gloria and then Leon moved into Aleida's place, but Leon sealing the deal and Adarsh finally realizing he's got a thing for you and is willing to stay with you through everything you've battled, is like...total proof that spectacular straight dudes do exist."
"Very true, and how magical that both you and your ma had progressions in your relationships with your significant others!" Michelle comments.
Daya nods. "Yes!"
"That's amazing! It really is," Poussey states, beaming.
"Mm-hm! Gloria told me I'm probably havin' a boy 'cause I crave salty stuff now and my right breast is bigger than my left. Back when we were a thing, John suggested the name Frank, like I'm giving birth to a hot dog! Aleida thinks otherwise...that it'll be a girl." Daya shrugs. "I know you can't choose the sex of your baby, but I hope she's right."
"That'll be so cute, you can take her on shopping trips and teach her how to put on makeup!" Lorna squeals.
"When do you find out?" Blanca wants to know.
"Uh...January or February, probably," Daya guesses.
"If you get a tiny dude, you'd be great at teaching him respect and how not to be a douchebag," Flaca points out.
"Yeah, and if he rebels against you and hurts a chick in any way, you betta get him in big-ass trouble!" Maritza says.
Daya chuckles. "Don't worry, I will. It'll take me time to get used to being a mom, but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it!" She rubs her growing belly and grins. "Will you be there for the birth? I'll need lots of support."
"Yeah, of course!" Alex says, and the others agree.
"Squirts aren't really my thing, but I'll come anyways," Nicky chimes in. "It's what friendship is all about!"
"That's true! Besides, once you see him or her, you may fall in love. Infants are too adorable," Shani states.
"Also messy, they spit up and cry and shit their diapers, but anyway...I'm sure you can handle it, Daya."
"You complain about my kid once, and I'll have you babysit!" Daya threatens the blonde.
"Ooooh, good one, mama bear," Karla murmurs. "I cannot wait to see the little one!"
"Me neither!" Lorna says excitedly. She turns to Daya. "Are you gonna ask Adarsh to join you in the room?"
"He's not the dad, but he probably wouldn't mind." Daya giggles gently, thinking of how sweet and sexy he was, especially when he made out with her, took her hands in his, bent down, and kissed her stomach which is holding her baby.
"Diablo and I talked about havin' kids after meeting Michaela, it might be nice. He's infertile, and I guess I am too, but we'll work around it...adopt."
"That sounds good!" Michelle says happily.
"Shit, I almost forgot in all the madness that transpired over the past few weeks! We gotta give Gloria and Fahri the letters we wrote!" Alison realizes out loud.
"Don't feel too bad, I haven't been thinking much about it either, since they seem like such a cute couple already!" Daya tells her.
"It seems like a lot of the straight relationships progressed these past few days! Let the romance bloom and flourish! Good on Gloria, based on what Daya's told us, she's spending more and more time with Fahri, even inviting him over and letting him touch her hair yesterday!" Franziska comments.
"Well, it's not too late to fix 'em up! I'm so tired of the slow burn romance!" Taystee exclaims.
"Yo tambien," Blanca murmurs. "I know, we'll send those out pronto!"
"Aleida?"
She turns to Lillian Hayes, her former boss at Walmart, where she used to work at as a teenager. "Yeah?"
"I thought I recognized you! How you been?"
Aleida grins. "Real good, gracias for asking. What about you?"
"I'm doing well." Lillian smiles at her and Leon. "Lookin' for anything today or you just wanna window shop?"
"We're just browsing and if we see something we like, we'll get it!" Leon answers.
"Carry on, then."
"So, you behavin' today?" an older white man asks Aleida while standing across from her at the cash register where she's scanning items he's buying.
This is a strange question, but customers can be weird sometimes, especially at Walmart. "Sure?" she answers in a confused voice.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" a black teenage boy with a buzz cut asks. He's behind the guy and he's holding a box full of an orange and yellow lava lamp. He's wearing blue jeans, a dark purple shirt that shows off his chiseled chest, and work boots. "Why don't you just let her ring you up and leave?" Aleida sends him a thankful beam.
"You're not in any position to tell me what to do, Mr. Nosy."
"Here are your things, sir," Aleida hands the creep a bag with his purchases inside. When he takes it but doesn't budge, she waves him away. "Go."
"You're very pleasing to the eye," he tells her. "I'll be waiting for you, right outside the door. I don't care how dark and cold it gets, Aleida."
She covers her nametag quickly and a squeamish feeling grows in her belly. "Just get the fuck outta here, viejo! ¡Pa' fuera!"
"You heard the girl. Walk away and go straight home. If I see you still lingering around when she's finished here for the day, I'll call the police."
The asshole just smirks. "I'll be back another time when the cockblocker can't interrupt us, sugar." He leaves.
"Shit, I gotta know your name. Ain't no stranger dude ever had my back like that before."
"Leon," he tells her with a grin. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'll stay until your shift is over and walk you to the bus or your car, but I gotta make sure that scoundrel never bugs you again."
"Nah, it's alright, I always get comments like that. Nobody's ever done nothin' to me. Are you from around the area?"
"It's a far train ride for me."
Aleida nods in understanding. "I'll just bring pepper spray with me."
"I'll let the police know about that piece of dung." Leon sets his lava lamp down and she smiles as she scans it.
"Gracias, that'll be fifteen bucks."
"Alright!" Leon hands her the money and their fingers touch slightly. A spark shoots up her arm, and it seems like he'd felt it, too.
"No wonder why we were so drawn to each other when I fell into your arms at the bar!" Aleida realizes out loud. "We met when we were younger...like, once, and I just remembered the moment today, since I used to work here. You protected me from some random loser..."
"Damn, that's right! I haven't made a trip to Walmart in ages..."
"Yeah, me neither. Even though you got that motherfucker in trouble for his verbal harassment, he wasn't sent to prison, so I always carried around a can of mace. I'm hella good at looking out for myself. He never showed his feo face again anyway...must have just been a loco drunk. You didn't need to travel all that way for me!"
"I would have, though." Leon hugs her from behind and she squeezes the muscles in his strong arms. He keeps holding her and she feels so safe, loved, and completely at home.
"That ugly cabrón had hair...I'm more attracted to bald guys, I've noticed, but I wanted to give you a chance. I know this sounds real weird, but I got worried once you started growing out your hair. Only guys with hair, have sexually harassed or raped me. I'm aware you ain't like that...so you're one in a million," Aleida states.
"I'll never do anything to you that you don't like," he promises her as he turns her around. She closes her eyes and hums with bliss as he cups her face in his hands. Leon presses his soft lips to her forehead first, then her cheek, while caressing her belly and then her hair. "I swear, you're good with me."
Aleida smiles. "I love knowing that."
