The cold hits me hard when I step on the street. I’m not wearing a jacket, so I hug myself, rubbing my forearms as I walk. The street is well lit, and there are a few people outside chatting. I wave and continue on my way.
Waiting on the corner, shivering from the cold, I realize that maybe I should have waited in the warmth of my house a little longer. It’s barely six minutes later. Dani doesn’t live far away, but there are several traffic lights, and I know traffic can get heavy at this hour.
I am freezing to death. Do you see everything I do for you, Greek God?
When I see Dani’s car, I’m so relieved that I smile like an idiot. I jump in, and she drives like crazy all the way to her house.
Eighteen outfit attempts later, to say I’m being indecisive is putting it mildly. Dani has given me multiple options and they’re all cute, but I want to look perfect for him and nothing seems perfect to me. I know he’ll look beautiful in whatever he wears. I feel the need to look my best. This is the first time that I’ve dressed up in a special way to see someone.
Ares still gets all my first times. How am I going to get over that man if he keeps doing that?
“I vote for the skirt, blouse, and boots,” Dani says, chewing Doritos with her mouth open.
“So classy,” I say sarcastically.
“They look great on you and adapt to any occasion; we don’t know where you’re going.” She’s right, I wonder if we’re going to Artemis’s bar or some other nightspot. After getting dressed, I start combing my hair when I see Dani stand up and come toward me, pointing her orange Doritos-stained finger at me. “There’s something I want to tell you.”
I turn around nervously at her serious tone. “Yes?”
“I’m really glad that idiot finally confessed his feelings to you, but . . .” She bites her lower lip. “Remember that he hurt you a lot, and I’m not saying to hold a grudge or anything, I just want you to make him earn your love. You’ve always served it to him on a silver platter, and he hasn’t appreciated it. A few nice words aren’t enough, baby. You’re worth a lot. Let him realize that, too, and let him fight and earn your affection.”
I feel a small pang in my chest at her words, and she must notice the change in my expression because she smiles.
“No, I’m not trying to ruin your first date, it’s just my duty as your best friend to tell you the truth, even if it’s not pretty. You deserve the world, Raquel. I know it, and that idiot needs to know it too.”
I smile back. “Thank you. Sometimes I get carried away by my feelings and lose track of everything I’ve been through with him.”
She squeezes my hand. “I love you, silly.”
My smile widens. “I love you, too, silly.”
My phone rings. Dani and I share a quick glance.
Incoming call: Ares <3
I clear my throat nervously. “Hello?”
“I’m outside.”
Those words are enough to make my heart race.
“I’ll be right out.”
I hang up and let out a squeal. Dani grabs me by the shoulders. “Calm down!”
I say good-bye and head to the door with my heart in my throat. Why am I so nervous?
Okay, calm down, Raquel, you have no reason to be nervous. It’s just Ares. You’ve already seen him naked.
Great, now I’m thinking about Ares naked.
Virgin of Abdominals, why did you endow him so well?
On the street, I see his black car parked in front of the house. Its dark windows don’t allow me to see anything inside. I focus on walking. I don’t know why it’s so hard for me.
Stupid nerves.
As I approach the car, I do the awkward little door dance. I don’t know whether to open the passenger door or the back door. He told me he was coming with Marco. Will Marco be in the passenger seat or not?
Ah, how uncomfortable!
I stand there like an idiot, not knowing what to do. Ares notices my indecision and rolls down the window.
“What are you doing?” There’s no one in the copilot’s seat. I open the door and get in.
“I was just . . .” I glance back and see Marco using his phone. “Hi, Marco.”
He looks up and smiles at me. As I straighten in my seat, I look over at Ares, and I realize he is looking at me from head to toe. What he sees brings a crooked smile to those full lips of his.
“And you’re not going to say hello to me?” he asks.
I lick my bottom lip. He looks so cute in that white shirt. “Hello.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Just that?”
How else? In one swift movement, Ares unbuckles his seat belt, grabs my neck, and stamps his lips against mine. His mouth moves softly, and his lips feel so fucking good on mine. I hold back a moan as he sucks on my bottom lip and bites it lightly.
Marco clears his throat. “I’m still here!”
Ares pulls away and gives me one last short kiss, smiling against my lips. “Hello, Witch.”
He goes back to his place, puts on his seat belt, and drives off. While I sit there paralyzed with my legs like jelly. Oh my God, what this guy does to me with just one kiss. Ares puts on some music, and Marco leans over to get in the middle of our seats. “Samy says she’s ready.”
When he mentions that name, a cold feeling appears in my stomach. Ares turns the wheel, crossing a street. “We’ll pick her up. What about Gregory?”
Marco’s on his phone. “He’s already left with Luis.”
“What about the girls?”
“They went with them.” My eyes fall on Ares. Which girls? Besides Samy, are there more?
“We’re just picking Samy up then.”
Ares stops in front of a beautiful two-story house with a lovely garden. Samy is standing next to the mailbox, looking stunning in a short, figure-hugging dress that shows off her long legs, and a nice jacket. She looks incredibly beautiful.
Isn’t she cold?
She smiles at Ares, and her adoration is so clear. It’s so obvious that she likes him, I wonder if I look like that when I look at Ares. She gets in the back seat, and her smile falters when she sees me.
“Oh, hello, Raquel.”
I smile at her. “Hello.”
“Aren’t you cold?” Marco asks her with a worried expression, and I find it so peculiar how his grim countenance cracks every time Samy appears.
“I’m good,” she says.
Ares looks at her in the rearview mirror and smiles. A pang hits my stomach, forcing me to shift a little in my seat. It’s so unpleasant to feel jealous. I never felt it in my life until I met Ares. And it doesn’t help that they’ve had sex. They’ve seen each other naked, for God’s sake, that’s too much intimacy for a friendship. It also doesn’t help that Samy is crazy about him. I don’t know if I’m overreacting, but I struggle to stay calm and not show what I’m feeling.
Marco’s voice interrupts my thoughts. “Everyone is already there and they’re going to order drinks. What do you want?”
Ares shakes his head. “I’m driving, so I’m not drinking.”
I’m surprised by the seriousness and maturity of his tone, but I’m pleased too.
Marco snorts. “What a killjoy. We would have come by taxi if driving meant you weren’t going to drink.”
Ares slows down on a crowded street. It seems to be busy tonight.
“I don’t like taxis.”
I raise an eyebrow. Oh, the rich guy doesn’t like cabs. I can’t even afford to take a taxi! The bus is my only solution. I don’t even want to imagine what Ares thinks of buses. I’m reminded of the difference between the way we were raised, and how opposite our daily lives are. Our house is one of the last old constructions from the eighties in the neighborhood. The rest of the houses are new customized constructions, Ares’s place included. Mom said that when she moved here almost two decades ago, the Hidalgos’ house was still being built. She was lucky to get a place before the prices skyrocketed.
Marco interrupts my thoughts again. “What about you, Raquel? What do you want to drink?”
My eyes go to Ares, who is still focused on the road in front of us. I can feel Samy’s eyes on me. “Hey, well, I . . . vodka?”
“You don’t sound very confident.” Marco notices. “Well, vodka, then. I think they ordered a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of wine. I’ll tell them to order a bottle of vodka.”