𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻

𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻:
Tres Leches

❅𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻❅

The next morning, I was focused on cleaning and preparing everything for the coming week.

Especially since tomorrow is Monday.

I already went over my lesson plans and mapped out the things I needed to get done.

Now all I needed to do was clean and then head over to the grocery store.

Cleaning really didn't take too long considering my apartment was already pretty clean.

I just made sure to wipe everything down and then sweep and mop the floors.

Then I showered and pulled on a pair of leggings with a Chanel t-shirt that clung to my body, sliding on a matching cardigan over it.

Once I slipped on my sneakers and grabbed my keys, I headed out of my apartment down to the parking garage.

The nearby grocery store was only a few minutes away, and I already had a list made so I could quickly get in and out, given how overstimulated I tend to get in stores.

Of course, there were a couple of bottles of wine on that list, and then common ingredients for meals.

I also picked up some snacks to bring when I teach since I tend to get hungry.

I pursed my lips as I analyzed the different pre-made salad bowls, trying to decide if I wanted to grab some or make my own to bring.

But making my own required much more work.

And also dirty dishes.

I nodded to myself, pre-made salad it is for this week.

Maybe only two bowls will work considering I can eat at home aside from Tuesdays and Thursdays when I teach.

Now I just need to figure out what I want to do for dinner tonight.

I don't feel like doing too much, so maybe just chicken with veggies.

I should probably make another side to go with it.

"Vee?" I suddenly heard a familiar voice call out.

Which immediately made my head turn, noticing Roxi approaching me with a basket on her arm.

I forced a smile at her presence, noticing she wore a tight shirt and her usual jeans with wedges.

Well, this is fucking great.

"Roxi... hey," I said as she stopped in front of me, briefly pulling me in for a side hug.

"How are you mija?" she asked, smiling widely at me as we pulled back from the brief hug.

I forced my smile to grow wider, "Good just picking up a few things for the week," I explained, glancing over to her slightly filled basket, "What about you?"

Roxi shrugged, "I came to pick up a couple of small ingredients for dinner," she told me.

I nodded, "I'm currently trying to figure out dinner for myself too," I admitted, knowing I was still thinking about what I wanted with chicken besides veggies.

Maybe mashed potatoes?

"You should have dinner with us," Roxi suggested, naturally making my eyes widen before I could realize it, "Carlos and Dani have already started cooking, so it won't be long."

I quickly shook my head, "I really wouldn't want to intrude—"

"You could never intrude on us," Roxi immediately assured me, "We're having birria arroz y frijoles—one of your favorites remember?"

I nodded a few times, even if I wanted to suddenly bang my head against a wall.

The last thing I wanted to do right now was have dinner with Dani.

Especially after I've been trying to put space between us so she would get some kind of hint. 

Mostly because I have issues with voicing the hint myself.

But it seems Roxi is unaware of this.

She's unaware of a lot of things—among other people.

"I'm even making tres leches," Roxi added with an excited smile when I remained silent, entirely buried in my thoughts.

I couldn't exactly get words out—all I could do was hesitantly nod. 

And that was enough confirmation for Roxi, given she immediately clapped in excitement.

I'm never coming to this grocery store again.

"Okay, so you go take your groceries home and come over whenever you're ready," Roxi said, earning another half-nod from me.

"Okay," I whispered as I backed away from her to the self-checkout—wondering how I continue to get myself into these situations.

It's starting to feel fucking inevitable at this point.

On the bright side, I would get to enjoy a really good meal.

With a lot of leftovers sent home with me.

On the downside...

Dani.

Someone who I haven't spoken to since the ice skating incident.

And luckily, she's given me my space and only texted once.

It was one of those simple Can we talk? texts.

And I never answered.

But eventually, I knew I would have to address everything with her.

It felt theoretically impossible not to.

So maybe this dinner could be a good thing.

It's at least helping me face someone I've been avoiding for the last couple of days.

And the quicker we talk, the better.

Especially now that I'm beginning to have a different perspective when it comes to Mazin.

But I should focus on one thing at a time.

Which was currently a dinner that I was dreading to attend.

I purposely took my time putting up my groceries and then driving over to Cuban Heat.

And while I knew they wouldn't eat without me—I more or less hoped it would shorten the amount of time I would be here.

I let out a deep sigh as I slid out of my car parked in front of the familiar restaurant.

Which was closed on Sundays.

But they had this roomy apartment above the restaurant—a place I recall coming after school or even on the weekends to hang out with Dani.

I used the separate side entrance, which was already left unlocked for me.

As soon as I entered past the tall door, I locked it behind me and walked up the wooden stairs that twisted around to another flight of stairs.

At the top was a wide hallway decorated with tinsel and Christmas lights—while the door at the end had a festive wreath hanging on it.

I hesitantly reached up to knock on the door upon realizing it was locked.

Which was more or less out of precaution if someone did try to come upstairs.

I forced a smile when the door slowly opened, revealing Dani standing on the other side.

She was in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, wearing her dark hair down in loose waves.

"Come in," she immediately said, opening the door wider for me.

I nodded, silently walking past her into the familiar apartment—which lingered with a smell that made my mouth water.

I can't wait to eat honestly.

"How are you?" Dani asked as we walked past the side foyer.

The other foyer was over by the main entrance.

"I'm... good," I awkwardly said, pausing my steps when Dani halted right by the doorway.

"I'm really sorry for the other night," Dani whispered, her dark eyes staring so deeply into mine, "I shouldn't have reacted like that—it just reminded me a lot of what happened in high school."

I immediately nodded, clenching my jaw to prevent myself from pulling away when she gently grabbed one of my hands.

"But I'm really sorry, Vee," Dani said, her tone so soft with me as she gently squeezed my hand, which unconsciously made me stiffen.

"I..." I trailed off speechlessly, irritatingly nodding before I could think it through, "It's okay," I said, instantly regretting my words. 

I'm such a pushover. 

Dani nodded a few times, reaching her hand up, which immediately made me jerk back from her.

At least until she gently grabbed my cheek, slowly guiding me back closer to her by my hand that she still held in hers.

"It won't happen again..." she trailed off, looking into my eyes for such a long moment that it made my stomach twist in anxious knots, "It just all looked really bad in the moment."

I nodded immediately, "Yes, I can see that," I whispered, hesitantly looking away from her eyes.

"So what exactly happened?" Dani asked, gently guiding me closer to her body, "In the bathroom with her, I mean."

I blinked a few times, "Well, nothing really we just..." I trailed off, suddenly feeling caught off guard, "We just talked briefly."

Dani hummed immediately, "What about?" she asked as I continued to avoid her stare.

Almost feeling weighed down by her hand on my cheek.

It felt more like a power move than a thoughtful gesture.

"There you are—oh, Vee, you made it," Roxi suddenly said as she rounded the corner.

I immediately felt my shoulders sink down in relief, subtly pulling away from Dani entirely.

"The food smells amazing," I said, happily shifting my focus from Dani to Roxi.

Mostly because I couldn't formulate a lie about what Mazin and I talked about in that bathroom.

Because there's no way I could tell Dani what really happened.

And luckily, she seemed to drop the topic as we walked through the open living space toward the dining room. 

Which was already set with dishes of food.

"Wait until you taste it," Roxi told me as we approached the table, "This might be your best dinner yet mi amor," she said to Carlos as she sat down next to him.

Meanwhile, I naturally took my seat across from them with Dani—just like I used to do years ago.

"I had to make it extra special for Vee," Carlos joked with his usual smile.

He always looks different outside of the restaurant—wearing a button-down and dress pants with his dark hair gelled out of his face.

Down in the restaurant he stuck to more casual clothes, wearing a hairnet over his hair.

Meanwhile, Roxi wore the same outfit from when I saw her in the grocery store.

"I really appreciate you guys having me," I said as I began making my plate with the rice.

"Of course, you're family here," Roxi didn't hesitate to say, scooping some of the refried beans onto her plate and her husband's.

I glanced over to Dani, "Want some?" I asked her, holding up the large spoonful of rice.

Dani immediately nodded, "Please," she said, causing me to scoop some of the rice onto her plate.

And as I added some meat and beans onto my plate, I did the same for Dani—weirdly getting flashbacks from when we used to be together.

I always made her plates for her.

And she would always watch me so openly as I did, keeping her arm around my waist.

Just as she is now.

Minus her arm around my waist.

"Thank you," Dani said as she picked up her spoon.

I nodded, "Of course," I whispered, now picking up my spoon as well.

"So how has everything been for you, Vee?" Carlos suddenly spoke as we all began eating our food, "Catch us up on everything."

"Yes, we would love to hear about Korea," Roxi said in agreement as she scooped some of the refried beans and rice on her plate together for a bite.

"Me too," Dani said, subtly running her arm around my waist.

Which felt almost expected.

Even if it made me stiffen, slowly chewing my food as I unconsciously glanced down at my plate.

"Uh, it was good—my mom really enjoyed having me," I briefly said, clearing my throat as I scooped my spoon into the rice on my plate, "My mom's side of my family were really happy too."

Roxi smiled, "It's nothing like having your daughter back home," she said, briefly glancing over to Dani, "She only comes over for work or Sunday dinner."

Dani jokingly rolled her eyes, "You still see me every day," she pointed out, making her mom shake her head.

"I like having you over for dinner—it's like old times," Roxi explained, picking up her glass of water for a sip.

"This currently feels like old times," Carlos added as he took another bite of his food, "We've missed you guys together."

I cleared my throat, practically choking on my food at his assumption.

"I... uh—"

"We're not together," Dani quickly clarified for us both.

I nodded silently, still unable to find something to contribute to this topic—which I knew Carlos meant no harm in.

I mean, Dani's arm is around my waist so I know how it seems. 

Luckily, Roxi quickly changed the topic to how I'm currently settling in—allowing us to avoid the previous awkwardness.

And then the rest of dinner naturally flowed smoothly, especially when it was finally time for dessert.

I haven't had tres leches cake in so long.

Even if I felt beyond full, I couldn't stop myself from finishing the entire slice of delicious cake.

I also found myself carrying a to-go container that Roxi insisted I have for lunch or dinner tomorrow.

So all in all, it felt like a pretty good dinner to me.

"I heard there's supposed to be a Christmas movie night downtown tomorrow," Dani said as she walked with me down the flight of stairs.

Dani had insisted on walking me to my car considering how dark it was outside, and I guess I didn't mind the company on the way down.

"That sounds like fun," I said, unsure of what to say.

Because it feels like she wants me to go with her.

And I always struggle with saying no to her.

"You don't work on Mondays right?" Dani asked as we continued down the stairs.

"I don't—just stuff to handle on the other side of things," I said as we approached the door that I unlocked and pulled open.

"We should go together then," Dani said, pulling the door open wider as we walked out into the chilly night air.

"Yeah," I whispered, walking down the sidewalk with her by my side.

"Okay cool, I'll also bring some snacks to go with the popcorn," Dani determined as we approached my car.

I nodded, recalling how the movie theater never had the snacks Dani preferred.

We would get some of the candy, but typically we would sneak in our preferred choice of snacks.

"Okay," I said, reaching into my cardigan pocket for my keys.

"I'll text you the details," Dani said as I unlocked my car.

And before I could begin to open the door, she subtly pulled me back by my arm—wrapping me in one of her usual hugs as our bodies naturally pressed together. 

"We're good right?" Dani whispered as I unconsciously stood stiff in the hug, thinking deeply about her question.

Because now is the perfect time to have this talk.

I just don't have the best feeling about it.

But she seems calm, so maybe now is my window. 

"Right, Vee?" Dani asked when I stayed silent, pulling back from the hug slightly to analyze my face.

I nodded before I could think it through, "Yeah—yes, we're good," I whispered before I could think it through, letting out a deep sigh as I pulled away from her entirely, "I just should probably go."

Dani immediately nodded, "Of course," she said, backing away from me as I reached for my car door.

And as soon as I was settled in the driver's seat, I started the car immediately and buckled my seatbelt.

I felt more than ready to get the fuck away from here.

And quickly.

I let out a deep sigh as I navigated the car away from the curb—ultimately feeling disappointed in myself.

It was enough to make my eyes burn with unwanted tears.

"Why didn't I just say something?" I whispered to myself in frustration, quickly wiping away my tears as I tried to focus on the road.

But I swear all I could do was cry, hating that I still couldn't speak up for myself.

I need to tell her tomorrow.

This is all just getting too deep for me, and I need to let her know that I don't want what she does.

I just genuinely hope she takes it well.