PUPPY

CHAPTER 15

He looked straight into my eyes and gently said: "Amalia, do you wanna date me?"

I looked down at the glass table. For a moment the room became a small space and the air vanished. I took a deep breath before answering: "We can't."

"Why?"

"This between us is not normal!" I quickly replied.

He let out a short sigh before saying: "Normal? What's even normal in the world that we live in? More than a hundred years ago, it was wrong for women to show kneecaps, and now it's completely normal that a girl wears a miniskirt. And more than thirty years ago, it was wrong to be anything other than straight. Now you can be homosexual, pansexual, transgender and much more. The world changes and so do the people. And that's why we decide what's normal." For the duration of his monologue, he kept looking into my eyes.

Slowly he leaned over the table and cupped my cheek. "Be mine and I'll make you happy."

I never felt so loved by anyone, not my shitty family nor by my closest friends. He's the first person that made me feel loved, important and not a burden. For him, I took down the wall around my heart. I know it sounds cliche, but I feel like he's sincere with his words. I know that I'll be miserable in the end, but I'm willing to be. I want to be loved. Even if it is for a short moment. I want to feel it, submerge my thoughts and heart in it.

"Yes," I said with a low voice.

"I didn't hear that, Puppy."

"I'll go out with you!"

He gently smiled before walking to me and pulling me into a hug.

I thought of him as a devil. Maybe I don't want to admit that deep down, maybe he's, my angel.

~⭒< ☾ >⭒~

It was a quiet Saturday morning. I was still in bed, waiting for Neil to return from his morning run. Two weeks have passed since we started dating. I got used to being at his place and living together.

I slowly got myself on my feet and made my way to the kitchen. I fixed myself a cup of coffee and sat behind the television. I put on a lame tv-show.

It's weird how a person can make you feel.

I'm happy.

He makes me happy.

I know that everything happened quickly and that love life isn't easy. But I like this side of him that I got to know since the "Steve" thing. He's sweet, attentive and mature. A good listener. He's a workaholic sometimes. Most of all he makes me feel safe and wanted.

The front door of the apartment opened and closed.

"You're already back?" I shouted.

Neil came from around the corner, dressed in a hoodie and running pants.

"I took the short route. It's freezing outside. I'm starting on breakfast. Want something special?" He took off the hoodie and made his way to me.

I smiled at him and said: "I want pancakes with crispy prosciutto, please."

Neil smiled before putting his hand under my legs and back and lifting me.

"Your hands are cold!" I squirmed in his arms. He laughed to himself before putting a small kiss on my forehead.

He walked into the kitchen. Then gently placed me on the kitchen counter. His little displays of love and sweetness are what get the butterflies in my tummy flying.

For the following twenty minutes, I watched him move around the kitchen while making breakfast. I never noticed his wide shoulders and tall build. And that those arms under the clothes were strong enough to carry me around like a princess.