What If Just...

23 Aiden

Vivian leaves Leo and me alone at the table for a while.

My friend doesn't waste any time.

"So, when are you planning on bringing Vivian home?"

I take a deep breath.

"She's not going home."

"She may not be going, but you do understand she needs to come back, right?" he annoyingly insists.

"She has already started to get used to..." I'm trying to reason.

"Why do you need her?" Leo brazenly interjects.

"What?"

"Why are you trying to keep her here? You remember..."

"Yes, I remember everything," I interrupt him sharply, with a stress upon every word. "There's no need to talk about it every fucking time we meet."

Leo puts his face in his hands in a hopeless gesture, then looks up at me again.

"Don't get me wrong, Vivian is a wonderful girl. And that's why she must get home as soon as possible."

I look around to check if there is no one appearing in sight.

"I spend all my free time with her. It's important to keep an eye on her at first, then there'll be no need. Vivian is a grownup responsible girl, not an irrepressible teen," I emphasize, trying to convince my friend.

"Because you spend so much time and put so much effort, it'll be even more painful later when...", here he begins to speak louder and more animated, "When Mason ran at me, I thought I would not get the ball pass and the chance to score a saving goal. Hi, Vivian," Leo says with a smile, looking at me warningly.

"Shall we go?" I ask the girl.

"Yes", she agrees, and I get up from the table.

"Tomorrow the guys are going to the club, will you join?" a question from Leo is heard.

"I'll think about it. You know, it all depends on my mood."

"Which is usually not there," he adds sarcastically.

"Shut up. You make me sound like a sullen and grumbling monster..."

"Mind you, it's not me who said that," my friend smiles impudently.

"I don't see anything you're talking about at all," Vivian suddenly says.

I look down at the confused asshole with a victorious grin.

"I'm sure he put you up to it," Leo states, turning to Vivian. "Ask anyone, and they'll tell you that this mate's mood is jumping like the wagons on a roller coaster."

Vivian's face is full of bewilderment.

"Yeah, and he also likes all sorts of dark horror like thrillers that make the blood run cold. No wonder he was born almost on Halloween. Never watch movies with him," the scoundrel warns.

"I don't just watch thrillers," I defend myself.

"I don't understand how you don't see it, Vivian. I do have one guess though..." Leo starts his rant.

"Something to do with the stars again?" she asks, smiling.

That's my girl.

Leo is speechless for a moment.

"Well, now I get why you don't notice what a pain in the ass he is," my friend comments caustically.

Vivian finds his remark funny and starts laughing softly.