Querencia

Chapter Six

"Wow." I say in a breathy voice.

I'm standing in the entrance of Ariella's door to pick her up. She's dressed in a baby blue lacy sundress with her hair twisted into a bun.

"Well you did say dress casual, so this was the best I could do in such short notice."

"Angel you could be in sweats and covered in dirt and still manage to look...wow"

"Angel?"

"Seems fitting don't ya think."

"It's new, I like it." She says closing and locking the door.

"You look amazingly beautiful too by the way." She compliments while we walk to my truck.

I open the passenger door for her. "Ooo manners." She says while hopping in.

"Of course." I say dramatically before closing the door and heading to mine.

. . .

"A bookstore?" She questions as I park in front of a local bookstore.

"Patience Angel."

We walk hand in hand and I'm impressed with how well I'm able to hide my nerves. This flow of confidence seems to be in control, and I'm rolling with it.

"Hello girls." Mrs.Benit comes up to us, she's middle aged with reddish brown curly hair and a lanky stature.

"Hello Mrs.Benit, thank you for letting us stay." I greet sweetly.

"As always sweetness" she says while handing me the keys to the store "have fun girls." And with that she left, switching the open sign to closed.

"So this is what happens at seven forty-five?" Ariella asks.

I nod "And..", I grab her hand and led her to the back of the store.

We head up the stairs and open the door to the roof "This."

I watch as her face lights up in awe.

The sky is just beginning to set with shades of burnt orange, rich red, and a pale yellow. There's black candles set around, smelling of vanilla. In the center of the candles lies a blue woven blanket with containers of hot food.

"Oh Lee." She says covering her open mouth with her hands.

"You like?" I smile.

"Oh I love. Lee this is something from the movies hell my daydreams from freshman year." She chuckles still looking around.

"This is sort of an apology" she looks at me "for taking so long. And I don't mean just to call. After waiting three years you definitely deserve movie romance."

Her eyes begin to water, I intertwined my fingers with hers and playfully tug her to me, placing my lips on hers. We smile and laugh into the kiss. I pull away only for her to pout "Don't pout, the food is getting cold."

She smiles and turns to the picnic and sits down, me following after her.

"You cook?" She says amazed before opening one of the containers "lasagna?"

"Ryan told me it was your favorite, luckily my mom has the best recipe and cooking is one of the hobbies under my belt. We also have garlic knots, salad, and snickerdoodle cookie dough." I say opening each container "and some sweet tea." I say pulling out two thermal cups.

"You made all this?" She asks.

"Well my mom helped, I can never get the tea right."

" I can't believe you pulled this off in one day." She says amazed before taking a bite. She moans " God now I have to marry you."