My Angel

#10

Rosalie's POV - is
Hayden's already at my car by the time I arrive. I unlock the car and she gets in the passanger side.
"This is definitely the nicest car I've ever been in," she tells me when I get in.
"How many cars have you been in?"
"My father's. My various exes'. Police car. Three times. A few taxis."
"How many exes have you had?" I don't know why it slightly bothered me, but it did, the only fact that she had multiple exes made something inside me stir. I start driving as an excuse to hold onto something.
"Seven."
"All of them girls?"
"Five. Two boys."
"Did you love any of them?"
"No. They were just a bit of fun."
"Have you ever liked anyone? More than as a bit of fun?"
"One. Maybe."
"What was their name?"
"Well. She's blonde. American. Name begins with an R. She has a beautiful laugh and a smile I wish I could see more. Her eyes are more beautiful than anything I could possibly imagine. And she reminds me of an angel." She was smiling, not just with her mouth, but with her eyes.
"What about you?" She asks, "you ever liked anyone?"
"There was someone I thought I loved. A long time ago. I was in love with the idea of being in love. And there's someone else. I don't know if I like them yet. But I think I do."
"What are they like?"
"Her smile is like magic. It could light up the room. She's not got much of a filter. She can make me laugh. And she's one of the first people who isn't family that I've trusted in a long time. I think I trust her, at least."
"Is she good for you?"
"I don't know. But I think I could give her a chance."
"Really?"
"Yes. But I couldn't immediately jump in with both feet. I was hurt by someone a long time ago, and it's going to be hard for me to let my walls back down." I'm looking into her eyes at the end of my sentence. She takes a deep breath and kisses me. It's soft, and quick but it feels right. I know it sounds cheesy, but it almost felt like sparks fly between us. She sits back and has a smile on her face, but she's biting her thumb. I smile back at her.
"Was that okay?" she asks me, nervous for the first time in me knowing her. I respond be taking the hand away from her face and kissing her.
"Yeah, it was okay."
She laughs awkwardly. "Wow, this is way harder with someone you actually like."
"I've never had to do this before. It was arranged last time."
"Well, uhh."
"I never thought I would ever see you speechless."
"Neither did I."
"Why don't I take you on our boat?"
"You've got a boat?"
"Yes."
"Okay. But first we need to get you a job with the nice woman whose letterbox I'm using."
"Of course."
I reach out and hold her hand, looking back to the road. I see her smile out of the corner of my eye.

After about half an hour of silence, Hayden suddenly says, "turn at the next right."
I do.
"Good. Now go right again. Now left. Now right. Straight on. Now left. Left again. Right, it'll now be obvious."
It was. We parked opposite a building with three cars inside and a sign saying, "Denise's Auto Repairs."
A woman, I would assume of about forty, is working in the hood of a car in dirty blue overalls.
"Hey Denise," Hayden says, walking in.
"Hayden. I wasn't expecting to see you here. Would you like a coffee or something?"
"No thank you. I've brought you an assistant."
"Really."
"Denise, meet Rosalie. Rosalie, Denise."
"Nice to meet you Rosalie." She wipes her hand on her overalls and holds it out. I shake it.
"So, you're interested in a job here?"
"Yeah."
"Got any experience?"
"I've fixed most of my family cars."
"Can I trust you?"
"Yes."
"Then you're hired. But trust me, I have a knack for identifyibg lies."
"I don't have any to tell."
"Good. When can you start?"
"Next Monday sound okay? I don't know what time I'll be able to be here, I'm afraid."
"Just be here after school. I reckon I've got an overall that would fit you."
"I'll see you then."
"I guess you will."
"Thanks Denise," Hayden says, "I'll pay you back for the jumper you gave me."
"Don't worry about it kiddo."
"Bye Denise."
"See you around."
Her focus goes back to the hood of the car. We go back to the car and I start putting the jetty into my satnav.
"So how big is this boat?" she asks.
"It's more of a smaller yacht."
"A small yacht? You casually own a small yacht?"
"Well we are billionaires."
"Billionaires?"
"$34.1 billion thanks to Alice's help with shares I believe."
"What's that in pounds?"
"Pardon?"
"I get that's a lot, but if I could ask it be converted to pounds for exact context."
"Well it's richer than both Batman and Tony Stark I believe."
"Well shit. You really are rich."
"Didn't you guess with the multiple cars?"
"Meh. I got you were rich, but I didn't realize you were rich rich."
"Does that matter?"
"Not at all."
"Are you sure?" I ask, now a little nervous and I look away. She hooks her fingers under my chin and brings my head up to look her in the eyes.
"Of course not. You're interesting, and honest and you care about your family. You would give anything to keep them safe. You have so many things I like about you and that couldn't change. Not for anything."
She kisses me and smiles. I smile back. For the first time, I have something that feels real and I can't forget that.
"Let's go to the jetty," I tell her, turning on the engine.