The Waiting Game

THE WAITING GAME - 28

FEBRUARY 2021

NEW YORK, USA

To: My Match

just landed in NY, baby. it's snowing!!

To: My Match

i'm now on my way to my mom's house. pls bring a coat, babe. i don't want u to get sick.

From: My Match

I will. Thank you for informing me. I'm glad to know you got there safe. See you later, Ari.

To: My Match

baby, are u ok? i miss u ☹

Ariana sighed and put down her phone. Those messages were from a few hours ago, right when she landed, aside from the last one which she sent just now.

Still yet to receive a reply from the last one.

She is now sitting on the couch, between Frankie and her Nonna, watching a movie. Her dad is sitting on a one-seater while her mom left a few minutes ago because of a phone call. Toulouse is currently on her lap while Myron and Lafayette are sitting by her feet. The rest of her animals were either in their pen or roaming around the house. Ariana played with Toulouse's ears and glanced at the door for the nth time. She craned her neck looking outside the window, sighing and then looking back at the television when she doesn't see what she's looking for.

Ariana hugged Toulouse and tried to focus on the movie she's supposed to be watching with her family. It hasn't even been a minute when she audibly sighed again and looked outside.

"Baby doll, is your neck not hurting with all the head whipping you're doing?" Marjorie asked, and Toulouse began barking as if he agrees with the question.

"Sorry, Nonna... I didn't mean to bother you." She apologized, laying her head on her grandmother's shoulder and petting Toulouse to stop him from barking.

"Not at all, sweetheart." Her grandmother replied, side hugging her and caressing her arm. "But what's so interesting outside that you can't stop checking it?"

"Uh, n-nothing, Nonna. I'm just admiring the snow. I didn't get to experience it in California so..." Ariana shrugged.

"Admiring the snow... Pfft..." Frankie repeated with a laugh, mocking her excuse. "Nonna, she's obviously waiting for her boyfriend to finally knock on that door."

"Oh, I know, my dear. I just wanted to make her say it." Nonna told them with a playful smile.

"Nonna!" Ariana whined.

"Baby doll, it's so obvious. You don't need to lie. Not to your Nonna."

Ariana pouted and laid her head back to her Nonna's shoulder. She sighed once again.

"Ari, I've already lost count on how many times you sighed throughout this movie that you're clearly not paying attention to." Frankie told her. "Why does it seem like you're carrying the problem of the entire world?"

"It's getting dark outside and he's still not here..." Ariana said with a frown.

"Well, didn't he make a promise to show up before dinner? And didn't you say that he's a man of his word?" Frankie sassily said.