Her Name Was Meloni

trouble in paradise

"So, Nando, I heard you tried to hit on my friend here. Is that true?" Becks asked. My eyes nearly jumped out of my head with shock.

He laughed at he bold statement, and his eyes found mine. I gave him a weak smile. "I guess you can say, I gave a weak attempt of flirting with her, however she said she had something going on and the she wasn't interested." He said. He winked at me in the middle of him talking and I could feel my cheeks warm.

"Yeah. She said she sees no one but her Tate. However, technically, she is still single. Who knows, you could convince her to choose you after awhile?" She said.

"Rebecca!" I sternly. I look over to him and gave him an apologetic smile. "She is joking, and even if she is serious, she's forgetting that I am committed to making it work with Tate. So the most we can be is friends." I said to Nando but I stare into Rebeccas eyes as I said it.

"Now shall we eat and talk about something else besides my love life, please and thank you." I said to acing my hand for the waitress to come to our booth.

The rest of the dinner was fine. I learned a lot more about Nando. He's not like the normal jock I saw on Tv. He was actually a big teddy bear. Sweet, funny and extremely flirty. And Rebecca loved every second of it. He didn't even flinch when she said she was trans. And was that made me like him even more than I already did.....as a friend of course.

Through out dinner, I kept looking down at my phone waiting for a text from Tate.

"Everything alright?" Asked Nando.

My head shot up and I quickly nodded. "Yeah I'm fine. Just waiting for text, is all."

"Babe, Mike hasn't texted me either. They are stuck with there dad." Becks said.

"Your Tate?" Nando asked.

A small smile graced my lips and nodded. "Him and his brother has started working as his dads company together. Mike, the oldest, will be taking over the business side, while Tate takes over the training. There are making them spend a lot of time at the company." I said with sad smile.

He nodded in understanding. "What is it that they do?" He asked.

"They are a security business. Meaning Tate is teaching the newcomers to fight. Can you fight, Nando?" She asked. What is with her today? I can't tell if she loves him or hate him.

He nodded hesitantly. And that made me pause. "You know you are very handsome. A face like that you can't forget. Have we met before Nando?" She asked him. I looked between the two of them.

He tilted his head in thought and he shook his head no. "No, I'm sure. I just can put my finger on it." She said.

Before any further questions could be asked the waitress came back with our food and I quickly found something else to talk about. After awhile one of the guys from the other group came over to get Nando.

"It was nice meeting you, Becks. And I'll see you tomorrow, Loni." He said and walked out with the guys. As soon as he was out of hearing distance I snapped my head to her. "What was that about?" I nearly yelled at her.

She stared after him even after he was gone. "Keep him at a arms distance. I know him, I just can't remember from where." She said.

"What? Do you get a bad vibe from him or something?" I asked

She shook her head no. And she still seemed to be thinking til her eyes widened and her eyes finally met mine. "Holy shit!" She yelled. "I remember who he is." She said. She pulled out her phone and began dialing someone.

"What who is he? Who are you calling?" I asked.

"Hey Kyle, quick question. You know the name of the newcomer who is fighting Tate in a few weeks? Yeah, what's his name? No like his government. I fucking knew it. Thank you my sweet I'll text you later." She said and hung up.

"Theres no way." I said. He doesn't even seem like the type.

"He is the rookie. He is undefeated in the ring right now, and people were begging to get him and Tate to fight. This is the event of the year. They had postered all over the arena. Wow you know how to make some friends." She said.

My mouth dropped open and I groaned in my seat. "What the hell!?"

"First you fall for the hat Asian boxer with mommy and daddy issues, and now the orphan foot ball player who fights to pay his way through college." She said.

"He fight to pay his way through school? Wait!? He's an orphan?" I asked.

"Yep, his dad died when he was kid, and his mom awhile ago." She said. My shoulders sagged. No parents....that could've been me. If my dad let his stress overwhelm him, he could've left and I would be alone.

We finished up the rest of our food and ended up leaving the diner earlier. I had told my dad we would be home a lot later but there was no point of us sitting there doing nothing.

"So what you gonna do about, Nando?" Becky's asked on our way to the car.

"I don't know, what do you think I should do? He sweet and I think we could be good friends but.....I dont know." I said.

She looked at me over the car, as she stood on the driver side and stood on the passenger side. "I think you should talk to Tate first, and then move from there." She said and I nodded my head.

We got in the car and made my way home.

Once I was at the doorstep i waved Becks bye and turned to the door. "I really need to learn how to drive." I said to myself. And began to unlock the door and made my way inside the house, but before I could announce myself I heard my dad talking to someone.

"I don't think she's ready and I'll be damned if a force her into anything she's not ready for. She's in a good place band I don't want to ruin that. I'll talk to her when she is in a more stable place." He said. He was standing at the kitchen island in front of the sink. He looked frustrated and annoyed.

"Dad?" I called to him. His head shot up and a look of shock and worry flashed across led his face before he covered it with a smile.

"I'm call you back later." And hung up on whoever pissed him off. "Hey baby, I didn't hear you come in, how was dinner?" He asked. He seemed nervous.

"It was good. Is everything ok?" I asked

He shook his head and looked down at his phone then back at me. His face relaxed. "Just a little disagreement. Nothing too serious." He said.

"You sure?" I asked once more. He nodded.

"Okay. I'm gonna go upstairs and take shower. If you need me, shout." I said and turned toward the stairs.

What was that?

Maybe trouble in paradise?