Spices (FIRST DRAFT) ~ An Alejandro and Alfred Story

𝓢𝓲𝔁𝓽𝓮𝓮𝓷

After a slow morning of just enjoying each other's company, making a small breakfast, and discussing the plan for me to move in.

Alejandro has to leave to pick up Selena. While he does so, I head to my hotel to already start getting some things ready, and then go back to his house to figure out how to make space for me, and of course introduce Selena to the idea.

I lean on the side of my car parked near Alejandro's driveway when his car enters the street and whistles to a stop on the driveway.

Selena, at the first sighting of me, slams the car door shut and runs toward me. I pick her up, Alejandro is eyeing my car. He points at it. "Are you just gonna keep it out here?"

I reply, "yeah, no one really uses the street. Is that okay?"

"Al I don't think your car will last a week out here," he chuckles.

"Why?"

"It's not every day that a fancy car like that is parked out in the open. Something for sure will happen; it's not the safest neighborhood."

I wave him off and head inside. "Oh, it'll be fine. If anything, I'll sue."

"You're so funny."

Moving in with Alejandro might have been the best decision I've ever made next to relocating to Missouri back in November.

I was scared I would be a burden, an issue, and we would regret even suggesting the idea within a week.

The idea of the transition was rather easy. Selena was totally on board and more excited than both of us combined. Except, when it came to making room for me, I found that it was kind of uneasy bringing my own things into the house, considering after Valentina died, a lot her things like some clothes, jewellery, perfume, and hair products still stayed on the dresser in Alejandro's room and in the bathroom. I felt like a major inconvenience, and almost like Alejandro was forced to remove the memories of her from where they used to lie to make room for me.

As time went on, we all got used to the idea of me living with them. We had lots of good moments, those that brought us closer together.

Alejandro really appreciated the second pair of hands around, and I was able to help him out with Selena or some household chores while he tended to her.

She was super impatient, yelling out for her dad and repeatedly expressing the dire need of help she was in, when in reality all that was troubling her was the inability to reach a toy on a shelf or open a box.

Still, Alejandro had a lot more peace of mind knowing I was there to help with whatever he needed, and I could share the responsibilities of the house.

This allowed for him to have more free time, and with that came more time to spend with Selena, reading with her, playing with her, or doing some extra baking to keep her engaged. Whatever system we had going on, it was working, and I could see that it was benefiting Alejandro a lot.

There were times when all three of us bonded, and soon, I began silently referring to myself as family as well.

Selena's favorite game for us all to play was charades. At first, we would come together and write a bunch of words or prompts on small pieces of paper and then put them into a hat, taking turns acting them out.

One time, Selena pulled out a really special prompt out of the hat and had to turn to her father for help with it. He whispered some things into her ear and declared that she was allowed to speak for this round.

After some giggling and shyness, she finally stood up, put her hands on her hips, and began to stroll around the living room. Her hands smoothed the top and sides of her head, her curls futilely popping back up. The look her in eyes and her stace oddly reminded me of...