The Bet

31) Swirl v.s Blast

Camila's POV

  I stormed out of the meeting with Cortez at our designated neutral zone 'The Garden', far from satisfied with how it went. She just doesn't understand how to be a team player, but if her shit is going to stink up my life, she'd better learn, and she'd better learn quickly.

  I twirled the pen in my hand rapidly, needing a distraction for my hands because I'm just about ready to strangle the next person that I come across.

  "Hi, Camila."

  I whirled around, ready to say fuck restraint and let all hell lose on whoever had the audacity to follow me out of that shit show and call me by my first name, but then I laid eyes on Angel, and some of the tension released from my shoulders.

"Oh, hi Angel. What's up?" Then some of the tension came back when I remembered where we are. "And what are you doing here?" It's not safe.

  She visibly recoiled.

  Damn it. I should have known she would take that the wrong way.

  "Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shown up unannounced. I just thought you might be here and —"

  I embraced her tightly, trying to calm myself down. "No worries, Dear. I was just surprised is all, but pleasantly surprised." I grinned uneasily as I guided her far away from the building full of criminals with a hand around her waist. "Did you just want to hang out for a bit?"

  I had a lot planned for today, but I can spare an hour to grab a smoothie with my Angel, especially after I left her hanging yesterday.

  "Yes, but if it's too much trouble, then I can leave. I wouldn't wanna —"

  "Nonsense, I have another meeting scheduled in a few hours, but we can go get smoothies or lunch if you'd like. Spending time with you always brightens my day."

  It's corny, but I want to reward her for putting herself out there and making the first move. I worry that if I reject her now, she'll never spontaneously seek quality time together again.

  The corniness payed off, as she smiled at her feet and shied away from my touch bashfully, trying to hide the way her skin warmed under my attention.

  I pulled her tightly back into my side, and she giggled. "Yeah that sounds nice."

  My palm itched to smack her ass as she bit her lip and fluttered her lashes up at me. Cute little temptress. I held back though, because I heard others start to pour out of 'The Garden' and don't want to draw more attention to my Angel by making her squirm.

She hopped in her car, and I climbed into mine before following her to our smoothie spot.

  After placing our orders, we went to our usual table and I opted to sit on the same side of the booth as Sam, needing to feel her close to calm the irritation that's still brewing in my chest. "So, how's your day been, Angel?"

  She snuggled into my side, chasing some of the stress away. "It's been alright. I just went to work and picked Mickey up from school. How about you?"

  I sighed and rubbed my eyes with the hand that isn't resting over Sam's shoulder. "Honestly, kinda rough, but it's getting better now that you're here." Turning her chin to face me, I pecked her on the cheek.

  She always melts for the cheesiness.

  She giggled and hid her face in my arm. "Ditto." The cutie mumbled into the fabric of my blazer's sleeve.

  I smiled down at her as she rested her head on my arm for a bit.

  I could stay like this forever.