❝𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐓S 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐑.❞
"You look even more beautiful when you're crying, cuore mio." The husky words roll off his tongue like silk, and I hate the way goosebumps ripple across my skin as I meet his dark...
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LEILANI ────────── ───
TODAY OFFICIALLY MARKS A WEEK since I almost had the Mario coins slammed out of me by Lucifer's incarnate. Despite my drunken haze at the time, the clear-as-day memory is scorched into my brain like a permanent tattoo.
As I sweep a wide-eyed glance over the cafe, my gaze pinballs between the roaming cats, the practically-drooling male customers, and all my female coworkers dolled up in angel costumes.
This morning, in no time, an avalanche of new customers came sweeping into the cafe, reminding me that it was that time of the year again.
Little Angel's Trust Day.
A.K.A the charity event my workplace hosts every year in the lead-up to December. A day where the female waitresses like myself are decked out in skimpy angel lingerie; just a click of their fingers would have customers howling with their tongues rolling out, salivating like depraved coyotes.
Meanwhile, male waiters are dressed in fancy suits like a White Knight.
No matter how important this event is, I can't stop my focus from drifting through the cracks of my fingers — ears buzzing, vision hazing over and teeth impulsively sinking into my bottom lip.
A familiar sting of dread spears through my chest, evolving into a tight, twisting knot as the incessant nightmare of last week comes rushing back in full force.
I feel my throat constricting as if an invisible choke collar had been fastened onto it. With a shaky hand gliding across the pearl-white corset barely containing my cleavage, I inhale deeply, attempting to steady my rampant heartbeat.
Breathe, Leilani. Just breathe. One, two...
"Earth to Lei, hello? Are you here? I repeat, is my best friend here with me?" Abruptly, I'm plucked from the bottomless abyss of my thoughts, my vision snapping back into focus as manicured fingers click in my face.
Blinking, I drag my lips into a stiff smile as Chloe situates herself in front of me, head tilted sideways like an owl while she gives me a once-over.
"You okay?"
"Having the time of my life," I reply dryly, throwing up a thumbs up.
For a moment, Chloe's eyes sharpen, reminiscent of those of a hawk, before she breaks into a million-dollar smile that could light up an entire town, tackling me into a hug with the strength of a 400-pound heavyweight champion.
Help! I tap out, I tap out!
"Oh, my adorable little introvert!" She coos, swaying me around.
"C-Can't... breathe." I wheeze, struggling about in her iron grip.
A relieved exhale bursts past my lips as she finally pulls back to squeeze my shoulders. "Cheer up, my babe. You're bound to turn the necks of all the customers here. Before we know it, we'll be drowning in money by the time the charity event is over." She tosses in a little wink.
