Angels & Wolves | Book One

Chapter Twenty-Four

Rio's POV

With each stroke of her pencil, she brought the memory to life. One hand rested just below her shoulder blades and the other just above her bottom keeping her afloat in the water. The sparkling blue liquid surrounded her, caressing her body with cool kisses. The tightness in her chest as she struggled to trust the water and the man holding her. Her fear of drowning slowly slipped to nothingness. Relaxation seeping into her body as she realized how nice it was to gaze at the clouds above her.

Oz didn't teach her much about swimming that day, just how to float in the water with no fear. The most important thing he did teach her was that he was nothing like Francisco. He was trustworthy and kind. Rio could see it in his eyes. Something about the way he held her in that water made her feel as if she belonged. As if she were loved. As if she weren't alone.

Tears pricked at her eyes from the sweet memory. Oz was nothing like she had thought he was while she was in high school. She felt as if she missed out on the best part. Sniffing, she wiped her nose and continued sketching Oz's relaxed and gentle hands guiding her through the water.

"Honey?" she heard her mother call from the kitchen. "Rio? Are you okay? Are you hungry?"

Rio glanced at the clock.

"Shit!" she exclaimed. It was 12:56pm. She was supposed to pick up Oz for another date at one but she was still in her pajamas. She'd been drawing all morning.

Rio dropped her pencil on the page she was working on and raced to her closet. Grabbing the nearest items of clothes she could find, she quickly got dressed. With hasty fingers, she combed through her tangled black hair and pulled it into a ponytail. Tripping down the stairs, she tugged her converse onto her feet.

"Bye Mom!" she yelled towards the kitchen.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Silvanna called back. "Do you want some food before you go?"

"No! I'm fine!" replied Rio, opening the front door. "See you later! Love you!"

"Love you—"

Rio slammed the door behind her, searching for the right keys to her car. Shoving the keys into the ignition, Rio couldn't help thinking about how horrible she was for forgetting about her date. She was so engrossed with her drawing she didn't have time for anything else. She didn't even eat. When she was drawing, there was nothing else more important. While she was in high school, Rio could only draw the wolves she saw in her dreams.

Back then she drew three wolves howling at the moon. This time, she included a figure in all white, with wings spreading from his back. It was the first time she had begun to draw anything other than wolves when she was just drawing for fun. At college, she tried to stay away from wolves as much as possible. Not very many professors appreciate the same subject repeated over and over.

As she drove down the street to Oz's home, Rio muttered under her breath about how stupid she was for forgetting the time. In her heart, she promised herself she would never forget her dates with Oz because she had started to look forward to them. It was only her second date with him, officially, but she had somehow begun to feel... something for him that wasn't hatred.

After parking in his driveway and shutting off the engine, she knocked on the door and shoved her hands in her pockets... Or tried to shove her hands in her pockets. Rio glanced down and groaned. Too late she had realized she was in another set of pajama pants with her dad's crocs, and a shirt too small for her.

Behind the door, she heard Oz making his way towards her. Rio wrapped her arms around her torso, trying to hide the fact that she looked horrible for their date. She grimaced as Oz opened the door.

"Hey..." She gave an awkward wave. Rio kept her eyes on the ground, looking anywhere but at him.

"Rio," Oz stated. He sounded a little... shocked? "What's up?"

She quickly flicked her eyes to his, then back to the ground. "I... I'm here for our date...?"

Oz didn't answer. Rio forced herself to swallow her pride and completely look at Oz. She continued, "That is today, right?"

"Uh... No," said Oz, looking Rio up and down. "It was tomorrow... Remember?"

"But... Isn't today Tuesday?"

"Is it?" asked Oz.

"I don't know. That's why I'm asking."

"I don't know either," Oz said, shaking his head. Rio pressed her lips together and glanced at the ground again.

"Okay, well... I look ridiculous. So I'm going to go back home and change. And then I'll come back here and just hang out..." explained Rio. "Okay?"

Oz nodded his head. "Okay. Sounds good. See you in ten minutes?"

"Yes," said Rio, giving him thumbs up. She begun to descend his porch steps and was half way to her car when Oz called her name.

"Yes Oz?" asked Rio, turning around to see him standing in his doorway still.

He opened his mouth, but seemed to hesitate. Then, "You look beautiful in anything you wear, Mario."

Rio blushed, her heart swelling with adoration for the man before her. Those eight words were enough to make her fall even more in love with him.

And maybe that's what I'm doing, she realized. I'm in love with Oscar de la Vega.

What did you think Loves?

Did Oz's use of Rio's full name have a larger impact on her feelings? Or was it the comment before he said her name?

What should they do on their next date?

Should Oz bring her flowers? Or show her another sweet gesture? Like... backing off when he wants to be possessive and protective of her when other guys try to talk to her? Or should he actually be the Alpha he is and protect what he wants?

Oh! That's what should happen next!

Thanks Loves! That actually helped a lot!

Remember to read! Comment. And vote!

 Bye Loves!