WEST COAST 18+

9.

chapter's a lil lengthy

W E S T C O A S T

"I want your mom to adopt me. My mom's always making nasty raisin potato salad and watery mac and cheese," Britt said, gnawing on an oxtail bone.

Daniela burped, excusing herself. "You cook just like her," suppressing a smile as Britt glared her way. "You know how to make a bangin' banana puddin', though."

"I do, don't I? Want me to make a pan for work tomorrow?"

"For work? Girl, drop that shit off at my house," scooping rice up. Disregarding Ashton sprinting through the hall, Daniela asks. "How you feeling, Britt?"

She shrugged lightly, "Sad, but I'll be cool."

"I got Smile 2 on DVD. Wanna pour some grape juice and pretend it's wine and have a girls night?" Daniela offers, Britt nodding enthusiastically.

It was going to be tissues all over the floor and tears soaking the bed until they fell asleep. But Daniela was up for it.

Ashton entered the kitchen with this burst of energy, alerting Daniela's suspicions. She squinted her eyes while he asked, "Daniela, is it cool if Georgie comes over?"

She goes to speak, but Georgie appears from behind the wall. She hums, "Seems like you already made up your mind yourself."

Georgie waves, "Hi, Daniela. I promise we won't be loud. We just wanna play some video games," showing her the bag he carried his game console in.

She had no issues with his presence, asking him, "You hungry?" saying yes without saying yes.

"What you make?" Georgie asks.

"My mom made some oxtails and rice before she left for work." Georgie nodded with a smile, thanking her before Ashton tapped his arm, gesturing for him to follow. Daniela poked her lips out as the two left, uttering, "I guess I'll bring it to you like a servant."

"I see you're becoming less paranoid about things. Same applies for Mr. González himself?" Britt asks.

Daniela headed to the cabinet to grab a glass plate. "Mr. González is married."

"You know damn well I'm not talking about René."

"So be clear on that then."

Britt rolls her eyes, "have you considered things with Enrique, González to be exact?" in case her friend was going to say which Enrique?

She glanced out the kitchen window to make sure he wasn't walking by first before answering. "It's getting harder and harder to not like him," heat spreading throughout her chest and into her face. Daniela started to battle the butterflies she felt inside of her, but they were kicking her ribs. "He's just," she hisses, "I want him."

Britt was squealing and hopping around, but she froze in her spot to ask. "Wait, should I get myself excited about this, or is there a but coming?"

"I..." Daniela hesitated. "I don't see myself holding out much longer," she admitted, terribly stifling a smile as Britt chanted quietly:

"Fuck Enrique. Fuck Enrique. Fuck Enrique," slamming her fists down on the island top.

"Let's just see what happens," Daniela shrugs, because if the opportunity ever presented itself between them, she was going to take it. Let Enrique take her. Boy, oh boy, was she waiting for that.

Ashton hooked up the cords to his TV, taking a step back to see the PlayStation home screen load. "I want one so bad," he pouted, admiring the white console on his dresser.