WEST COAST 18+

39.

don't forget, this chapter is a continuation of the last, but outfit is for below.

W E S T C O A S T

After dropping Shanti off, Daniela got a call from her cousin. Enrique would've gone over the things in his mind if her cousin hadn't called her crying hysterically-clearly seeing the big baby gene ran in the family. Only difference is, Tia was a couple of months pregnant. Dani wasn't.

When she got off the phone, she strolled up her mother's steps behind Enrique, confessing boldly, "Enrique, I love you," halting his movements as she turned and sank to sit on the step. "I know we've been fooling around for two months, but I know what I feel."

Enrique walked down a few steps to sit right beside her, "a month and three weeks, two days to be exact." Enrique smirks as she looks stunned. "What, mami? Want me to pretend I ain't happy to be with you and counting the days? I'm like that, aight?"

Daniela smiles, "you're so cute," infused with doses of happy fumes because never has a dude said something like that to her.

Enrique rested his arms over his knees. "How come when I asked you about us moving forward the other day, you asked for more time?"

She drops her gaze from the kids running around. "I don't want you to leave me, Enrique. I'm tired of being left," messing with the fur at her coat, committed to opening up within this conversation. "I've been dragged along. They act so in love while secretly talking to other girls. I'm scared of that happening again, especially with you."

"I'm not here to hurt you, Daniela. Those are not my intentions." She was everything he needed in a woman; Enrique wasn't about to mess this up for something temporary with another. "I care about you.

And she's never had a man care the way he does, unsure how to react to that sometimes. She was waiting to be played. "You could just wake up and stop, Enrique. I don't want that day to come."

"It will never come."

She shifts to face him, "How do you know? Am I just not worth it?"

It felt like he was staring into the eyes of young Dani, though he hasn't met that version of her. "You are worth it."

"So is it the way I treat people? Is it me not doing enough? Like, do I not know how to love right? What is it?" She pleaded for an answer.

Her worry was detected, and he replies, "You do more than enough, and you don't ever gotta worry about me taking that for granted. I feel loved when I'm with you, Daniela. They ain't appreciate you the way they should've, but I will. I just need you to let me in."

He was so good to her, genuine about her. It's more than them fooling around. Enrique wanted to commit himself to her-go the long way and make it far. So did Daniela.

She wanted Enrique to be her last, and not because she was afraid of starting over, but because he meant so fucking much to her. He made her happy all the damn time. Someone so out of her norm was so perfect for her. He kept her balanced, cheery, smiling, feeling loved, respected, supported, and dare I say it, feeling like a princess.

But Daniela couldn't escape those memories when she was crying her eyes out, and the guys she was with would pretend not to hear her or just walk out on her. There was safety in Enrique, but her fear of history repeating itself was clouding her judgment. It could tarnish her potential with him.

"I'm sticking with you," Enrique said, nudging her arm lightly with his. She could pray all day and night; Enrique ain't going no where.

"Like glue?" Daniela smirks, Enrique nodding his head.