Brazilian Lounge

sixteen.

Chapter sixteen.

She was absolutely, astoundingly stunning, and it was the least interesting thing about her.

As I hugged her, I thought she'd smell like peaches, or strawberries, instead the smell of fresh air and adventure filled my nostrils. I never knew a women could carry the scent of a good life the way she did.

Marcos left the car for me to use that night, so after greeting her we strolled out of the flat to the parking lot.

"We've been seeing a lot of each other, apparently," she said as I opened the passenger side's door for her.

"According to?" I closed her door and walked around the car. She buckled herself in as I sat down in the driver's seat, ready to take on the steering wheel.

"My friends. Buckle up, won't you?"

"She has friends!" I mocked as I pulled the safety belt over my torso.

We couldn't decide on a radio station, so the majority of the drive was her going through all the stations. I loved the tiny creases she'd get in between her eyebrows when she focused. I tried to start small talk with her, but she immediately shot me down, "I thought we were past the point of irrelevant matters, A,".

We didn't talk much, I'd crack a joke every now and then though. One joke in particular made her laugh uncontrollably, her head tilted back. When she looked at me again, I simply said, "I wish I could make you laugh like that all the time. You're always beautiful, but...it's just so refreshing and great to hear you laugh...well, like that,".

We got to the expensive restaurant.

"What are we here for again?" She looked at the fancy decor in awe.

"Marcos' sister has important news, or whatever," I raised my hand and rested it on the small of her back.

"She couldn't just have a house party, or something?" She placed her hand on top of mine. Thinking she was going to give my hand a tight squeeze, I was mistaken. She gently pushed my hand away as we were greeted by Marcos' cousin.

"Aftonio! Hi, long time, long time, huh?" He shook my hand with a grin. "Who is this beauty?" His eyes travelled to Ms America. I smiled at him, faking it, before leaning in slightly.

"Not yours, that's who," I whispered to him sternly and stood upright again with a smile.

"Right," he nodded and gestured for us to follow him.

Ms America looked at me with an unreadable facial expression. "I'm not yours either, you know?" She winked and started following Marcos' cousin. I walked just behind her.

Soon, we were at the table, the top floor of the restaurant was booked. Everyone greeted me and Ms America...strangely enough, she hasn't given out her name once. I sat next to Marcos, and Ms America took a seat beside me. She got along extremely well with everybody. There was chatter before the main meal, and Ms America had a gift for getting people to have a good time - even though it was just in conversation.

I got up to use the Men's after excusing myself. When I was washing my hands, an old uncle of Marcos stood next to me. He squinted his eyes at me, probably trying to make out who I was.

"Aftonio?" He asked, I nodded and let out a grunt of approval with a small smile. "That girl out there...your father would be proud of you," he said. I took a second.

"Thanks." I let out a short breath through my nose. She's not mine, I reminded myself.

Livia finally called for our attention, it was time for the important news.

"As you all know...Rod and I have been dating for a couple years,"

"Oh, four, to be exact," Rodriguez interrupted, running his hand through his silky head of hair. I caught Ms America licking her lips as he did this.

"Four," she confirmed as small chuckles echoed. "Well...we've been through a lot, a lot," more chuckles echoed. "But we've decided that, before we lose each other for some magical and impossible reason, we should make it official to be together forever-"

"She said yes!" Rod yelled and we all cheered.

"And also...we're having a baby." People were hugging and saying 'congratulations' to the happy couple.

"Have to wonder if they're getting married because of the baby," I whispered to Ms America. Her eyes landed on mine, but hers seemed devilish.

"Of course they are. Anyone can see that the groom-to-be is either weak, or gay,"

"What? Rodriguez? No," I laughed to myself, not accepting her words. She just gave me a serious look. I cleared my throat at the thought that she might have been right.

"Trust me," she said. At that point, I did. I trusted a woman I hadn't known for too long, a woman whose name remained a mystery...a woman who didn't belong to me, or anyone.

AUTHOR'S NOTE
Media used is an Instagram post by Lily Collins (Ms America).