Mysterious

Chapter 26

Arissa sat on Jaime's patio on the phone with one of her friends from high school, Melissa, who had moved to Los Angeles with her husband Jordan nearly 2 years earlier. She was studying business at UCLA and he was a computer programmer.

"You know, you can come and stay with us...as long as you need to, Ris. "

"Thank you, Missa, but, I think we'll get over it. Or, more like, I'll get over it."

"What the hell, Rissa? Why should you get over it? He moved you across the fucking country..walked you in your house and then left. Oh, yeah, and don't forget the fuck. It's like you're his live in...."

"Melissa Rodarte! That is not it!" Arissa scolded her friend. Even though they had been friends since 9th grade, Melissa's thought really caught her off guard every once in a while.

"I just think he was being thoughtless. He'll figure it out. I'll huff and puff pretend to blow the house down and then we'll move on. I mean, am I angry? Heck yes. But is this something I'm going to have to deal with, now and forever?"

"You make a good point there, Arissa. Maybe he just broke you in a little too soon."

"I won't deny you that, Miss. I was a bit shocked. But I think I'm over it now. His family is so amazing, and knowing you're here for me makes it a lot better."

"And don't forget Jordan has cute single friends....:" Melissa joked.

"Okay, I think I'm done. We're on for lunch on Saturday?" Arissa asked.

"Yes. But do I get to see your sexy fiancé?" she asked him.

"No, you won't. He's already leaving for Spain." she responded.

"Break you in soon...huh?"

"I knew it was going to be like this. It wasn't a surprise, Mel."

**

After the evening with Bruno's sisters she wandered through his house, picking things up, opening drawers and sitting in places to see where the best view of things were. It was a lot bigger than even her parents' house. And I share this with him...she thought to herself. After taking a shower she grabbed her three sizes too big sweatpants and sleeveless purple Old Navy top slipping into his bed. Shoot. I don't know which side he sleeps on. He slept on the right side at house...I'll let him have the right side...She curled up in a little ball with her blanket, turned off the light and fell asleep.

At 3:30 in the morning Bruno walked into the house. He started to slam the door, but then noticed Arissa's purse on the couch. Oh. Dang. Don't do that. He thought to himself. And I should probably just put that in a nice place..the floor isn't the best place for it...wait....her shoes are on the floor. He threw his jacket next to her purse. He turned on the hallway light not to trip on himself as he walked toward the bedroom. He saw her almost in the middle of the bed, in a little curled up ball. Oh, my god. She sleeps like a cat. A cat. But my mom says I sleep like a monkey...hmm. He took off his shoes and clothes next to the bed. And she picked the right side of the bed for me...genius! She suddenly stretched out grabbing a pillow on his side of the bed tightly. He slid in underneath her arm putting his head on the pillow. Her leg wrapped around his. "I'm sorry, Arissa." he whispered in her ear.

"I know you are." she answered him.