arliah's pov
"she's gonna hate me." i say
"no she won't arli." diego says with a laugh, pulling into the driveway.
"and what about jess?" i ask
"she'll love you." he says, turning the car off and unbuckling.
"and if she doesn't?" i ask. he looks at me.
"she will arli. now come." he says. he then gets out and closes his door. before i can open my door, he opens it for me and i thank him. i get out and grab my phone. diego closes the door and locks his car, and then we head to the front door. diego knocks lightly. i wait nervously behind him.
"coming!" i hear a girl yell. i hear it being unlocked and then it opens, revealing a very pretty girl, about my age or a little older.
"diego!" she exclaims. they hug for a moment before pulling away.
"jess this is arli, arli this is jess." diego says. she hugs me immediately and i laugh and hug her back.
"your so pretty." she says pulling away.
"thank you." i say back.
"ok. come on in." jess says, walking back inside the house. i walk behind her and diego closes the door and follows behind me.
"candy. diego's here." jess says. a women that's looks just like diego, looks up from chopping carrots. she smiles as her eyes land on diego
"hey handsome." she says walking to him.
"hi momma." he says back, hugging her. i stand next to jess awkwardly.
"another tattoo?" she asks examining his face. diego nods lightly.
"very nice. very nice." she says nodding.
"thank you." he says.
"now, this lovely young lady must be arli." she says turning to me and smiling. i nod with a smile
"it's so nice to meet you." i say as she gives me a hug.
"as to you. you can call me candy by the way." she says pulling away. i nod.
"you know what. i'm gonna show you around." she says. i laugh and nod. diego smiles at me before candy and i walk away.
"you know, i never liked the girls diego brought home, except for jess. a lot of the girls we're just with him for the fame. the money." she says and i nod.
"he was getting heartbroken left and right, which is why he started xans." she says.
"thankfully he quit. and found a wonderful girl like you. i mean he can be an idiot, like a real big idiot. but you just have to give him time." she says. we're now outside. i have the urge to tell her we aren't really dating. just talking. and he's cheated on me multiple times technically. but she seems happy that he's happy. we sit down in a pair of lawn chairs.
"your very pretty so i can see why he likes you." she says. i laugh
"thank you." i say and she nods
"just..please be careful with him. he may not show it but he's fragile." she says. i nod
"i wouldn't think about hurting." i say. and for the first time i admit this, to myself and out loud.
"i love him."
