One Kiss - Mayans MC

Part 7

6 years earlier

Before I can even open my eyes, I can feel the throbbing in my head and the bile rising in my throat, I quickly leap out of bed and barely reach the toilet in time to throw my guts up. I hear our dorm room door open and close behind me. I get up brush my teeth and then walk back into the bedroom, Em is laying on the bed in last night's dress with a dreamy look on her face. I grab a bottle of Gatorade out of the bar fridge and two aspirin off my desk, I quickly swallow them and flop down on Em's bed next to her.

"Don't ever let me drink again" I mumble

"You said that last time, and the time before, and the time before that" she says laughing

I groan "Please lower your voice" I reply, "Since you're in last night's dress and sneaking in just after sunrise, I take it you had a good night?"

"It was amazing, after you and Nestor left the club, we drove to this all-night diner and talked all night" she says smiling "it was perfect"

"You talked?" I roll onto my side looking at her "You're telling me you didn't fuck his brains out? I am so disappointed in you"

"It's not like that Cami, he is different, he's taking me out to dinner tonight" she replies rolling over to face me "What happened with you and Nestor? I was half expecting to find him still here"

"He drove me home, walked me to the door, kissed me on the forehead and told me goodnight" I say disappointment dripping off every word

"You're telling me you didn't fuck his brains out? I am so disappointed in you" she replies mocking me

"It wasn't from lack of trying" I reply groaning "I actually made a real ass of myself" I bury my head into Em's pillow

"I am sure it wasn't that bad, and if things work out with Miguel and I, maybe I can set you up" she says

"Not a chance" I reply, "I've never been rejected before and really don't feel like making myself look pathetic making my best friend get me a date" sitting up I look at Em "He missed his chance, I'm over it" I climb out of Em's bed and get back into mine "I'm going back to sleep and hopefully this hangover will be gone soon, wake me up later so I can help you get ready for your date" I say before burying my head under the pillows falling back to sleep.

Current day

I spend the rest of the day in bed reading a book and trying to avoid Ez, around 6:30pm my stomach starts grumbling and I can't ignore it anymore. I get up and head down to the kitchen, Coco and Angel are sitting on the couch talking in hushed tones

"Hey" I say opening the fridge, glad to see Ez has left, I find some chicken breast and various vegetables in the fridge, opening the pantry I find it's fully stocked with various items, I spot some pasta and pull it out.

"Are you guys hungry? I am going to make some pasta"

"Yeah, that would be great, do you need any help?" Angel asks me

"Nah, I'm good" I say opening various cupboard doors until I find a cutting board and pots.

The next twenty minutes is silent while I cook, I start to serve up three bowls and grab some beers out of the fridge, setting them down at the kitchen counter "Dinners ready" I say and Angel and Coco come and join me at the kitchen bench

"So how was everyone's day?" I ask

"uhhh it was okay" Angel replies looking puzzled

"Sorry, this is weird for me, I don't really know what to do or say" I reply shoving a mouthful of pasta in my mouth

"Yeah it's a weird situation" Angel replies shrugging "Though I heard you had a lot to say to my brother this morning" Angel replies smirking

"He deserved it"

"I get it, you're just looking out for your friend" Angel replies taking a swing of his beer

We eat in silence

"Where did you learn to cook? This is really good" Coco pipes up

"Thanks" I say smiling "I don't know, it's just one of those things I'm good at, you know what I mean?"

He just shrugs taking his bowl to the sink rinsing it "I'm going out for a smoke" he says to Angel heading to the front door

Angel helps me clean up the kitchen and stacks the dishwasher

"Thanks for helping me clean-up" I say

"It's all good, my mom made me and Ez do the dishes like every night, I find it relaxing now"

"I'm sorry about your mom, you must miss her a lot" I say sitting down on one of the kitchen stools

"Yeah, I do, how do you know about my mom?" he asks looking confused

"Sorry, Em told me"

Angel walks over and sits down on one of the armchairs across from the couch, I walk over and sit on the couch

"It's weird, you know so much about us but we didn't even know you existed" he says

Coco walks back in and sits in the other armchair, I curl my legs up under me and pull a cushion under my chin

"I know little bits and pieces" I reply shrugging "what do you want to know about me?" I ask

Angel smiles with a wicked glint in his eyes

"Do you have a boyfriend?" he says smiling at me

I point to my face "what do you think?"

"Your ex did that?" Angel asks, anger flashing across his face

"Yeah, what did Galindo tell you about your babysitting job?" I ask

"We were told that we would be providing protection to someone who was important to the Galindo family and if you die, we die" he says "Why?"

"There's a bit more to it than that" I reply taking a deep breath before starting "I broke up with my ex, he didn't take it well and started stalking me, he broke into my house and found out I had ties to the Galindo Cartel, he waited until I got home and attacked me which is when I found out he was part of Lobos Cartel and here we are"

Both Angel and Coco looked angry, "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you guys angry, I just figured you should know what you're going up against" I say quietly

"Hey, Cami, look at me" Angel says, "I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at the asshole who did that to your face" Coco sits there silently observing the room

"Thanks" I reply, "I am getting tired, I am going to go to bed, night" I say getting up off the couch

"Goodnight" Angel says

I turn back towards the living room when I get to the end of the corridor, I can see Coco staring at me this time he doesn't break eye contact, I walk into the bedroom shutting the bedroom door behind me. It takes me hours to fall asleep, every time I close my eyes all I see is Coco's eyes watching me.