Young at Heart (Angelina Jolie)

Chapter Eleven: Wild

The following two weeks were definitely important to make me know Larissa better. I got to know that she listens to Brazilian music and sings along while showering; she's very proud of her hair and spends hours trying to make it look good; she cooks her own food, unless she's too tired or out of patience - and hates when I tell her not to, because we have people to do it for us; fortunately for me, she doesn't have to be at UCLA every day but goes almost every day to Collin's father's office, where she works. It's impressive how she is able to work, study and spend time with my kids and I; they actually don't want to go anywhere if she's not going too, and it's sweet to see how she also appreciates their company. By the way, Brad never came to pick up the kids to spend the weekend with him.

And I didn't try to persuade her to sleep with me, even though we always share the same room. Honestly, it's very hard to control my impulses when I'm close to her, because she sleeps on her underwear only - and I'm pretty sure she doesn't do it to tease me, but to feel comfortable, which doesn't mean that doesn't tease me. She told me she likes being free in every way and that includes wearing the clothes she wants to or not wearing any.

These days Larissa has been here, I couldn't help but notice her phone rings a lot, and it's always the same person, though she never answers it and those calls make her mood badly change. We never talk about it, for I don't want to upset her even more. And when she's feeling low, I cuddle her tighter than usual, just to make her be sure that I am and will always be here for her.

For two weeks I saw Larissa feeling bad every time that person called her, then I realized I had do to something if I wanted my puppy to feel good. So one day I had to hide it from her, for the person called more than ten times in a row; and as Larissa waked up, she crazily looked for her phone but wasn't able to find. I knew she'd be angry at me, but I was doing it for her - or maybe for me. To be honest, since Larissa moved to my house, I kept waiting for the day she would suddenly wake up and leave me.

Well, two weeks and she's still here. Lucky me!

By the way, she barely meets Collin or Norah. I think she doesn't want to upset me, because I know very well what kind of friendship they'd keep sharing if she wasn't living here with me.

My children had a great idea to keep her always home when she doesn't have to work or study; actually, Vivi was the one who thought of buying a grand piano for our living room, so Larissa could play it whenever she wanted to, without having to go to Collin's house to do so. And it worked. She would spend most of her free time with Vivi on the piano, like they had nothing better to do; sometimes Larissa would call me to watch her playing something that she always says it's for me. And my days have been brighter since she's here.

Now those tabloid magazines have something to talk about, for she lives with me and everybody knows that. But the funny thing is that some claim she's indeed my love interest, some say I've adopted her; I suppose they'd think that due to her height and she truly looks like a puppy, I have to admit it. I wish I could say what we are, but I have no answer for this; I mean, we kiss and cuddle, most the times share the same bed - to sleep only - and we have to deal with that constant sexual tension between us. That we're in love with each other it's pretty obvious; even Maddox, who's far from home, could tell that when we talked to him by video call.

It's funny that after I decided to focus on my children and not to have any other love interests, I met Larissa and almost instantly fell for her. It's amazing how destiny changes everything we have planned on. It's more than amazing how destiny brought her to my life, and I just realized how much I needed someone in it now that I have her. And I can't complain when I'm so much happy.

*

And this Saturday, Larissa and I wake up with someone calling her. Guess who? The same person who calls her every single day and makes her mood change. She turns off her phone and cuddles me, falling asleep again minutes later. I planned a great day for us, because that's what she deserves after waking up in a way she didn't like to. The kids would hang out with their friends, while we would stay home and enjoy one another's company.