Nora's POV
"So what's the deal with Jerrica?" Azli asks just as Jerrica left the table to use the restroom.
"Um, what do you want to know?" I ask, picking at my food. Honestly, i'm stuffed. I hardly eat all day so when I finally sit down to a good meal, I eat quickly. Sometimes I eat too quickly and then can't move much after.
"I don't know. She seems quiet." I smile slightly as I feel Shawn's hand snake across my thigh. The feeling just makes me buzz.
"Well it's probably because she just got out of a two year relationship. This is all kinda new to her." I take another bite, but I blame it on the nervousness of Shawn's hand. I'm full but still eating.
"Define just?" He asks. I can see Shawn smiling and looking away to fully hide his face from Azli. Azli is really nice but I'm not quite sure what he's looking for, a relationship or a hook up.
"Okay, so Jerrica and Scott broke up three months ago. I've never really liked him, he was kind of an ass like all the time. He was nice at first, but then kind of flipped a switch, and I wouldn't have put up with it for as long as she did, but it's whatever. She's a tough cookie but I don't know if she's up for a relationship right now." I spin the straw around in my drink, annoyed at my thoughts of Scott. He's not someone I would have pictured for Jerrica but I'm glad she got out when she did.
"So what she's basically saying is that she's out of your league." Shawn finally speaks up and I can't help but hold my laugh.
"Dude, no one is out of my league." We both continue to laugh as I feel him rub his hand slightly. I still think my situation is still a little nuts, with being more than friends with Shawn Mendes for a month and he still makes me nervous. He still can take my breath away. This calming feeling I've been waiting for just hasn't hit me yet.
We hush as Jerrica makes her way back to the table. She's come out of her shell a lot in the last few months. Scott was just weird, and definitely not my style, but I'll always be there to help pick up the pieces. I know for a fact she doesn't want a relationship, and that she'd rather just have a hook up right now, but I don't know what Azli wants so I don't mix things up. Plus people are always so quick to judge women that just need a shameless hook up, where as men can do it all the time. It's so annoying.
"So what now?" Jerrica asks, and I can't help but notice her chair is a little closer to Azli then it was a before she went to the bathroom. It's only a Wednesday so I know I have to work tomorrow, but the time I get home it will probably be close to eleven, so I should be heading home.
"Well I need to go home probably, I have to work in the morning." I stretch my arms, just tired from the day.
"I'm not ready for bed yet." Jerrica whines. Yep, she wants it. That was easy. I smile smuggly knowing what's to happen. She's a good person, not anywhere near a slut, she just knows what she wants.
"Well I can stay out with you." Azli suggests and this time I can't hold back my giggle, because these two seemed to have hit it off more than I thought.
"I'm with Nora, I should head back too."
"Why? It's not like you have anything to do tomorrow." Azli snorts. I know that Shawn doesn't have anything to do tomorrow but I also know that he wants to have something to do. He's been working on getting into some classes for his art, just a waiting list. And being a celebrity doesn't always buy you admittance into college courses.
"Yeah man, but I'm tired." He fakes a yawn and I take this opportunity to place my hand on this thigh, almost instantly clasping his hand over mine.
"I'm heading out. You good Jerrica?" I ask as I stand and grab my bag.
"Yeah, I'll text you later." She assures me as I make my way around the table and give her a hug.
"Be nice Azli." I tease and walk away before he can respond.
"I'll walk you out." Shawn grabs my hand as we walk away from the sudden lovebirds at the table. "You really going home to bed?" Shawn asks as he holds the door open for me.
"I have to. It's late, and I have to be up at like six tomorrow." I rest my head on his shoulder as he hails a taxi. I might be able to fall asleep right now.
"Come home with me." He suggests and as much as I want to I just cannot.
"I can't. I should be at home with Nonna right now." She's been struggling a bit lately, her old age is really doing her body in. Age is a just a number but it also has a limit on your body. There is only so much a body and a brain can take.
"So another time then?" He asks. As much as I want to go home with him, I just can't.
"You up for dinner this weekend at my house? I can see if Nonna can whip something up." He squeezes my hand and lets out that shy smile, that smile when he bites his lip and just looks away.
"I think I can handle that." God he's so cute.
He finally succeeds in hailing a taxi, and our places are in the opposite direction so I'm not expecting him to come home with me.
"I'll talk to you tomorrow?"
"You'd better let me know when you get home first." He smirks and I kiss him sweetly on the lips, leaving me wanting more, but we could do this all day and I know that if I do, I'll be going home with him and regretting my decision when I have no clothes to change into at 5:30 in the morning.
"Then I'll talk to you later." He pulls my back in towards him and I can't help but wrap my hands around his neck, having one last kiss for the road.
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"Nonna!" I shout from my room. She's not one for shouting. I'll probably get yelled at but that's what we do. We fight and we make up. She's a hot head, a typical Italian. We're one in the same.
"Mia luce." I stand and find her in the kitchen, her typical spot. She prefers to do everything in the kitchen. She hates her bedroom. Ever since my Nonno died she hates to sleep alone. She still has his clothes hanging up in her closet. She only wears black now. I thought bringing Albert in the house would help her out but she still doesn't like him. I secretly think that when Mama is sleeping and when I'm gone to work she actually sits with him all day.
"I was wondering if I could have that boy come over for dinner this weekend?" She's more nerve wrecking to ask then mama is, because she's a silent judger.
"What boy?" She asks.
"His name is Shawn. I've been seeing him for like a month. He's really nice." I assure her but she's a grandma.
"Is he Italian?" She asks. I try not to roll my eyes, because she's very traditional. My mom says she almost had a heart attack when Nonna found out her daughter was pregnant with me, so I can't imagine how that must have felt to say that to your mom. But now I'm sure she wouldn't have it any other way. I mean, I am amazing.
"He's from Canada." I smile to try and lighten the mood, so maybe if I'll tell her how sweet and cool he is she won't mind that he's not Italian descent.
"Fine. But tell him to bring his appetite." She smiles and folds her hands over her stomach.
"Thank you Nonna." I kiss her cheek and search in the fridge for a bottle of water. I hear a clatter behind me and turn to see Nonna leaning against the counter. "You all right?" I ask.
"I'm fine." She turns away from me, suddenly a little aggressive as I tighten my lips and tap my toes. Her bad days have been more frequent then I would have liked to admit lately. But this is what we deal with, and I will always love Nonna.
I stop by my mom's room on my way out. She's been asleep only for a few hours but I enter anyway, gently shaking her awake.
"Everything okay?" She wakes suddenly and props herself up.
"Yeah, it's just Nonna." I purse my lips again and mom just nods, because she knows.
"Leave my door open." I nod and walk back out, checking to see that Nonna has moved into the living room to watch The Price is Right.
