Mi Salvador

Get Used To It

Rafael's POV
I sat in my apartment alone in the quiet. I knew I had to keep working on this case, but I'm just so distracted now. My phone started to buzz and I looked to see Liv's caller ID. I sighed before answering only to hear another voice.
"Can you put Ascella on the phone?" Nick urged. I sighed.
"Sorry, muchacho, I can't because she's not here."
"What do you mean she's not there?"
"I mean I am sitting along in my apartment in the dark. She's not at home?"
"No. No she's not."
"You're the one with a tracker." I retorted irritably.
He huffed, "I'm here right now with Liv and she left her phone on the kitchen counter."
I sat up some more, "Why would she do that? She would never do that."
"Unless she doesn't want to be found."
I stood up and grabbed my coat, "I'm gonna start looking for her. You should too. Call me for updates." I hung up the phone and headed down to my car. The drive was unbearable because I had to think of every place we go to and be let down when she wasn't there or it was closed. My phone started to ring and I answered it while Nick's voice filled the car.
"Did you find her?"
"You think I wouldn't call you if I did? No, not yet. I've tried almost every place. Have you contacted any friends and stuff. Like Paulo, Charlie even?"
"Yeah. Paulo said he hasn't seen her in a while. Charle didn't answer. I was gonna try Nash."
"I got Nash, just keep looking." I hung up and dialed Nash Kingsley. He answered.
"Rafael, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Have you seen Ascella?"
"No, why?"
"Can you track her? She didn't have her phone and she's in the BMW. She just lost her job and Nick just found out about me an her."
"So she's upset then."
"Extremely."
"Looking now...the BMW was last seen in the Bronx, towards El Barrio."
"Okay."
"Keep me posted."
"Will do."
He hung up and I took a turn to head to the Bronx, dialing Nick.
"What's up?"
"Nash Kingsley said her BMW was last seen heading to El Barrio."
"I think I know where she's heading then. Go to St. Raymond's cemetery."
I nodded and drove in that direction. I was pretty familiar with that place because that's where my father was buried. I parked near it, seeing the BMW only a few feet away from me.
"Barba!" Liv called, walking to me with Nick. I nodded and we walked into the cemetery, following Nick. We looked around to see no one was there. The ground was cold and wet as was the air around us.
"The joys of winter..."
Liv laughed, "Groundhog said it's lasting longer."
"Great." I whispered. Nick had his flashlight on as he looked around the gravestones.
"This is usually easier when it's daytime." He murmured, "Santiago...Santiago..."
I sighed, "She lost her job today."
The two of them stopped and looked to me, "What?"
"She lost her job and I'm on a 30 day suspension after the case."
"Ascella!" We heard a voice call. We turned to see Paulo with his crutch. He saw us and walked over.
"Nash called me, said Ascella was here and alone." He explained. We nodded and continued searching. It seemed like a while before my phone started to ring. I looked to see my mother's caller ID.
"Mama, I'm kinda busy-"
"It's Ascella."
"What? You've seen her?"
"Your Abuelita called, said she walked all the way to her apartment. She seemed worried."
I looked down the road, "Jesus, she walked 5 blocks. Okay, I'm gonna head over now. Are you there?"
"I'm going now."
"Okay, love you, mom." I hung up.
"She's at my grandmothers. Not far."
We all got in our cars. Paulo lived just 5 minutes away so he walked back home. I arrived to my Abuelita's apartment complex just before Nick and Liv, and buzzed.
"Hello?" Abuela's voice answered.
"Abuela, it's me, Rafael. Can you let me in?"
The door buzzed and I opened it, holding for Liv and Nick who just got there.
"3rd floor." I directed, going up. I knocked on the door and my grandmother opened it with a smile.
"Hello, Rafi."
I kissed her cheek, "Hi, abuela. This is Liv and Nick. I work with them. Nick is Ascella's father."
"Oh yes! Hang your coats. She's in your room, Rafi...she's cansado."
I nodded, looking to Nick, who gestured for me to go to her. I walked down the hall and opened the door to my room. Ascella was in the bed, sleeping quietly. I couldn't help but smile and sit next to her, caressing her hair.
"Your hands are so cold, Raffa." She whispered. I laughed quietly and kept rubbing her cheek.
"How'd you know it was me?"
"You have a scar on your pointer finger on your right hand...and your cologne..."
"That's just to cover up the excessive scotch smell..."
She opened her eyes and sat up, looking at me.
"Are you upset with me?"
"What? What are you talking about?"
"I...you're suspended."
"I could've lost my job, but instead you saved it and gave up your own. Why would I be mad?"
"I just...expected you to leave me since you're under a lot of heat."
I took a moment before taking her into my arms.
"Ascella, I would never leave you. No matter what. I'm not giving up on you...I love you so much. Jesus, I might be in love with you..."
She sniffled into my shirt and nodded, "I think I'm in love with you too, Raffa..."
I shushed her gently and smiled, kissing her hair, "Lets get you home..."
She shook her head, but I cupped her face, making her look at me, "You have to talk to him. I'll be by after your classes, okay?"

We finished the case after the next few days. I sighed, driving quietly before parking right in front of Ascella's house. The lights were on and I could head muffled music from inside. I made my way up the steps before knocking on the door, holding the small potted plant. It opened and Ascella stood in the doorway. She looked at me for a moment before seeing the potted plant in my arm and then smiled. I walked in and she closed the door behind me.
"Hi.." She whispered. I turned to her as she leaned against the door and smiled.
"Hi..." I moved to the table to set the plant down and looked to the kitchen to see stove top busy, "Cooking?"
"Yeah...nothing much." She walked over to me and hugged me from behind, unbuttoning my jacket. I laughed and shed my jacket, then my blazer, before letting her kiss me. She pulled away, panting lightly as our noses touched.
"I should...I should finish..."
I nodded and she walked to the kitchen to finish cooking. I sat at the table, watching her work. A smile crept onto my face as she hummed and plated the food. She placed the plates on the table before sitting next to me.
"Thanks for making dinner..." I whispered. She laughed and shook her head.
"I have you all to myself for the next month, Rafael...get used to it."
I nodded, hesitating after she said that.
Get used to it...
"Rafi? What is it?"
I looked at her, "What if...we can have this all the time? You and me, dinner every night..."
Ascella furrowed her brows, "What do you mean? Like...like living together?"
I nodded before finding the right words, "Ascella, do you wanna move in with me?"

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That's the end of book one ig lol, book two should be published soon