Pest Control ✔

PC │033

【A L V I N】

"You guys kissed?" Antonio gasped dramatically. "Tell me you're joking, Russo."

"I'm still so shocked, holy shit," I admitted, rubbing my temples whilst Delilah attempted to hold back a squeal - which she failed at doing. 

"Cheese! I'm so happy for you," she let out with a high-pitched screech.

"Cheese?" Antonio questioned in confusion. 

"She's trying to stop swearing so much," Margot informed. "So she uses random ass words in their place."

"That's fucking weird," Rowan snorted before patting my shoulder with a proud expression on their face. "I'm so proud of you, go get your man."

"He's not my man," I complained. "Not yet at least."

"That's the spirit!" Delilah grinned. "What happened after the kiss?"

"He just smiled at me and.. fuck, I don't even remember most of it," I said with a sigh whilst playing with my fingers. "Then he let go of me and said that it was getting late so we should head back home - and he drove me back. We didn't say anything the entire ride and I thought he regretted what he did but when I got home he sent me a text saying he had fun - and get this, he added a heart as well."

"A heart?" Margot gasped. "Holy shit, both of you have it bad for each other. Why aren't you guys dating yet?"

"It doesn't work that way," I responded, scratching the back of my neck. 

"Then in what way does it work?" Antonio challenged, crossing his arms across his chest. 

"It doesn't work out at all," I shrugged, trying to come off as nonchalant - but the expression on my face said it all. Hell, I still had trouble comprehending what had gone down the other day. "Tomorrow is Christmas and we'll be celebrating over at his place, what if he gets all awkward around me?"

"If he sent you a text, it's obvious he isn't going to be awkward in your presence," Rowan noted. "But if he does end up being all awkward, then you should just try talking your feelings out with him. He wouldn't have kissed you if he doesn't feel the same way, right?"

"What if he just kissed me because of the heat of the moment?" I questioned desperately. "I mean - come on, we were the only ones there and it was such a.. romantic setting, I guess? Fuck, this is getting cheesy."

"I feel like I'm watching my son grow up," Antonio commented, wiping an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye. "This is so cute."

"Shut up, Ant," Rowan said, holding back a chuckle. "Anyway, Alvin - I don't think he's that stupid. He seems like the kind of man who's sure about what he wants. See, if he wasn't, he would have ended up ghosting you. But did he do that? No."

"You're right," I surrendered. "I guess I'm just a little hesitant after my last two relationships." 

"Stop focusing on the past," Delilah scoffed, punching my arm. "Go after what makes you happy. I'm not saying you shouldn't be careful - you should be. But you know what your heart wants."

"Yeah but sometimes the heart doesn't want what's best for it," I responded with a shrug. 

"Did he mention the kiss through text at least?" Margot questioned, crossing her legs in an attempt to get comfortable. 

"No, he didn't," I admitted. "I didn't bother bringing it up either. I was too shy, I guess."

Rowan opened their mouth to say something, but as if right on cue, I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. Following that, I pulled it out and read the screen. 

"Guys, holy shit, Lucien is calling," I said with a gasp, trying my hardest not to freak out. 

"Did you really save his name as potential husband?" Antonio scoffed. 

"Shut up, that's not what you should be focusing on," I responded, embarrassed. "Wait - fuck. Guys, don't say or do anything that might make me laugh. Okay? Okay."

I didn't bother giving them a chance to say anything else because by then I'd already answered. With my phone pressed up against my ear and my heart already acting up for the hundredth time that week, I let out in a shaky voice, "Hello?"

"Alvin? You okay?" he spoke into the phone. "Why do you sound like that?"

"Sorry, it's just cold here," I lied, playing with the collar of my shirt absentmindedly as a smile instinctively crawled onto my face at the sound of his voice. "What's up?"

"I was just checking to see if you were coming over tomorrow for Christmas," he answered. "I was going to come over but I remembered that you said your friends were going to be over - I didn't want to be a bother."

"You can come over if you'd like," I offered, my cheeks already burning up for absolutely no reason at all. "And yeah, I can make it tomorrow. Just let me know at what time I should be there."

"Of course, I'll send you a text," he began. "And it's okay, I kinda wanna finish this show that I'm watching at the moment."

"Oh, alright. Is that all then?" 

"One more thing," he said after a moment of silence. 

"Yeah?" I urged, completely forgetting that my friends were still in the same room as me and listening in on the conversation at the same time. 

"I hope this doesn't creep you out or anything," he began with a chuckle. "But I have to get it off my chest."

"Don't keep me waiting," I said with a chuckle, biting down onto my bottom lip absentmindedly in an attempt to keep my smile from widening any further. 

"Alright, alright," he surrendered before clearing his throat. "I can't wait to see you."

I paused for a moment - and my heart nearly did as well. 

Gosh, he was driving me insane. 

"I.. can't wait to see you either," I admitted with a sigh that reflected my contentment. 

And when we were done talking, I finally hung up and shoved my phone back into my pocket before looking back up at my friends, the smile still on my face. 

"Oh boy, you have it bad," Antonio commented.