After Drake's spontaneous evening surprise he drove us home sometime around past eleven.
We had gone to an arcade after a dinner of meat and vegetable stuffed burgers. I looked crazy playing games in my work attire paired with black pencil heels on my feet.
Didn't care much about that though.
I watch as he turns off the radio that had been playing as we made our way back home. He smiles and turns to me.
"So...." he trails off expecting a response from me.
I shrugged sharing him a smile of my own.
"So what?"
He removes the key from the ignition and pulls open the door.
I mimick his actions.
When I'm in front of the car he comes to walk next to me into the house.
"Just admit you had fun Lin"
"I don't remember saying I didn't have fun Drake"
"So you enjoyed it?"
"Yes. I needed it after the week I've had" I answered truthfully.
I glance at his face not surprised to see him all smug and pleased with himself.
I roll my eyes as I trudge up the stairs to the mansion leaving Drake walking a few steps behind me.
Fatigue from the day suddenly sets in and I release a yawn murmuring thank you to the maid who just opened the door for me to step inside.
Another maid carries my handbag and purse upstairs to my room leaving Drake and I in the foyer.
I turn to him. He has his hands in his pocket and is staring eerily at me.
"Everything okay?" I ask with a quirk in my eyebrow.
"Cool" he replies.
We stare at each other for a moment before I shake my head in my an attempt to clear it from the fogginess that is threatening to overtake my senses.
Drake takes two steps forward, the heels of his sneakers making a squeaky sound against the tiles.
"Are you fine?"
It's on the tip of my tongue to tell him not to worry that i am indeed fine when I'm actually not.
"I'm just tired"
"You should go rest then" he suggests.
I start towards the main living room but I see he isn't making any attempt to move.
"You're still going out right?"
He smiles running a hand through his ever unbrushed hair. "I am and I'm not coming home tonight"
I mimick our Mom's disappointed posture with my hands akimbo on my waist, narrowed eyes and head tilted to one side.
He stifles a laugh "Can you please not tell Mom?"
I sigh then stop mimicking our Mother.
"You know she's going to worried sick about you"
"I know" he draws out. "Which is why I'm telling you now. There's literally no need to be worried"
"Whatever" I huff. "Just don't get shit face drunk"
"Yes ma'am" he replies quite sarcastically. "I can't promise that though" he whispers.
He backs out the door throwing a kiss over his shoulder. "Sleep well Love"
When he's out the door and out of my sight I turn to go to the living room. I'm about to start the long journey up the stairs when I suddenly desire a warm cup of milk.
I walk the short distance to the kitchen letting my fingers brush against the artistically painted wall. I'm a little surprised when I see Diego sitting on one of the stools at the counter. I know he goes home right after we have dinner which is usually by 7pm. So seeing him still here by after 10pm is a bit surprising.
"Diego?" I call out as I step into the kitchen.
His hunched form turns around and his eyes find mine over his shoulder.
"Hey Lin" he stands from the stool while I walk over to where he is.
"What are you doing here?"
His eyebrows scrunch in confusion and it is just then that I register that my question seemed offensive and out of the blue.
"Scratch that, I meant to ask why you're still hanging around when I know you're usually out of here by 8pm"
He opens his mouth to reply
"Is anything the problem?" I ask again cutting him off from replying.
He smiles then shakes his head making his raven black hair go all over the place.
"I'm fine Lin" he then sits back down on the stool.
"I just thought I'd stay a little bit to write the list of foodstuff we'd be needing for next month"
"Oh" I trailed off.
He smiles boyishly, his eyes focused on my face.
"I didn't know you took that much notice of me Lin".
At my dumbfounded expression he pretends to check his clean cut nails "Are you sure you aren't stalking me Lin?"
That was when an unladylike snort escaped me. I laugh so hard a tear drop escapes my left eye.
My laughter stopped short when I felt Diego's warm hand on my cheek wiping the stray year away.
I opened my eyes to find him staring at me with a soft emotion I couldn't describe in his eyes. His hands dropped from my face.
"You should laugh more often Lin. You're drop dead gorgeous when you do that"
Did he just.....
He turned back to the counter picking up the pen he dropped on the piece of paper caged between his forearms as his elbows rest on the counter.
My jaw was literally touching the floor.
Truthfully Diego had been the only man who had managed to steal my breath or make me blush whenever he complemented me ever since I swore off men from my life.
Only him had that effect on me. I wondered why it was so. I chucked it to the fact that we had once been attracted to one another before now.
The reason why I was in the kitchen suddenly flashed before my eyes. I took a step and went around the counter to the refrigerator to bring out a carton of milk.
"Well thank you Diego" I murmured faintly remembering a memory where my mother always told me to appreciate when someone complemented me.
"You're welcome" he mumbles looking surprised I didn't fight him on a complement like I always do.
"Milk huh?" he said breaking the five minutes silence that has now engulfed us.
I glance down at the cool carton still in my hand.
"Yess" I replied. "I thought I'd drink some before I head to bed" I added.
"Good"
"I had a fun day with Drake, now I'm drained" I said opening a cupboard to bring down a mug.
"You want me to warm that for you?" he asks coming to stand beside me.
"No it's fine" I say pouring milk into the mug I picked out from the cupboard.
Diego takes down a mug for himself and pours milk into it.
He takes a swig and when he brings the cup down he has a milk moustache.
I smile into my own mug. We drink our cold milk in silence when Diego is done with his he washes his cup and places it on the rack to dry.
"I gotta head home now" he says. I drop my mug on the counter raising my head up to look at him.
His body isn't far from mine with the way we are standing. When I look at his face I almost suck in a breath at the intense emotions swirling in his eyes. He takes a step forward fluidly now our shoes are touching, one hand comes to rest on the counter at my side where I'm resting my body against.
He's caged me in forcing me to look up at his face since he's taller than me.
My stomach churns in nervousness and I find it ridiculous. All the years after i was diagnosed with cancer I threw away everything that had to do with me feeling something for the opposite sex. But I guess I didn't completely do away with everything.
His warm milky breath fans over me as he says "I know you don't want to hear it.."
I feel my pulse rising.
I don't want this. I don't want to feel like this.
My heart wants it but not my mind.
"But I love you Lin. After all these years you're the only woman I've loved".
"Diego" I try to argue with him but my word comes out as being whispery.
He comes closer. I know he's about to kiss me. The position we are in, the look on his face and in his eyes. Everything right now just screams Diego wants to kiss you crazy.
When that realization settles in my hard mind I snap. I push him away with all the strength I can muster. I step out of his caged arms and stand away from him at the other side of the counter.
"I think you should go Diego" I say firmly.
He stares hard at the spot I was just in. His shoulders slump as if yo say he's defeated and that I won this time. He finally raises his eyes to look at me and his shoulders rise with renewed strength.
"Just don't forget Lin"
My heart imagines him saying ' Don't forget that I love you Lin'.
With his hands folded by his sides he walks out of the kitchen. Mere seconds later I hear the slam of the front door signalling that he has indeed left.
Oh Diego!
I rest my elbows on the counter massaging my forehead with my fingertips trying to calm the storm that is brewing in there.
So much for a cup of milk before bed.