After I received the message from Hernandez, Callie and I took a cab to the location of the yacht club.
Throughout the ride, Callie keeps checking herself through her phone every five seconds, putting her locks in check each time. The cab finally comes to a halt and just as I'm about to pay, Callie stops me with a hand on mine.
"My treat", she says then opens her bag to bring out some change. She hands it to the driver and we get down.
"Thanks", I tell her and she smiles.
"No, thank you", she says, "I'd rather be here than locked up with my dad all day and bonus, I get to meet Hernandez".
She happily continues her walk further into to the docks. It seems more busy today than last time. Hernandez's yacht is unmistakable seeing that it's one of the biggest boat here.
We get to the end of the deck and I'm not surprised when Callie puts her hair in place again, although it wasn't out of place.
Hernandez walks up to the stern, his jacket off now, with a T-shirt on which makes his tattoos visible.
I doubt Callie had seen them so now she must be extra dreamy and not to mention the new piercing he got. She's swooning by now.
Callie squeezes my arm and I wonder when she got that close, "He's so hot".
"He's literally a few feet away", I quietly scold and Hernandez gives us weird looks.
"Is everything okay?", he asks.
"Of course", Callie laughs nervously and he looks at me so I nod with a sheepish smile.
"Well, I've got macarons", he says pointing behind him and we move closer to the boat.
Hernandez stretches his hand and Callie gives him hers so he helps her get in. He stretches his hand to me and I take it, getting into the boat.
He kisses the back of my hand ever so slowly and it's like I'm in a soap opera. With the corner of my eye, I catch Callie giving me a look of disbelief so I pull away.
"Uh let's.. go get the macarons", I say then hurry inside the yacht.
"Okay", Hernandez says, following behind.
The yacht starts moving and Hernandez takes us up to the bridge of the deck. Callie and I gasp at the sight.
It was a sun glitter as the evening sun glazed down the water causing it to sparkle.
It looks beautiful. We're a bit far from the docs now and it's even prettier with the water parting below due to the moving yacht.
"Macarons as I promised", he says, taking a sit at a small round table which has strawberry yogurt and chocolate macarons placed elegantly on it. I'll give it to the server.
I lick my lips greedily at the sight. It's been so long since I had a taste of something sweet, creamy and sugary. I could literally eat them all
"They look delicious", Callie says joining him on the table. I sit next to her, quickly picking a macaron up and stuffing it into my mouth.
I crunch and munch and oh does it feel good. I take another and another then take a huge gulp from the strawberry yogurt.
I burp loudly at the onlookers. Callie has shock in her eyes but Hernandez chuckles a bit.
"Sorry", I apologize, holding my elbow as I mentally scold myself for losing my cool.
"You look cute", he says then stretches from his side of the table to wipe my yogurt mustache with a napkin.
I blush a little, "Thanks", I say and he nods with a smile.
Callie takes a sip of her yogurt and also gets a mustache.
"So, how'd you convince her dad?", he asks then notices Callie so he hands her a napkin, "You've got something..", he trails, gesturing at her face.
"Oh", she says, hiding her grimace as she takes the napkin and wipes her mouth. Well that didn't go as planned.
"He actually thinks the yacht club is a thing", I say as I reach for a macaron but then stop, pulling my hand under the table. I clasp them together tightly.
You've had enough Abby.
"Does he?", he questions and I slowly nod. "I've never met your dad before but, I'm pretty sure he takes you seriously, like no joke", he says looking at Callie.
"So if he finds out you're lying that's gonna be bad for you",
"Not really, next week's study camp.. he can't do anything cause I'll be away", she says, chewing on a macaron. How freely she eats..
"At first I hated it but now I'm just happy, I get to be with you guys for three weeks without my dad breathing over my shoulder", she says as she reaches for her glass of yogurt. How freely she drinks..
Without a care of adding a few pounds. There's food but I can't eat cause I need to lose weight. I hate it, I wish I could eat all I want.
"Yeah I'm glad I get to spend time with you..", Hernandez says, staring at me but then coughs, "I mean, with you guys.. yeah, it's gonna be great".
We nod.
"So um when did you get a piercing and tattoos?", Callie asks. Been meaning to ask that too.
"Oh uh, I've always had them. The piercing covered up cause I stopped wearing them for a while. It wasn't a big hole to begin with", he says.
"They look really good on you", Callie compliments and he smiles.
"Thanks", he says then adds, "I was kinda nervous putting them back on to be honest",
"Why? They look good", I say.
"Yeah but people get the wrong idea when you look like this", he gestures to himself.
"Is that why you always cover them up?", Callie questions and he nods.
"Yeah, I mean.. what would your mum think if I came over this way the other day?", he asks me.
"She'd totally freak out at first", I chuckle and they laugh, "But, she'd perceive you as a good guy later on".
"My dad would never", Callie says and I believe wholeheartedly. "He's really tight on appearance".
"I could tell", Hernandez says with a single nod.
"So, does your tattoos have a back story?", Callie asks, seeming intrigued.
"Uh some I guess", he says then pulls his hand up to show us his elbow. He points at the name on it, "This was my first, my mum's name", he says and we stare at the name Maria tattooed on his arm.
"That's really nice", Callie says but with a sad smile. I guess she knows too.
"Yeah", I comment softly.
"I know I didn't get to see her but..", he trails with a sigh as he looks up from the tattoo on his arm. "Still feels like she's with me, all the time".
It must have been hard for his dad, raising a kid on his own. To think that he was just a baby.. must have been really hard.
"I'm sure she smiles down at you, all the time", I say and he smiles a bit.
"Yeah but I think she would have been mad about the tattoos though", he says with a chuckle and I sadly smile.
"She had a beautiful name", Callie says almost like a whisper.
"Yeah, my dad said It would have been mine as well but if only I was a girl", he says.
"You'd tots be a hot girl",
"Yeah with a nose ring",
"What? No", he laughs and we join in. "I'd give my dad a headache, that's for sure cause girls are built that way",
"No we're not", Callie argues so I give her a look, "Okay maybe we are but.. what'd you think about me?",
Hernandez looks at her, she smiles. "I think you give your dad a shit ton of headache",
I laugh when she playfully gasps.
"Only because he gives me a shit ton of headache too", she sighs crossing her arms as she slouches on her seat.
"I don't think you'd be much trouble for your dad", he says to me and my smile slowly diminishes.
I wasn't really the outgoing type so I was mostly indoors. I wasn't like Callie, I didn't struggle to see the world. Infact, was scared of it. My house was my safe haven and I never left it.
I'd rather spend my Saturdays in bed, wearing my most comfy pj's with a bowl of popcorn and a huge bottle of soda next to me, covered in a huge blanket with my laptop underneath as well, the volume way up as I watch the conjuring until my dad would tell me to keep it down or join me.
I loved the days when he joined me. I'd do anything to have those days back. I miss him so much.
"Maybe I shouldn't have said that", Hernandez says, carefully watching my expression.
"No it's fine, you're right.. I.. didn't really give him much trouble", I say with a smile but it dies quickly.
"My mum and dad got divorced late June", Callie blurts so we turn to her. I guess a lot happens in June, huh?. "They fought for custody..", she sighs, picking her glass up.
"My dad won", she drinks up.
"That's.. uh, would you have wanted her to win?", Hernandez asks as she places the glass down, licking her lips.
"Yes, even if she's more of a workaholic that would have been better than her being on my tail every freaking second", she says almost sounding pissed.
"I'd be like your dad too if I had you", he says and she sits up a bit. Her attention piqued. "He has a beautiful daughter, he'd want to protect her at all cost",
She blushes then tucks her hair behind her ear. He sure is good with words. He's like those fine ass telenovela men. They know how to speak to the ladies.
"So try to understand him a bit more", he says and she nods.
"I'll try", she says, "Um.. I have to use the bathroom..but I don't know where it is though, could you-",
"I knew you guys might need help getting to the bathroom so I asked a server to wait outside the door", he says and I can see the disappointment on her face.
"Oh um that's very.. thoughtful of you", she says then walks out the door.
I look at Hernandez and it's like he's been waiting for this since we arrived. His eyes has the word finally reading off them.
"Wanna watch the sunset together?", he asks and I look ahead. The sun was setting already and if it was pretty before, it was prettier now.
I nod and he gets out of his seat, giving me his hand. I take it, getting up. He spins me around and I giggle a bit so he smirks.
"I did not expect that", I say as we walk closer to the end of the deck.
"Well like they say, never let them know your next move", he says with a wink and I chuckle.
"So..", he trails, putting his hands on the rail. He looks at me, "I know you know this but..", he trails again looking elsewhere.
"But..", I stretch to urge him on.
"I like you", he lets out and my heart starts beating fast like I ran a mile. "Like a lot and.. it's okay if you don't say anything because I know I've still got a long way to prove it to you", he says and I don't think I've ever seen him so serious before.
"As much as I hate math, I may get tired of saying I do but you, I'll never get tired of saying you're beautiful", he says but blushes like his cheesy line was for him.
I laugh a bit, "I won't say anything about it",
"Thank you", he smiles and we share a laugh. He looks at me this time so I turn to him.
Just the way I have the sun reflecting on my face, it also reflected on his. His green eyes looking hazel like and pretty.
I feel him inching closer.
And I wish it was Noah instead. Noah is like fire, he gives just the right amount of heat to keep me warm sometimes but then just the right amount of heat to actually burn me and that's what I want.. I want that burning sensation he gives me.
I don't get that when I'm with Hernandez, he's like still water. Ever so gentle and easy going. He's never too much, I know the ocean can sometimes drown you but not this one, this one can never harm.
The door opens just as Hernandez's nose touches mine and we turn to see Callie with a look of betrayal. Okay now it really feels like a soap opera.