62

It's been a few days, and man, have I been living the life.

Dad hasn't brought it up again, not once. No comments, no questions, no disapproving looks. He acted like everything was back to normal. It was almost a but concerning how quickly he adjusted. Or maybe he was just pretending not to see it, filing it away somewhere in the part of his brain reserved for things he didn't want to deal with.

It's better off if he kept what he wanted to say, to himself. I'm not suggesting that whatever he thinks about me and Daniela is necessary... unwanted, but maybe there's no need for his feedback. For now, his silence felt like a gift. An uneasy truce.

Either way, I was grateful.

Him still loving me for who I am is all I need.

The coffee shop felt different now. Familiar, but not the same. Maybe it was because Iris and I had quit just last week. Finally, a break from orders, and also, Peet and his tiny rat. Don't want Daniela to know I spoke like that about her grandfather. Such a charming old man, but seriously, what's with the dog?

The four of us--Cameron, Iris, Eleanor, and I--sat around the small, slightly wobbly table in the corner.

This time, me and Iris are also the customers for once.

She lets out of a long sigh, slouching back in her chair, getting comfortable. "It feels so good not to take the orders, but to give it for once."

Eleanor chuckled, stirring her chai with a toothpick. "Careful, Iris. You're starting to sound like one of those rich customers who think the world revolves around them."

"Hey!" Iris shot her a mock glare, lifting her iced latte in a toast. "I earned this. You weren't the one dodging Peet's dog while trying to carry a tray of burning hot drinks." She took a long sip, her grin smug. "I've paid my dues."

"Sorry, El, I have to back Iris up on this one." I nodded with a smile. "The chihuahua wasn't the only scary thing. We also had to face some Karens. And trust me, the videos you see online are true."

Iris smirked, holding her drink up higher towards me. "To freedom."

I picked up my coffee without hesitation, holding it up next to hers. "I can drink to that!" I cheered followed by a giggle.

And with that, Eleanor and Cameron drank too. It's the small moments like this-- no fancy drinks, no fancy scenery, only with the people you're the most comfortable with. No problems to think about, just focusing on what's happening here in this moment, talking, laughing and drinking.

Iris's eyes suddenly lit up, and she took a slow sip from her iced latte, all the while keeping her gaze on the door. Her lips curled into a mischievous grin before she leaned toward me.

"Miss hot stuff 9 o'clock!" She said, a bit too loud and excited.

My head snaps around, and I glanced up quickly, following her gaze toward the door. And there she was--Daniela. She then walked and stood at the counter, exchanging a few words with the workers.

I couldn't help but smile before Cameron next to me nudged my shoulder. "Close your mouth, you're drooling." He teased. "Pervert." Even after the hurt he went through, he supports me and Daniela.

My face heats up, embarrassed.

"Shut up." I turn to Iris. "And stop calling her miss hot stuff."

"Oh?" Iris laughed. "Jealous girlfriend activated."

Eleanor huffed out, puffing out her cheeks dramatically, trying to act grumpy. She leaned her chin in her palm. "So unfair that you told me about your secret relationship long after you told Iris and Cameron." She mumbled, and pouted. "I feel so left out."

I looked at Eleanor with an amused smile. "Iris figured it out by herself." I said. "And Cameron... he was there when Adeline lashed out... when everything happened."

Iris grinned, clearly satisfied with her teasing. "Well, maybe that's because I'm just that good at reading people. You can't hide anything from me."

Cameron scoffed. "No, it was just obvious how they stare at each other outside class."

I got more embarrassed each second.

"I'm serious!" Iris said, sitting straight up in her seat now. "I can read into people. I can read your mind right now."

"Go for it." Cameron folded his arms.

Iris brought her hands to each side of her temples, staring through Cameron's soul at the top of her eyes. That was before she nodded to herself, and me and Eleanor rolled our eyes at how dramatic she was being.

She paused for a dramatic beat before leaning forward, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You're thinking about how much you hate that your best friend is dating her professor and how complicated this is, but at the same time, you're happy for her because, deep down, you want her to be happy."

His eyes widen and he lets out a snicker, not knowing what to say. "I--"

"Iris!" I exclaimed, my eyes wide too.

Iris smiled innocently, knowing we all took it as a joke.

Eleanor and I exchanged a glance, both of us trying not to laugh at how seriously Iris was taking her 'mind reading.' Even though Cameron was a bit red in the face, he looked away and sipped on his coffee.

Eleanor smiled, shaking her head before gesturing over to Daniela. "You're excused, Vic." She giggled. "Go."

I smiled widely, jumping up. "Thank you. I'll be right back you guys." I spoke fast. "Oh, and be on the look out for me."

Daniela was standing off to the side at the receptionist, waiting for her coffee. Most likely to be black coffee. Her back was facing me, head tilted down and attention on her phone in her hands. So, I took it as the perfect chance to sneak up on her.

I carefully walked towards her and then picked up my pace, striking. Now behind her, I stand up on my tippy toes, grabbing her shoulders to steady myself and place a swift kiss against the back of her neck.

Immediately, I felt how her shoulders tense.

She lets out a startled gasp before spinning around towards me with wide, green eyes. I burst out laughing as her hand reaches up to the back of her neck. "Je- fuck, Victoria." She breathed out, almost relieved. "I almost thought a random person just came up to me and kissed me!"

She puts her phone away, pushing it deep into her pockets.

My chuckles died down after a bit. "You should've seen your face!"

Amused, a tiny smirk forms on her lips before she reached out. Her fingers graze my waist.

"Yeah?" She chuckled. "How'd my face look?"

"Like you've just seen a ghost." I smiled.

Daniela's eyes dart around to make sure nobody we knew, except the others who she hasn't spotted yet, was here. Then her hands settled on my waist, mine on her shoulders.

Her eyes dart down to my lips. "Not breathtaking, gorgeous, or not even smoking hot?"

I smile stupidly. "Stop fishing for compliments."

Her grin turned into a full smile before she quickly pecked my lips that caused my smile to grow. She lets go of me to grab her coffee which the woman slid over the counter.

Daniela turned back to me with the cup of coffee in her one hand. "I guess I should stop coming since you're not here to take my order anymore."

Her other hand reached to my back, rubbing it in soft circles. I sighed, leaning into her side.

"Maybe that's a good thing." I said. "People would've start getting suspicious if they'd seen you coming in only for me."

She took a deep breath in, taking a sip of her coffee. "I'm going to figure a way out for us to be together without having to hide it, okay?" She reassured softly, her hand continuing to run up and down my back.

I nodded. "Have you heard anything from Adeline yet?"

She shook her head. "No, not at all. But trust me, she's gone. You might be surprised, but she also runs. When she loses in her own sick games, she disappears and goes onto her next victims."

I nodded again, then she lets go of me to hold her cup of coffee with both hands.

Just like that, I felt cold again.

"So, why are you here?" She asks curiously, raising her eyebrows. "Coffee break, or...?"

I looked over to where the others were sitting. Every single one of them were staring at us before they immediately looked away, pretending to sip at their empty cups.

"The four musketeers," I mumbled, intrigued how they were spying at us.

I turn to her, seeing her eyes on our table. "You want to go say hello?" I ask softly.

Daniela hummed then slowly turned back to me with a sly smile. "Or I can steal you away from them for a while?"

My eyes lit up. "Deal!"

With a big smile, she took my hand in hers and started leading me away. "Come on."

My day went so fast spending time with Daniela. It feels like there's not enough daylight to go out and do the stuff we want to, because my dad wanted me back before 9.

We ended up going to her house, watching a movie and just cuddling the entire time, sharing some kisses.

Even when I helped set up her next power point for class, I sat on her lap while watching Daniela type on her laptop.

Then, we moved to bed where things got more heated...

Let's just say I think my organs are rearranged.

Now I was back home, entering through the front door.

"Dad!" I shout, my voice echoing through the halls.

"Living room!" He shouted back.

Once I closed and locked the door behind me, I approached the room.

There my dad was, sitting on the couch, looking down at a few things on the coffee table. His elbows rested on his knees as he leans forward, eyebrows furrowed. Dad slowly stroked his chin as if he's conflicted.

Confused, I slowly walked to go sit next to him while my eyes scan the table-- a bunch of papers, files, tiny books and a badge.

The NYPD badge.

I frown. "What's all this?" I ask, leaning forward and taking a paper in my hand.

My eyes scan over it. "That's a statement." He said. "About Adeline."

My frown only deepens at her name. There was too much words I didn't understand and placed the paper back down.

"Dammit." I whisper to myself then looked at dad. My hands clenched into fists. "What did she do?"

Dad paused as if mentally preparing himself. "It's what I did."

"What?"

Slowly, he leaned forward with a groan and stretched himself to grab the badge. I looked at it in his hands as he runs his thumb across it.

Dad spoke after a while of just staring down at it. "This was Adeline's."

I blinked. "You fired her?"

He nodded.

I didn't know what to say. "W-What... why, dad?"

He placed the badge down and turned to me, finally for the first time, looking at me.

"I've been keeping something to myself." He snarled at himself. "I didn't know my selfishness would make Adeline hurt you like this."

"When I recruited her, her files took a few days to come in. But while I waited for her records and personal information, she started working, spending time with us... and I grew attached." He said, now adverting his eyes down. "Finally, when her papers arrived... it wasn't clean. Adeline had a bad history. She was... in jail for a few months for being under the influence. Not alcohol, but by drugs."

My eyes shot open. "What!?"

"Her supplier was some guy off the streets she had an affair with, Mike. He's still in jail, but she bought her way out."

"We never accept people with a record like that into the department. But... but I thought I fell in love with her. So, for my own selfish reasons, I kept her secret between us. I- I guess... love makes you do stupid things. But thinking you're in love makes you do ignorant, dangerous things."

My jaw dropped.

Dad took a deep breath in, building the courage to look up at me. "I'm so sorry." He said quietly. "I didn't know she was like this... but, but I promise she won't hurt us ever again, okay? She's gone... and I made sure she won't ever say a word about you and... and... Daniela."

I took a moment to gather my thoughts before leaning my head against his shoulder.

"Love really does make you blind." I spoke softly.

"Just the wrong kind of love." He lets go of a weak snicker. "But you and... and her don't seem like that kind. You love her."

"I do." I whisper.

Dad turned, causing me to move my head back. He took my hands, tears in his eyes.

"One day, you'll say that when she's kneeled down on one knee in front of you, holding up a ring."

My breathing caught in my throat. "Oh, dad..."

He smiled. "I love you, kiddo. Okay?"

"I- I love you too."