Chapter 113 The cook - Fiona

Chapter 113 The cook - Fiona
I pull on my sweater, the fall chill blowing through my hair as I sit on the bench waiting for my.... friend.
I waited for him here yesterday as well, and he looked surprised to see me. I don't think he actually thought that I'd show up, but how could I not when all that he has shown me is kindness? We didn't talk much yesterday, we mainly just looked out into the garden where the big tree's leaves have already fell off.
Today, he walks to me with a smile and two coffees in his hand, his scent overpowering when he takes the seat next to me. "Hi."
God, he has the most beautiful smile of anyone I have ever seen, his dimples making deep grooves into his cheeks. I'm still in disbelief that he is actually giving me, a normal, plain looking girl the time of day.
"A regular." He hands me the takeout cup, and I know I'm blushing .
"How do you know my coffee order?" I take a sip, the brew warming me up instantly.
"I asked around." He shrugs.
It's amazing that I can even form words around him now, somehow comfortable to talk to him, even though I'm still nervous, and feel like I should bolt to save me the embarrassment.
It's so sweet that he took the time to ask how I like to drink my coffee.
"So, a little birdie told me that Vincent and Lily are leaving for the weekend." He averts his gaze from me, swirling his coffee cup in his hand.
"You sure know a lot of stuff."
He looks up at me with that damn smile that is going to make me say yes to everything. "When I'm interested in something it usually occupies my whole life."
What is he saying? Is he interested in me? Am I occuping his whole life?
"So I was just wondering, since Lily won't be here, that means you have some free time, right?" He looks at his coffee cup again.
"Sure." I shrug, knowing that I need to go over some things for class. It's usually very practical, but we do write some tests sometimes.
"I have an amateur match on Saturday night." Is he blushing? "I would love it if you accompanied me, and maybe I can show you around the city on Sunday if you'd like."
"A fighting match?" I frown. "I thought you only fought at the fight club."
"The fight club was just easy money while it lasted." He shrugs. "I've been boxing for a while now, hopefully I can get into the professional scene."
"How long have you been fighting?" I ask, intrigued.
"About four years now, I started when I was eighteen." I love how he's smiling differently when he's talking about it. "My mother didn't allow me before that. In fact, she still doesn't agree with it, but I'm an adult now, so..."
"Why didn't she want you to fight?" Any fool can see that he likes it just by the look on his face. "I mean, apart from the obvious of getting hurt."
His shoulders droop slightly, and I regret that I even asked. "My dad was a trainer, always looking for the next best boxer. Money was really tight, so she didn't agree with the sport."
"Maybe she's just concerned about you." I know for a fact my mother was concerned about me working as a maid, and she didn't want me to walk in her footsteps, but I didn't want her worrying about me financially too, so I took the job. It had nothing to do with her, and all about my choice.
He turns his face to me again, stealing my breath with the way he's looking at me. "I think she'll like you."
Oh god, when did this get so serious? This is usually the time where I would run, but something is making me stay.
"Anyway, boxing is not as easy as it looks, especially when you have a job." He breaks the eye contact. "I have to stay on top of training, nutrition and sleep, and that's hard to do when you still have to pay rent."
"My mother always say if it's meant to be, it would find a way." I smile, thinking of her words, and really missing her right in this moment. We talk on the phone almost every signle day, but it's not the same as being together in-person.
"I'll remember that." He gets up, and I wish time didn't have to pass, but I accept his hand when he holds it out, and he pulls me up, careful to respect my boundaries.
Only, I don't want any boundaries. I may not remember what happened when I was drugged, but I want him to kiss me.
"I'll come to your fight." I say, and my knees buckle when he smiles brightly.
"Awesome, I have to go. See you later." He doesn't kiss me when he walks away, or even look back. Maybe he doesn't like me like that, and aunt Rosa was just imagining things.
I find her in the kitchen, freezing when I notice the other cook, Allegra also there, who is busy rolling fresh pasta.
"Hi child." Rosa smiles. "Do you want to know how to make fresh spaghetti?"
"Of course." I walk over to the sink to wash my hands.
If I'm gonna be in the kitchen with them all the time, Allegra might come to like and trust me too. And just maybe, she will let something fall about the poisoning.
I enjoy being in the kitchen, and I blush thinking how Rosa is teaching me to make Italian dishes, perfect for when I can cook for Dante one day.
Am I being delusional? Imagining a future when I don't even really know if he likes me or not?
One of the guards enter the kitchen, and I notice how Allegra is immediately asking him if he's eaten already, and he drops a kiss on her cheek. I know for a fact that she's not married according to what aunt Rosa has told me.
Does she have a relationship with him? And since Dante is working the same shift as this guard, maybe I could ask him?