Girls Day Out
The weather was unusually bright for a Thursday. Clear skies, warm breeze, the kind of day that practically begged for a good memory. Adriano and Diamond were cruising down the highway in his sleek, matte-black Rolls-Royce, windows slightly cracked to let the wind toy with Diamond’s curls. She wore light blue jeans and a snug white crop top, minimal makeup, hoops, and her usual attitude—sexy, sarcastic, and quick-witted. Adriano, behind the wheel in a fitted navy polo shirt and designer shades, looked like sin behind a steering wheel.
Diamond stretched her legs out and looked over at him with a grin.
“So you’re telling me,” she said, licking gloss off her bottom lip, “that you spent that much money, on a kid, who might not even like you?”
Adriano smirked, keeping his eyes on the road. “First of all, she’s your sister, which automatically makes her smarter than most people. She’s gonna love me.”
Diamond laughed. “The narcissism is strong in this one.”
“I’m just confident,” Adriano replied. “And let’s be real, look at those bags back there.”
Diamond turned slightly to glance at the backseat, eyes widening at the sea of shopping bags—Gucci, Nike, Sephora, even a damn Apple Store bag.
She gasped. “Not the iPhone 16! You know the other kids are gonna riot, right? They’ll form a coup and toss her out the window.”
Adriano shrugged. “She can FaceTime them from the sky.”
Diamond burst out laughing and reached over to squeeze his thigh. “Seriously, thank you. For doing this.”
Adriano finally turned to look at her, his smile softening into something real. “It’s nothing. I already told you, what’s important to you is important to me.”
Her heart did a stupid little flip. She looked away with a soft smile and then turned back toward the window. “We’re here,” she said gently.
Adriano pulled into the lot of a modest but well-kept foster home tucked between brick apartment buildings. He killed the engine and stepped out, walking around the car before opening Diamond’s door.
He bowed slightly, smirking. “My lady.”
Diamond gave him a look, though she couldn’t stop the smile tugging at her lips. “I’m perfectly capable of opening a car door by myself, you know.”
“Not on my watch,” he said. “You’re a queen. You deserve to be treated like one.”
Diamond rolled her eyes, but her cheeks were pink. She took his hand anyway as he helped her out. Adriano grabbed the shopping bags from the back, balancing them effortlessly in his arms, and followed Diamond through the front doors.
Inside, the foster home had the comforting smell of warm carpet and cheap disinfectant. A young visitation coordinator—a petite woman in her early 30s with curly brown hair—perked up behind the front desk.
“Diamond! Hey!” she smiled, stepping around the desk for a hug. “So good to see you again.”
“You too, Marissa,” Diamond smiled. After the brief embrace, Marissa’s eyes shifted to Adriano, looking him up and down with barely concealed curiosity.
“And… who’s this?”
Adriano offered his hand, flashing a polite smile. “I’m her boyfriend.”
Marissa shook it, eyes still flicking between him and Diamond with thinly veiled intrigue. “Well, alright then. Emily’s in the rec room. Right this way.”
They followed Marissa down the hallway and into a bright common area with books, board games, and large windows overlooking a patch of playground. Emily sat by one window, earbuds in, staring out. Her black hair was pulled into a high bun, and her Converse shoes were swinging lazily off the ledge.
Diamond approached and tapped her shoulder. Emily flinched a little, but when she saw her sister, her whole face lit up.
“Dee!” she shouted, jumping up and throwing her arms around Diamond.
Diamond hugged her tightly. “Missed you, Em.”
“Missed you more,” Emily grinned, then glanced past her sister at the man standing nearby, arms full of luxury bags.
“Who’s that?”
Diamond turned, smiling. “Emily, this is Adriano. My boyfriend.”
Emily blinked, shyly stepping forward. “Hi…”
Adriano crouched slightly to meet her height, extending a hand. “Hey, Emily. I’ve heard so much about you.”
She shook his hand timidly. “You have?”
He nodded, then handed her the bags. “Got you a few things on the way. Hope you like them.”
Emily’s eyes widened as she took the bags, immediately setting them on a nearby couch and digging through them. She gasped at the new sneakers, the designer hoodie, the mini perfume set, and when she got to the final box—
“Oh my gosh!! An iPhone 16?!”
She launched herself at Adriano with the kind of strength only grateful teenagers have. Her arms wrapped around his neck tightly as she squealed, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!!”
Adriano, caught off guard, laughed but wheezed. “Okay, okay—need… oxygen—”
Diamond was doubled over, cackling. Emily pulled back sheepishly, biting her lip. “Sorry.”
“You’re good,” Adriano grinned. “I like enthusiastic thank-yous.”
“I’m gonna cry,” Emily said, holding the phone like it was made of diamonds.
“Don’t cry,” Diamond warned. “Cause I’ll cry too and then we’ll just be two soggy messes on this floor.”
Emily wiped at her eyes and laughed. “This is the best day ever.”
Diamond kissed her cheek. “Well, it’s not over yet. We’re taking you out today.”
Emily’s eyes bulged. “Wait—really?!”
Diamond nodded. “Already cleared it with the coordinator. All set.”
Emily squealed again. “Where are we going?!”
Adriano just smirked. “You’ll see.”
—
Emily screamed with joy as the rollercoaster roared overhead. They hit the arcade first. Adriano got schooled in every game.
“Okay, but explain this—how is skee-ball even real?” he muttered after his fourth loss.
Diamond leaned against the machine, arms folded. “You’re just salty cause I kicked your ass.”
“You didn’t kick anything,” Adriano grumbled.
“Scoreboard says otherwise.”
“Fake news.”
Emily laughed so hard she snorted. “You’re a sore loser, Adriano.”
Adriano raised an eyebrow at her. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
Diamond cackled. “She’s not scared of you, babe.”
The last stop was the ice cream stand. The three of them sat on a bench in the shade—Emily slurping strawberry, Diamond with cookie dough, and Adriano nursing a plain vanilla like a criminal.
“Vanilla?” Diamond blinked. “That’s it?”
“It’s classic.”
“It’s boring.”
“It’s reliable,” Adriano said smugly.
Emily laughed. “Just say you’re old.”
Adriano gasped. “Watch it, kid.”
Diamond nudged him playfully. “You really gonna throw hands with a fifteen-year-old over ice cream?”
“I’ve fought worse over less.”
They all laughed, but just then, Adriano’s phone rang. He glanced down at the screen and sighed. “Hold on.”
He stood, stepping a few feet away. “Luca, what’s up?”
On the other end, Luca’s voice was tense. “We’ve got a problem.”
Adriano’s entire demeanor shifted. His posture straightened, eyes narrowed. “What?”
There was a pause.
Whatever Luca said, it was enough to make Adriano move fast.
He walked back to the bench, forcing a tight smile. “I’m sorry but I have to go.”
Diamond blinked. “Is there a problem?”
“No,” he lied. “Just something I have to take care of. I’m sorry.”
He leaned in, kissed her lips softly, then turned to Emily.
“It was nice meeting you. You’re awesome.”
“Thanks,” Emily smiled.
And just like that, he was gone.
Diamond watched him walk off toward the exit. Emily turned to her Diamond, ice cream long forgotten.
“He’s a dangerous man, Angela,” she said softly. “You gotta be careful.”
Diamond rolled her eyes. “Oh, shut the fuck up.”