23 Waking Up from a Dream
Instead of the starry desert sky they had left behind, the view now was dominated by towering skyscrapers and the glittering city lights. The conversation continued to flow smoothly in Alonso's Audi, both Natalie and Alonso enjoying each other's company. He had a knack for making her smile until her cheeks began to ache.
"So, the woman I met outside the club was your sister?" She asked.
"One of them, yes."
It made much more sense, and she felt guilty for judging their relationship so fast back then.
"...And the chestnut cake?" she asked a moment later. "Was that for one of your sisters too?"
"Yes," he grinned and wrinkled his nose at the same time, "Are you a fan of that kind of cake, by the way?"
She laughed, "Oh, no. Not at all! I was getting it for my uncle's birthday…Wow," she breathed out in awe. "So many coincidences."
His eyes left the road for a brief moment and settled on her face before returning to the task of driving.
"A series of coincidences like that is what people call fate."
Fate? Natalie looked outside the window, imagining a giant book where everything was written and unsure of how to feel about it.
"Well, regardless of the circumstances, I'm glad I met you, Natalie."
The way he adeptly transitioned to a new topic was something that she genuinely appreciated, he did that more than once, navigating the conversation and changing the direction in a way that always respected her boundaries.
She added another quality to her list about him right then. Alonso, unlike the few men she had been out with before, was very mature.
"We've arrived." He announced.
She looked around with a surprised expression when she saw the familiar dark buildings of her neighborhood. Two hours had passed as quickly as if they had teleported back to Los Angeles.
The low purr of the Audi's engine finally came to a stop as Alonso parked like a pro, unbothered by the car's size compared to the narrow old road, and the quiet that followed intensified the pounding sound of Natalie's heart.
What now?
She stole a glance at Alonso, finding him already staring at her.
A shy smile appeared on her lips when the sweet tension filled the space between them, and her breath caught as Alonso reached over and tucked a loose strand behind her ear.
"Wait while I get the door for you," he said huskily before unbuckling and stepping out.
It was unnecessary and unusual to have a door opened for her. But then, Alonso was so unlike anyone she knew; it was as if a burning meteor was invading her universe and changing the rules she thought were stable. She left that revolutionary thought inside his car and stepped out when he opened the door for her.
"Thank you," she murmured with a smile, watching as her words became a mist around her in the cold.
"I'll walk you home."
They walked together in comfortable silence toward her apartment building. Alonso's hand brushed against Natalie's hand once and their fingers interlocked easily, as if the fate he spoke about in his car had designed their hands to fit together. They stopped at the apartment's entrance beneath the soft glow of the entryway. Still holding her hand, he turned to face her and lifted his other hand to cup her cheek.
…Will he kiss me?
Natalie's eyes closed when he leaned in, but the warmth she expected to touch her lips touched her cheek instead and electrified her. She slowly opened her eyes when the kiss lingered until it became more intimate than any other kiss she had experienced before.
Warmth blossomed in her chest; the attraction she felt for him was ever-present, but this sensation felt less like a fleeting spark and more like a flame that made itself present to stay.
He breathed deeply, "You smell so good."
That was exactly what she wanted to tell him but did not get the chance to as he pulled away. Her heart drummed in her ears still as they exchanged a look that let her know what she was feeling was reflected in the man standing a step away from her.
Could this be love?
"Who the fuc* are you and what do you want with this girl?"
