Chapter 10 - Does he love me?

"I don't think I can finish this Diego" I mumbled ten minutes after Diego served me.

His cooking was superb seriously the guy was a Master chef. He could cook anything deliciously he was like Einstein in the kitchen.

Why he chose to keep working here instead of opening a five star restaurant is a mystery to me.

He leaned forward in his seat towards the tray. I watched as he picked up another fork. He put it into the plate and scooped up food onto it.

"Open up" he said holding up the fork to my mouth.

I opened my mouth without protesting and allowed him to feed me. His eyes remained glued to my mouth even after he pulled the fork out of my mouth.

He took another scoop of food with the same fork and put it in his own mouth.

A smile appeared on his face as he pulled the fork out of his mouth.

Ten minutes later the plate was finally empty with Diego feeding me and himself.

He watched me take my drugs and he laughed at every grimace and gurgle I produced.

Why couldn't they just make drugs that tasted like KitKat?

The world would be so much better.

I followed him to the kitchen holding nothing even when I volunteered to carry a plate.

I had the view of his wide shoulders. The muscles underneath his shirt moved as he walked and adjusted the plates in his hands.

"I can feel your eyes burning holes in my back" he comments. "You like what you see Lin?"

I rolled my eyes. "Don't tell me you expect me to close my eyes while walking?"

"That's not an excuse to stare babe" he retorts.

"I've seen better Diego don't flatter yourself"

He stops in his tracks and turns to me an eyebrow raised skeptically disbelieving even.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah" I replied arms now crossed and my head tilted to the side waiting for what he wants to say.

"Let me guess. Mike has a better body than me"

No obviously. Mike leans towards the lanky side.

Wait hold up!

Did he seriously just ask me that?

What is with both of them comparing themselves to each other?

I recall Mike asking me the exact same question.

The other day it was Mike now it is Diego.

"I'm not going to answer that because that's a stupid question".

He drops the plate on the counter and takes a step forward stepping into my space.

He's taller than me so he's looking down while I'm looking up.

I take a step back because I like my space.

He sighs and rubs his neck "I'm sorry. It really was a stupid question".

I shrugged and stayed rooted to my spot.

He was staring and I was starting to feel uncomfortable.

I walked around the counter to where the sink was so I could start washing the plates.

When I turned back he was still there staring at me.

He reaches over and carries the dirty dishes.

He comes up beside me and places them inside the sink.

"Does Mike know that we used to....." he trails off.

"Used to what?" I ask busying myself with the task of squirting liquid dish wash on a plate.

"That we used to kiss and fool around" he said picking up the first dish I had washed to rinse.

"No he doesn't" I glance at him before returning my gaze back to the plates before me. "Are you planning on telling him?"

He shrugs his shoulder colliding with my forearm "Nah"

"Then why did you ask?"

"Thought that might be one of the reasons why he's always trying to pick a fight with me"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't tell me you don't know Lin"

"Know what?"

"That the dude is hopelessly in love with you"

"He can't be. He's my best friend"

"He's your best friend alright but I can assure you that he's hoping to be more".

More?

Linda-Lin Reese wasn't ready for more.

Why was I even talking about this with Diego?

"Don't talk about him like that"

"I can't help it. It's the truth and you know it"

It's not the truth.

My best friend can't be in love with me.

I love Mike as a best friend and brother nothing more.

Am I really blind to it?

"Why the heck are you talking like this?"

He sighs and turns to me "Are you seriously asking me that question?"

"I'm not going to repeat myself"

"I've been thinking. Thinking about what we used to have. It might have been child's play to you. But it was something to me Lin. It meant a whole lot to me" he says looking into my eyes.

I see the emotions swirling in his eyes.

They scare me.

Speechless that's all I am right now in this moment.

"I know you're not looking for love or anything like that and I respect that"

He turns back to the dishes while I continue to stare at his side profile.

"Lin! Where the hell are you?" yells Mike.

Diego shakes his head and bumps his hip into mine.

"Your boyfriend is here for you" he teases smirking at me.

"He's not...." I barely have time to finish my statement because Mike waltzs in.

"There you are!" exclaims Mike who just stepped into the entryway of the kitchen.

He smiles then his smile falls when his gaze lands on a smirking Diego who has now finished rinsing the plates and is cleaning his hands with a rag cloth.

He's leaning against the sink like he owns it.

Unconcerned by Mike's presence.

Mike on the other hand looks angry.

"I've been calling your phone all day"

I haven't seen my phone since I fainted yesterday.

"I don't know where my phone is" I admitted sheepishly but confused.

"You haven't been in your room since you came back?" he asks.

"No..."

"She was down here with me" Diego finishes winking at me.

"Oh" Mike says unbelief lacing his voice. He looks between us and purses his lips.

"Yeah"

"Why don't you come upstairs Mike?" I ask knowing that both of them don't mix well in the same room.

"Why don't you stay? Mike looks really parched I'll fix him a cocktail or something" Diego offers his lips in a smirk.

That little shit!

"Wow that is so kind of you Diego" I remarked sarcastically my eyes narrowed at his smug expression.

Mike glances at both of us suspicious. He mutters something I don't hear and takes a seat on one of the bar stools.

I take the seat beside him.

"I didn't realize my phone was upstairs"

"It's alright. You feeling okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine"

"Drugs and food?"

"Made sure she took both" intercepts Diego placing two colorful drinks in front of us.

"Coconut Queen for the beautiful lady" he smiles extending the drink to me. With a disinterested expression he says to Mike "and this for the guy"

Mike rolls his eyes as I lift the cup to take a sip.

A burst of flavours caress my tongue as the drink slides down to my throat.

"It's sweet I like it". I put the cup down as Diego smiled wider pleased that I liked the drink.

"I'm glad you do" he expresses. He slides his elbows on the counter to Mike.

"What do you think Mikey?"

Mike shakes his head lifts the cup and takes a sip.

"Not bad"

Diego looks taken aback. He raises back to his normal height and presses a hand to his chest.

"Wow. Mikey just complimented me."

"Don't get used to it pimp" Mike says taking another sip of the drink.

I laugh along with Diego and eye my best friend who surprisingly doesn't have his hand up Diego's nose despite all his teasings.

Who is this Mike and what has he done to my best friend?

Maybe he turned a new leaf overnight.

"Aren't you meant to be in the office?" I asked once Diego had left the kitchen to give us privacy.

"I was worried. Thought something was up" he revealed.

I stared and eventually nodded.

Do I ask him?

Ask him if he really does love me more than a sister?

Ask him and risk our beautiful friendship?

"You are staring at me funny. Is there something on my face?"

"Uh...no" I answered.

"Just came to check on you".

"Thank you Mike".

"Anytime Lin-Lin" he stands up adjusting the lapels of his suit.

We walk out of the kitchen and out to the driveway where his Tesla is parked.

"Be careful okay?"

"I can't promise anything"

He laughs.

His laughter dies down and he leans closer to press his lips to my forehead.

The contact is odd, weird even.

He has done it before countless times.

Like our first day of High school.

"We'll be fine. No need to get nervous" he said years ago as we stood at the entrance of the imposing school building.

He kissed my forehead and my nervousness disappeared instantly.

"Everything will be okay" he kissed my forehead after I was diagnosed of cancer. I didn't believe him but he kissed my forehead and I was somehow relieved.

"You'll do wonderfully" he said after I had just completed the building for my company. He kissed my forehead assuring me in his own way that I would do well.

Why does this feel different?

"I'll call you tonight"

"Kk" I say once he steps back.

I watch him saunter confidently to his car. He waves to me through the opened window showing teeth that has always been dazzling white.

He revs the engine and speeds away leaving me standing on the gravel.