I let out a sarcastic laugh and try and pull my hand away, but he grips it tighter.
“Good. Keep that arrogant act up. It makes me want to smack you rather than kiss you.”
He laughs again and I do too as he pulls into the parking lot of an elegant restaurant.
“Oh my gosh, Miguel. This is beautiful!”
He parks the car and walks around the other side to open my door. The front of the restaurant has a huge fountain with lights around the brickwork. The name “Les Amis” is written in script across the tan Stucco building. The steps are white marble as we walk up to the double glass doors.
“This is breathtaking. I’ve never seen anything like this,” I whisper.
“It’s the only five-star restaurant within 40 miles. I wanted to do somethin' special for you,”
“You didn’t have to do this, Miguel. I hope I didn’t give you the impression that I’m this type of woman. I would be fine with-”
“Miguel? Your table awaits, Monsieur.” A French accented voice says from next to us.
Miguel nods and guides me forward as we follow the host to a table in the back of the restaurant.
“Thank you,” Miguel say as the host hands us both a menu.
I open it up and have to keep my mouth from falling open. This menu is ridiculous! Who can afford to buy a $200 steak! I look up at Miguel and I can tell he’s seen the prices too. I put my menu down on the table and reach for his hand.
“Miguel, this is not necessary. We can go back into town and-”
“It’s fine, Alessandra. I can afford this. I wanna do somethin' nice for you, okay?”
He squeezes my hand and gives me a smile and I try and return it, but I can’t.
“Miguel, I’m not questioning whether you can afford this, but I don’t want this. I don’t want you to drop close to $500 on a dinner with me.”
“I know we’re takin’ things slow, but I want you to feel like if you see a future with us, I can take care of you and Peter, give y'all anything you want.”
“Miguel…” I shake my head and smile at him. “If we decide to take this further, the only thing I will want is you. Your loyalty, your love. I don’t want fancy dinners. Can we… can we get out of here?” I whisper.
He gives me that genuine, ear to ear Miguel smile that I absolutely fall head over heels for and nods.
“Let’s go have some real fun then, Ms. Thompson.”
He grabs my hand as we pass the waiter and quickly walk towards his car. He drives back into town and parks on the grass outside a huge carnival in the town center.
“I had no idea this was here! Peter would love this!” I say getting out of the car.
“We can take him tomorrow, it’s all week. Let’s have some adult fun tonight, shall we?” He says arching his eyebrows.
He puts his arm out and I smile, lacing my arm through his.
“How good are you at darts?” Miguel asks as we walk our way up to the balloon dart booth.
I laugh and reach for the three darts the kid behind the booth hands me.
“I guess you’ll have to wait and see,” I wink. “We placing bets on this Mr. Jameson?”
“You forget I’m a cop, woman? My aim is impeccable. I don’t wanna embarrass you.”
I cross my arms over my chest and arch an eyebrow.
“How about we let the darts do the talking. I win and you cook me empanadas. I know you can cook them, Normani told me you make out of this world empanadas, but you're embarrassed to brag.”
“Shit, Alessandra. Say it again,” he growls walking closer to me.
“Say what?” I whisper.
“Empanadas.”
“Miguel…” I groan.
“Y’all throwin’ or about to suck face?” The kid from the booth interrupts.
“Throwin’ smartass,” Miguel says not taking his eyes off me.
“I win and I get to have these lips the rest of the damn night,” Miguel whispers in my ear.
My body shutters and I suck in a breath.
“That kind of makes me want to throw the competition there, Rocky.”
“Don’t you dare.”
I turn, getting my composure and walk up to the booth. I take a breath as I launch a dart forward and hear the pop of the balloon.
“Beginners luck,” I hear Miguel say from next to me.
“Ha! Shut up!” I say throwing my body into his shoulder. “Give me room.”
Miguel laughs putting his hands in the air and I throw my second dart, connecting with another balloon. I don’t wait for Miguel’s comment as I throw the third and that too hits a balloon.
“I can do this all day,” I say flexing my bicep.
Miguel rolls his eyes and steps up, taking the darts from the boy behind the counter.
“I’ll go lefty for you,” he smirks.
He throws the first dart and it bounces off the metal frame around the balloons. I try to keep my laughter inside as I cover my mouth, but I can’t, and I bust out in a fit of giggles.
“Oh, let me go lefty for you,” I imitate.
Miguel looks at me as he throws the last two darts, both connecting with a balloon and he runs towards me, lifting me over his shoulder as I screech, trying to make him put me down.
“My dress Miguel!” I laugh.
He jogs with me around the back of the booth and puts me back on my feet as his fingers launch for my ribs.
“You little ball buster. I can’t believe I let you get in my head,” he laughs as he continues his tickling assault.
“Stop! Stop!” I plead trying to keep my laughter under control.
“Miguel?” Says a voice from behind us.
I recognize the woman from the gym, the one who was asking for the private lessons and wondering about his stamina.
“Lydia, hi! How’s that jab doin’?” Miguel asks with a smile.
He drapes his arm over my shoulder in a possessive maneuver and for some reason it relaxes me. Lydia notices and gives us a tight smile.
“It’s great. I might need a couple more sessions to get it just right but last week did wonders,” she says in a sexy tone.
I know what she’s doing, and I roll my eyes.
“Well, just call up the studio and they’ll find a spot for you. Oh, where are my manners, this is Alessandra, my girlfriend. Alessandra, this is Lydia. She kickboxes at my gym and her son is in the kids’ class.”
“I remember,” I say with an equally as tight smile. “Nice to meet you.”
“I’m sure I would have remembered meetin’ you, but I guess not. It’s nice to meet you too. I didn’t realize you had a girlfriend, Miguel. You didn’t mention anything at our session,” Lydia says looking embarrassed.
God, she has some nerve.
“There was no need to mention it, Lydia. Clients don’t really need to know my personal life.”
I smile knowing Miguel is giving me reassurance that whatever game she is playing, he isn’t a part of.
“Right, well enjoy the carnival,” she says giving us both a wave.
“Take care,” Miguel responds.
Miguel turns to me, cupping my cheeks and smiles.
“I hope she didn’t bother you.”
“Not really. You should have heard some of the things her and the other moms were saying at the gym a couple weeks back. Like vultures, I swear,” I grumble.
“My eyes are on you and you only, Aless. I hope you know that,” he says pulling my face up to look at him.
I smile and nod.
“I know but thank you for reassuring me. Now what game am I gonna whoop your butt in next?”
Miguel laughs and kisses me softly before pulling back and grabbing my hand.
“How about a ride?”
“Ughhh. I hate rides. I get so nauseous.”
“Bumper cars?”
“Oh, that I can do,” I say excitedly.
We walk over to the bumper car section and Miguel fishes out a $5 bill. He hands it to the teenage boy
manning the station and tells him to keep the change.
“After you,” he says motioning for me to pick a car first.
I smirk and sit in a bumper car away from all the rest and Miguel gets stuck with a car in the corner, surrounded by three other cars. The bumper cars jump to life and I immediately go for Miguel and cage him in with the other kids surrounding his car.
“Cheatin’ Thompson!” Miguel yells.
“Fair play, Jameson!” I yell back.
I laugh so hard. Tears form in my eyes because now every bumper car in the ring is just caging in Miguel. I feel like a teenager on a date with my boyfriend and the burden of the past years has been lifted. My worries seem so far away, like another lifetime as I sit here in a bumper car and watch Miguel struggle to break free.
“Okay, okay, let’s ease up on the old man,” one kid says.
He pulls his car away to bump one of his friends in the back and the rest of the kids follow. Miguel finally manages to get himself out of the corner and bumps himself into me.
“Pity doesn’t count, old man,” I say smirking.
“Can’t believe that punkass called me old man. I don’t even have one damn grey hair.”
The bumper cars come to a stop and Miguel and I both unstrap ourselves.
“This day has been so fun, Miguel. Thank you so much.”
Miguel wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me to him to kiss me on the forehead.
“Let’s get some dogs, shall we?”
We walk over to the hot dog stand in the food section and Miguel grabs us two, some ketchup and napkins and we sit on a picnic table in the corner.
“Are you excited for your first Christmas with a kid in the house? I hope you don’t plan on sleeping past six,” I laugh taking a bite out of my hot dog.
“I usually hit the bag at five, so I’ll be wakin’ y’all up when I’m done,” he says smiling.
“I’m excited for your sister’s wedding. I haven’t ever been to one,” I admit.
“Never?” Miguel gasps.
“Nope. I can’t imagine their first dance. I know Devin is probably gonna sing to her and I’m gonna ball my eyes out. He’s so romantic.”
“Hey now, don’t get those googly eyes. Your boyfriend is sittin’ right here,” Miguel says pointing at me.
“Oh shush, you’re romantic too. Who’s uh… who’s walking her down the aisle?” I ask, knowing I'm treading in some murky waters by asking.
“She asked me to. It’s gonna be a bittersweet day. She was really close with her mama so… it’s good Charlotte is gonna be there. They’ve gotten really close.”
I briefly think of my own wedding one day. I've never actually thought of myself getting married, especially not after having Peter and working at the club. I hoped of course, that one day things would change but never actually pictured it. I am now though, myself in a white dress, Peter our ring bearer and Miguel at the altar.
Who would walk me down the aisle? As alone as I am in this world, I know someone from the group would take the reins. It fills my heart to know that I have a tribe behind me now.
You're not alone.
“I could see that,” I finally say, breaking myself out of my own thoughts. “Charlotte’s been amazing to me too and I’m not even family.”
“Of course you are. Not just because you're with me but you’re at Double Play, Alessandra. That’s a family right there. Those women stick together like the damn mafia, I swear,” he laughs.
“They really are the best. They wanted to do a girls night out kind of thing for Mani’s bachelorette party tomorrow.”
“You okay with that?” He asks eyeing me.
He doesn't have to ask why, and he doesn't tell me I shouldn't go. We both know there will be tons of temptation but the fact that he puts the ball in my court makes me fall for him even more.
“I am. I think I can handle it,” I say confidently.
“I'm a phone call away,” he says squeezing my thighs.
“I know and thank you. I appreciate it,” I say giving him a smile. “What are the guys doing?”
“Same thing I think, but Friday. Want me to watch Peter? I think the guys will all probably gather at someone’s house with all the kids if that’s okay?”
“Sure, that’s fine. Peter will love that!”
“You ready to go? I can tell Mani we’re on the way,” Miguel says standing from the bench.
“Sure.”
“Oh no, hold on. I almost committed a carnival cardinal sin.”
I watch Miguel run towards a stand and he comes back with a big smile and a huge pile of cotton candy on a white cone.
“Oh, my weakness,” I groan.
“Cotton candy?” he asks.
“Sugar!”
I grab a big piece and shove the cotton candy into my mouth, closing my eyes with a moan.
“Mmmm, so good.”
“Jesus, Aless. Don’t do that. I’m about to pop some wood right here in the carnival and get arrested. Let’s go,” he says grabbing my hand.
I laugh as we walk back towards the car, hand in hand and drive over to Normani and Devin’s house to pick up Peter. Our little trip out of town made our night a little later than I hoped, as we pull into the driveway at around 10:30.
Miguel reaches for the doorbell and I grab his hand, pulling it back.
“Let’s knock, just in case the kids are sleeping.”
He nods and gently knocks on the front door and Devin answers.
“Well if it ain’t the cutest couple in Louisiana. How was your date, y’all?” Devin says smiling crossing his arms over his chest.
“Cut the shit, Dev,” Miguel says punching his chest.
Devin lets out a breath and rubs the spot Miguel hit as Normani comes up behind him.
“Don’t be hittin’ my soon to be husband. You askin’ for an ass kickin’, brother?” Normani says with her hands on her hips.
“He tell you about those strippers he ordered Friday night?” Miguel smirks.
Normani eyes Miguel and then turns to Devin and punches him in his shoulder.
“Devin John, he better be yankin’ my chain!”
“Ow, darlin’ you know I would never order strippers. First, I don’t gotta pay for ass when I can get it any time I damn well please,” he growls squeezing Normani’s ass.
“Hey!” Miguel warns.
“Fuck off, Mig. Don’t be rilin’ up my woman like that,” Devin says pointing at him. “And second,” Devin continues cupping Normani's face. “I know with every fiber of my bein’...” I swear I’m swooning for her. “You’ll kick my damn ass to China and back if I was caught dead in a room with stripper.”
He laughs and Normani rolls her eyes slapping him on the chest.
“You’re a piece of work, Devin John!”
“We’re just goin’ to the pub, no need to get hostile, darlin’. I promise you’re the only woman I want for the rest of my life,” he says softly kissing her on the lips.
“Much better, cowboy,” she says smiling.
“Okay, I’ll get enough of this at the weddin’, can we just grab Peter and go please?” Miguel asks waving a hand between Devin and Normani’s face.
“He’s sleepin’,” Normani says looking at us. “Y’all can leave him if you want? I’ll make a big breakfast tomorrow, come on by and eat and grab him.”
Miguel looks at me with a raised eyebrow and I bite my lip, thinking.
“I… are you sure? He’s never slept out before. What it he wakes up and gets scared, or wanders the house or wakes you guys up and…”
“He’s in Cooper’s room and there’s a gate across the door so they can’t go explorin’. We have a monitor in there and our room is right next door. If they wanna get out, they'll holler, and Dev and I will grab him. If he’s scared, he can always come and cuddle with us. Don’t worry about a thing. If he gets really crazy, I’ll call you,” Normani says putting a hand on my shoulder.
I smile and nod squeezing
her hand.
“You’re the best, you know that? Thank you guys so much. We’ll be back in the morning.”
Last Round (Double Play Series Book 6) Page 11