mr rightfully wrong ; pablo gavi
â summary; the tradition of eating 12 grapes under the table has her manifesting for a spanish footballer, certainly not the one she has been friends forever with though.
pairing â pablo gavi x best-friends-model!f. reader
social media au
content â lots of banter between them on instagram in the comments. literal soulmates but they just donât see it or do they?
NAVIGATION + authorâs note: happy chinese new year! starting to miss my number 6 running around the whole pitch for 90 minutes and then i realised heâll never be managed by Xavi anymore⊠google translate spanish
song rec for this fic â ivy
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ynusername b&w away from the usual
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pablogavi fea (ugly)
ynusername @pablogavi cållate niño herido (shut up injured kid)
pablogavi a nadie le importa (nobody cares)
_ferminlopez @pablogavi âme importa đ (i care)
ynusername @_ferminlopez ferrrr đđ
galafr Gorgeous
l0vel3ttersyn stunner my favourite girl
gabrieloxguevaraa chica mĂĄs guapa (prettiest girl)
ynusername @gabrieloxguevaraa đ€đ€
aurorapaezg linda mi hermana te extraño (pretty, my sister i miss you)
ynusername @aurorapaezg ven a visitarme con tu molesto hermano đ€ (come visit me with your annoying brother)
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pablogavi Estoy bien, volverĂ© mĂĄs fuerte đ (iâm okay, iâll be back stronger.)
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ynusername ÂĄmentiroso! Llora todas las noches porque no puede jugar. (liar! he cries every night cause he can't play)
pedri @ynusername cĂłmo sabrĂas đđ (how would you know?)
pablogavi @pedri âcallate por favor (shut up please)
ynusername mocoso llorĂłn (whiny brat)
pablogavi @ynusername Dios mĂo, cĂĄllate (My god just shut up)
joaofelix79 Regresa mĂĄs rĂĄpido y mĂĄs fuerte (come back faster and stronger)
barcelonadaily We Miss You!!!
barca2idie bro come back we need you sm
blaugranaplanet Stay Strong Warrior!
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ynusername ate 12 grapes under the table on NYE, a spanish footballer better come my way đ
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pablogavi nadie te quiere, rĂndete đ (nobody wants you give up)
_ferminlopez @pablogavi conozco a alguien que la quiere (i know someone that wants her)
pablogavi decirle a toda LaLiga que no salga contigo (telling the whole LaLiga league not to date you)
ynusername @judebellingham please make my dream come true
judebellingham @ynusername I would but youâre off limits đ
pablogavi @ynusername sin esperanza đ€Šđ»ââïž (hopeless)
pablogavi Espero que te ahogues con las uvas. (hope you choke on the grapes)
ynusername @pablogavi TĂș estabas ahĂ đ€Šđ»ââïž (you were there)
iloveagirlsgirl Iâm so in love with youuuuuu
findingjude SHEâS JUST LIKE ME FRRR
_ferminlopez Mi niña bonita đđ (my pretty girl)
ynusername @_ferminlopez te amo fer đ€ (i love you fer)
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ynusername my mr. get on his knees to tie my shoelaces for me!
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_ferminlopez NOOO QUIEN DISPARĂ SU TIRO ANTES DE MI (NOOO WHO SHOT THEIR SHOT BEFORE ME?)
pablogavi ÂżQuiĂ©n diablos harĂa eso por ti? (who the hell would do that for you?)
ynusername @pablogavi Conozco exactamente a la persona que harĂa eso. (i know just the person who'd do that.)
pablogavi @ynusername no preguntĂ© (didnât ask)
aurorapaezg le enseñó bien (taught him well)
ynusername @aurorapaezg Toda tu y mamĂĄ đ€ (all you and mama)
gabrieloxguevaraa ÂżYa estĂĄ fuera del mercado? đ (sheâs off the market now?)
ynusername @gabrieloxguevaraa En realidad no, pero solo para ti. (not really but only for you)
footballwags looks like our gavi-yn ending never started đ
waglifebarca I WANTED HER WITH GAVI đ
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pablogavi Estoy bien, volverĂ© pronto. đđȘ (Iâm okay, Iâll be back soon)
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_ferminlopez guapo (handsome)
pablogavi @_ferminlopez gracias
_ferminlopez @pablogavi yo, no tu (me,not you)
alejandrobalde Âżrecuperarse o enamorarse? (recovering or falling in love?)
pablogavi @alejandrobalde ambos hermano! (both brother)
fcbarcelona RecuperĂĄndose bien nuestro guerrero! (recovering well our warrior)
ynusername que feo pero fermin đđđ (so ugly but fermin)
pablogavi @ynusername odio que salgas (i hate you get out)
ynusername @pablogavi nunca podrĂas odiarme đ€ (you could never hate me)
pablogavi @ynusername ok cierto ahora cĂĄllate (okay true now shut up)
blaugranagirlie @ynusername @pablogavi you guys are making it obvious
gavif1lms smash next question
pedrigaviluver is he seriously soft launching, didnât know he knew how to do that
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ynusername happiest girl in Barcelona đ€
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joaofelix79 lookin good barca girl
ynusername @joaofelix79 thanksss joĂŁooo
footballwags SHE GOT JACOB ELORDI IN HER LIKES????
lifeseeninmyeyes @footballwags Iâm pretty sure theyâre friends, she mentioned it before
msgaviralife soft launch is soft launching because who the hell is that
pablogavi Estoy cansado de ver todo esto (Iâm tired of seeing all this)
ynusername @pablogavi los celos no te quedan bien (jealousy is not a good look on you)
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pablogavi ocupado con mi chica no me golpees (busy with my girl donât hit me up)
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_ferminlopez letra fea en ingles jajaja (ugly handwriting in english hahaha)
_ferminlopez ooo soy tu chica? đđ (ooo iâm your girl?)
pedri esfuérzate inglés (try hard english)
lamineyamal ¿Hablas inglés hermano? (speaking english bro?)
joaofelix79 Nice english on the cup bro
ferrantorres Necesitas mejorar tu inglĂ©s y tu forma de corazĂłn đ€Łđ€Ł (need to improve your english and heart shape)
pleaselordwaglife every barca player making fun of his english on the cup iâm dead đđđ
ilovebarca SO HIS GF SPEAKS ENGLISH, HEâSO CUTE OMG
alteregowag CRYINGGG HE WROTE IN ENGLISH FOR HER??? đ„čđ„č
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ynusername did i fool you guys?! Feliz aniversario, mi bebĂ© llorĂłn. Fue divertido actuar como si nos odiĂĄramos en Instagram, pero gracias a Dios vienes a casa todos los dĂas o viceversa. La tradiciĂłn de las 12 uvas realmente funcionĂł, excepto que manifestĂ© al futbolista español equivocado, supongo, todavĂa lo amo, señor equivocado. Gracias por cubrir las esquinas afiladas de la mesa y los mostradores para mĂ siempre, por amarme incluso si mi agenda se complica a veces, por protegerme sin demostrarlo, pero siempre lo sĂ©. No habrĂa nadie mĂĄs para mĂ que tĂș, mi primer y Ășltimo amor. đ€ (happy anniversary, my cry baby. it was fun acting like we hated each other on instagram but thank god you come home to me everyday or vice-versa. the 12 grapes tradition really worked except i manifested the wrong spanish footballer i guess, still love you my mr wrong. thanks for covering the sharp corners of the table and counters for me always, for loving me even if my schedule gets messy sometimes, for being protective of me without showing it but i always know. there wouldn't be anyone else for me but you, my first and last love.)
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ynusername p.s heâs learning english for me, what a sweetheart right? đ
pablogavi Supongo que fue divertido, te amo con todo mi corazón mi hermosa niña. (I guess it was fun, I love you with all my heart my gorgeous girl)
_ferminlopez AsĂ que era Ă©l todo el tiempo, es broma, no podĂa dejar de hablarnos de ti. (so it was him all the time, just kidding he couldn't stop talking about you to us)
footballwags The both of them literally fooled everyone with their banterâŠ
gabrieloxguevaraa feliz aniversario para ambos (happy anniversary both of you)
pedri Esto fue muy divertido, los amo a ambos. (this was so fun, love both of you)
aurorapaezg đ€
mikkykiemeney đđ
judebellingham I was supposed to be Mr. Right, congrats both of you!
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pablogavi Hola mi novia, feliz aniversario para nosotros. Nunca habrĂĄ suficientes palabras para describir cuĂĄnto te amo, pero te amo mucho. Gracias por dejarme ser tu novio, aunque peleĂĄbamos mucho cuando Ă©ramos mĂĄs jĂłvenes, me alegro de poder ser tu novio. Nunca me arrepentirĂ© de ser tuyo, te amo. y para todos los demĂĄs, ella estĂĄ fuera de los lĂmites. (hey my girlfriend, happy anniversary to us. there'll never be enough words to describe how much i love you but i love you alot. thanks for letting me be your boyfriend although we fought alot when we were younger, i'm glad i could be your boyfriend. i'll never regret being yours, i love you. and to everyone else, she's off limits)
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ynusername 12 uvas funcionaron hasta la mitad, pero aĂșn asĂ me alegro de que al final seas tĂș. đ€ (12 grapes worked halfway but still glad it's you in the end)
pedri El efecto novia estĂĄ funcionando porque definitivamente te ves mejor (girlfriend effect is working because you definitely look better)
_ferminlopez @pedri solo pensĂ© que pensĂ© de esa manera Dios mĂo (I thought only I thought that way oh my god)
footballwags THE ENDGAME WE WANTEDDD WE WONNN
gavi.luvr sheâs so gorgeous iâm not even mad he has a gf
livelaughlovegavi NOOO WE LOST HIM (iâm happy itâs her)
blaugrana.daily LETâS GOOO CHAMP
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Delta Landscaping | Chapter 16: The Countdown
Series Masterlist | Chapter 16 A03 Link
Word Count: 8.8k
Previously on As the Mule Falls: Benny and Vanessa went on a date. We learned a bit about a woman from Santiagoâs past. Frankie got things prepared for a little weekend trip up to Atlanta to celebrate a big milestone.
In this Episode: Another Benny-heavy episode as the guys get him ready for fight night. Similar to the last episode, weâll jump through time and will end the Saturday before Bennyâs fight. We also have another neighborhood party!
Chapter Warnings: This one is pretty fluffy, just some swearing. Special thot warning - Cousin Joel, Marcus being a sweet brother-in-law, the boys spending time at the gym. Frankie in his menace era. Benny is a flustered, adorable mess. David comes with his own warnings.Â
*Cue the theme music and roll opening credits*
11 Days to Fight NightÂ
David: Ok since when has Will had a motorcycle?! Katie you have to keep us updated on stuff like this.
Megan: If we had a neighborhood newsletter it'd be the lead story this week đ
Ty: Donât give him any ideasâŠ
Katie: SorryâŠhe just got it
Olivia: Have you taken a ride yet?
Melissa: đ
Olivia: On the motorcycle
Oliva: Shit! đ«Ł
Ty: I thought for a second D took your phoneÂ
Megan: đ aw Liv, we love you never change.
Oliva: Quick someone please change the subject. I am so sorry Katie!
Katie: đ
David: Anyone up for another party? We havenât welcomed the new neighbors yet.
Megan: Lulu and I were actually talking about that!
Lucille: Yes! I am happy to host! Maybe this weekend?Â
David: Theme?
Megan: Do we need one?Â
David: âŠ.
Megan: The theme is Lucille is going to cook us a bunch of food and play great music. And dancing!
Ty: Ay dios mio. Heâs already getting a mood board together.
Lucille: Megan - can you talk with Victoria? See what night works for them.Â
Megan: Great idea! Katie youâre in charge of the boys!
David: Iâm not jealous at all đ
Frankie propped his elbow up on the armrest and looked out the window as the plane made its descent. The early morning flight meant there were actually a few open seats, including the one next to him in the exit row, for which he was grateful.
His weekend trip reinvigorated him. It went as perfectly as he could have imagined it, save for the constant rain but even that wasn't a problem since it meant they got to stay in. All the anxiety he felt leading up to the trip about revealing parts of his past to Jo evaporated the second she took his hand, rubbing her thumbs across his knuckles. She appreciated Frankie's openness and willingness to share some of the deepest, darkest parts of his past. But what meant the most was when she said how proud she was of him for reaching his milestone.Â
The distance was not ideal. All they wanted to do was spend every day, every moment with each other. He wanted to wake up to legs tangled and sheets rumpled. She wanted to surprise him at his job one day with lunch. They wanted to cook dinner together at night and settle in and watch a movie or play a game.
But for now, their physical time together would be relegated to a more sporadic schedule. She was gearing up for a busy time at work, but they made plans for the following weekend for Benny's fight. Frankie was already counting down the days when he could see her and introduce her to everyone. That thought brought a smile across his face; the pride he'd feel about showing off his girl.
He was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't even realize they were landing until the wheels hit the tarmac. He quickly pulled out his phone, knowing exactly who his first text would be to.Â
Frankie: Just landed. Miss you.
Jo: Good! I miss you too. Got to the office a little bit ago.
Frankie: You weren't late right?
Jo: Nope, all good! Gotta go to this meeting but tell Benny I said hi!
Frankie: Have a good day mi cielo. Talk later
Jo: xoxo
10 Days to Fight Night
âFish, can you help me with something real quick?â Benny panted as he racked up the bar onto the squat rack.
âWith what?â
âCan youâŠuhâŠtake a picture?â He turned around, offering Frankie his phone.
Frankie furrowed his eyebrows. âA picture? Of what?âÂ
Bennyâs eyes looked left and right. âUmâŠme?âÂ
âCanât you just do like a selfie or somethinâ?â Frankie leaned against the weights. Â
âNoâŠitâs more of anâŠaction shot. Câmon Fish, itâll take two seconds.â Benny walked over to an open space, peeling off his shirt so he was left in just his black basketball shorts. He flipped his baseball cap around and got into a plank. âJust take a couple of me doing pushups.â
âPor amor a dĂos, Benjamin. What the hell?â Frankie shook his head laughing.
âCâmon, Fish,â he grunted through another rep, the pendant of his chain hitting the floor each time.Â
Frankie tried his best, even bending down on one knee to get a better angle. âOkâŠsee what you think.âÂ
Benny chewed on the inside of his cheek as he scrolled through the mostly blurry photos. He was about ready to prop up the phone against a dumbbell and try it again but managed to find a clear one that showed off the definition in his shoulders. âGood, thanks, man.â
âHeyâŠumâŠthink you could⊠never mind, itâs dumb.â Frankie rubbed the back of his neck, walking back towards his water bottle. âWhoâre you taking that for anyway?â
âItâs for uhâŠmy InstagramâŠdamn that sounds really fuckin stupid to say out loud. I'm a grown-ass man,â Benny chuckled.Â
âHoping that someone in particular sees it?â Frankie raised an eyebrow, lightly punching Benny in the arm.
âYeahâŠkinda,â Benny blushed, eager to change the subject. âWhat? Like you don't send any pictures to your lady.â
âUhâŠthatâs actually what I,â Frankie sighed, shaking his head as Bennyâs face lit up with the realization of what Frankie was trying to ask about earlier.
âOh hell yeah, Fish! Tryna show off all that hard work aren't ya,â he winked, slapping Frankie in the stomach.Â
Despite the focus on Benny and getting him in ring shape, Frankie reaped some benefits from their daily gym trips too. Recently he noticed his shirts fit a bit tighter across his chest and arms, a fact Jo was all too pleased about during his little weekend getaway.Â
They'd exchanged photos over the past couple of weeks, but they had been pretty tame. Mostly silly selfies as they went about their day. This morning, however, Frankie did manage to send one of himself shirtless, brushing his teeth which seemed to get quite the reaction. He was having fun and feeling playful.
âCan you help me?â He looked over at Benny who sported a lopsided grin.
âHell yeah!â He led Frankie back to the locker room. They stood in front of the mirror as Benny gave him tips on how to pose and hold the camera, taking a couple of his own to show as an example. Â
âI dunno man, this feels kinda dumb,â Frankie winced, looking at himself in the mirror.Â
âStop itâŠsheâs gonna love it. Youâre lookinâ good these days, Fish, show it off!â Benny shook him by the shoulders, making Frankieâs shy smile grow more confident. âIâm tellinâ ya, send her one of those and youâre in for a good night later,â he winked.
Nine Days to Fight NightÂ
Will and Santiago finished the work on Melissa's backyard earlier than expected thanks to some extra help from Connor. It was perfect timing, with a little over a week before Bennyâs fight. All the guys rallied around Benny, helping him prepare however they could.
Today started with an early morning jog around the neighborhood. Benny, Will, and Connor ran together, the younger boy pushing the older two to keep a faster pace. Frankie followed on a bike, barking out encouragement. Meanwhile, Santiago sat on the Millersâ front porch drinking a coffee and reading the paper, giving the guys a little wave each time they came around the block.
âNice, that was your fastest yet,â Frankie stopped the bike and clicked off the stopwatch.
Benny stood bent over trying to catch his breath while Will took off his shirt to wipe the sweat off his brow, tucking it into the waistband of his red gym shorts. Santiago strolled down the driveway with some water bottles as David drove by, giving a polite wave.Â
âIt was all this guy,â Benny panted, patting Connor on the chest. âYour coach is gonna make you run the drills this season man,â he chuckled.
âHappy to help. You feeling good?â Connor asked as he took the cold bottle from Santiago.Â
âYeah. Cardio wise I feel great.â
âYou testing out that cardio in your free time?â Santiago smirked as Frankie smacked him on the back of the head, cutting his eyes over to Connor.
âHe hasn't even kissed her yet,â Will added before dodging out of the way and hiding behind Frankie to avoid a slap from Benny. The guys broke out in a fit of laughter as Benny blushed.Â
âSheâs excited about the fight,â Connor said as he took a long drink of water, eliciting confused looks from the guys. âWhat? She cut my hair earlier this week so it came up. Thanks for noticing by the way,â he teased as he removed his baseball cap and ruffled the top of his hair.
Santiago assessed Connorâs haircut with a sharp nod, approving Vanessaâs handiwork. âLooks good, kid. Maybe Iâll go and see what those hands can do.â He winked at Benny, getting a sense of glee at seeing his fist ball up and his nostrils flare.
Oblivious, Connor continued, âShe gave an awesome scalp massage, she has long nails so it helps toâŠâ He stopped when he saw all the guys looking at him with blank stares. Bennyâs mouth twisted while the others tried to hold in their laughter. Finally, Willâs snort made them all bust out laughing.Â
âBetter be careful there C,â Will smirked.Â
âOhâŠahâŠsorry Benny, I swear I didnât mean it like that,â he winced, fearing heâd offended Benny.
Benny clenched his jaw, before taking a deep breath. âAll good lil dude,â he patted Connor on the back. âIâm used to these guys being assholesâŠsoâŠwhat did you guys talk about?â He raised his eyebrows.
More relaxed now knowing Benny wasnât mad, Connor told them about how she seemed excited to watch Benny but a bit nervous too. âShe mentioned something about how Victoria is going to be there to help too?â
Benny shifted from one foot to another, feeling butterflies in his stomach at the thought of her excited to see him in action. âSheâŠuhâŠyeah, Vicâs gonna help tape me up before the fight, youâre off the hook, Fish.â
âHa, I see what you did there!â Connor laughed as they all groaned.
âYou've been over there every night this week,â Will observed, taking a long drink of water.Â
âVic has been doing some treatmentsâŠto help me with recovery. Now that Iâm getting older, I'm feeling it a lot more than I used toâŠnow I know how you all must feel,â Benny smirked.
âVanessa hasn't been helping you with some extra umâŠtreatmen-â Santiago could barely get it out before bursting into another fit of laughter.
âHey, you boys are having too much fun,â Lucille joked as she wheeled her trash bin to the curb.Â
âLulu, quĂ© estĂĄs haciendo? Trash comes tomorrow not today,â Frankie knitted his brows taking the bin from her and walking it back up her driveway.Â
âI thought so, but David told us it was a special day and to take it out to the curb right away andâŠwell never mind,â she shook her head. âYou boys are coming over on Saturday, right?â
âWouldn't miss it for the world, Lulu,â Will regarded her with a soft smile.Â
âAre you cooking Lulu?â Benny's hopeful look made her laugh.
âSĂ mi amor, I am starting today. And I'm making some extra empanadas just for youâŠalthough I hear I have some competition,â she winked.
âWhat? Someone else is making empanadas?â Benny scoffed. âDoesn't matter, I know where the best ones are made darlinâ.â
âAh well, vamos a ver, I think you may like these moreâŠyou boys going to the gym?â
âYeah, one last hard workout today and tomorrow, and then it's all maintenance, right Benjamin?â Frankie clapped a hand on Benny's shoulder.
âYou're coming next week to watch right, Lulu?â Benny's puppy dog eyes made the biggest smile come across Lucille's face.Â
âPor supresto mi vida, Iâm looking forward to it.â
Eight Days to Fight NightÂ
Todayâs gym session was especially fun because everyone got into it. Connor and Benny started off alternating between jumping rope and running sprints on the treadmill. Of course, they had to make it competitive and see who could jump rope the longest without messing up or who could run for the fastest speed on the treadmill.Â
Santiago and Frankie spent time lifting, getting a chance to catch up on each other's week. Will went off to a corner to do an ab circuit. When Benny finished his cardio, he and Will faced each other on the ground to do one of their patented Miller Push-Up Contests. They'd started doing this as kids and it became something Benny would do to lift everyone's spirits during missions.Â
Each time they came up for a pushup, they extended one arm out to slap hands before going down for another push-up. Will rolled his eyes because Benny wanted to push the pace rather than go at the slow and methodical one Will set. Like always, they ended up play fighting, with Benny putting Will in some kind of WWE-style hold.
âOk, ok you two break it up,â Frankie chuckled. âC'mon Ben, let's get some sparring in so we can all go eat.â
Seven Days to Fight Night
"Bean what the fuck is a 'thirst trap' and why did Sarah say she saw it on your Instagram? Jesus I don't even know what half of that shit even means," Joel muttered to himself, pinching the bridge of his nose as he sat in his truck outside of Steph's house.Â
âOhâŠahâŠI dunno man, you know the kids and how they talk, can't keep up,â Benny tried to laugh it off but Joel pressed on until he finally revealed what that phrase meant.
âWhat kind of picture you posting Ben? My daughter, your niece, is on that app!â
âNo, no, it's just a selfie in the mirror at the gym. I had my shirt off, it's what she'd see at the beach, man, nothing worse than that.â
âHmmâŠâ Joel rolled his eyes, âIt's not you I'm worried aboutâŠwhy'd you post that anyway? Not enough havinâ all those stay-at-home moms at the gym goin' crazy for you.â
Benny could practically see the smirk on Joel's face. He knew he could try and bullshit his way around this, but Joel would get the truth out one way or another. âIâŠshit this sounds so fucking silly, I'm almost 40 for fuckâs sake, butâŠI was kinda doing it hoping someone would see it.â
âSomeone in general or some specific? Is it for Nox?â
âWho the fuck is Nox?â
âYour girlâŠyou said she drove an Equinox, so Iâve been calling her that in my head,â Joel chuckled.
âNoxâŠâ Benny tilted his head. âYou never gave Amy a nickname...â
âYou didn't answer the question, Bean.â Joel countered.
Benny leaned back in his dining room chair, pausing from the drawing he was absentmindedly shading as he talked with Joel. âYeah,â he said softly.
âHa, I knew it. Trying to remind her what she's missing when you're not around?â
âAhhâŠwellâŠâ
âY'allâve done stuff right? Will said you've been at her place like every night this week.â
âNo manâŠIâŠwe almost kissed last weekend but her sister and brother-in-law got home from their date night,â Benny scratched his scalp as he continued, âI dunnoâŠI haven't felt nervous like this around a girl likeâŠever.â
âWell, she sounds special BeanâŠI'm looking forward to meeting her.â
Benny sat up straighter in his chair, âwhen's that gonna be?â He eagerly anticipated Joel's response.
âWell, that's kinda why I called. Dropped Sarah off at Steph's for her two weeks and we got to talkinââŠthe county is dragginâ its feet on these permits and some of the materials we need for this job are back ordered so I'll have some downtime while Sarah is with StephâŠlooks like it's going to line up with your fight.â
âHoly shit! You're coming? Fuck yeah!â Benny pumped his fist in the air.
Joel chuckled, âknew that would get you excited. You actually have Steph to thank for this one, she made the decision for meâŠsays I need to take a vacation.â
âI can't remember the last one you went on.âÂ
Joel shook his head, âHey Tommy, Sarah, and I went tubing last summerâŠor was that two summers agoâŠâ
âMy point exactly J, plus that wasn't a vacation. So is Tommy coming with you too?â
âThat's the plan, as long as he doesn't do anything stupid.â Joel rubbed his eye with the heel of his hand.Â
âOh shit, it's gonna be a hell of a week with you two down here.â
Joel smiled as he drove, listening to Benny go on and on about the different things he wanted to do while his cousins were in town.Â
â...and Pope mentioned this cigar shop, we were thinking of getting some to celebrate but I dunno I don't wanna jinx anything and -â
âOhhhkay Bean, gonna stop you there. I'm about to head in to grab some food. We'll chat laterâŠtry and I dunno dance with Nox at the party tomorrow night, put on that Miller charm.â
Six Days to Fight Night
âMmm, it smells so good in here hermanita,â Victoria walked through the door with Nico and Mariella in tow.Â
âThanks, got the last batch going,â Vanessa said over her shoulder, careful not to take her eyes off the hot oil.Â
âOooo Tia you made empanadas?â Nico bounded over, getting his hand slapped by his mom for reaching for the tray Vanessa had already neatly assembled.
âIt's ok Vic, he can take one. Here mi amor take from this plate, those are the guava y queso ones.â
âMy favorite! Gracias, Tia!â He managed to say between bites.Â
âCooking up quite the storm huh?â Victoria regarded the counter which included a glass dish full of boiled yucca, a container of citrus-garlic mojo, two types of empanadas, and a tres leches cake.
âWe can't show up empty-handed,â Vanessa fished out the last empanada and placed it on the paper towel-lined plate.
âWell you know what they sayâŠfastest way to a man's heart is through his stomach,â Victoria giggled as Vanessa rolled her eyes. âSpeaking of his stomach, dâyou see his Instagram? Ay Papi! She wiggled her eyebrows.Â
Vanessa blushed as she started packing up the empanadas into containers. âUmâŠyeahâŠI mean, I think I saw it when I was scrolling.â In reality, Vanessa set up notifications for Bennyâs posts, so she immediately saw yesterdayâs gym selfie. Not wanting to seem too eager, she waited about an hour or so after he posted before she actually liked it.Â
âHmmâŠsure. Anyways, what are you wearing tonight?â
Vanessa sighed, âI donât knowâŠitâs a casual backyard party so nothing too fancy.â
âCâmon,â Victoria grabbed her sisterâs hand and pulled her up the stairs holding Mariella on her hip. âVamos, NicoâŠletâs help Tia figure out what to wear tonight.â
Frankie took a deep breath as he looked at himself in the mirror. Benny's words from the other day were in his head encouraging him to show off all of the hard work he'd been putting into the gym. As he contemplated which of his colorful, silky buttoned-downs to wear, a thought popped into his head. Earlier, Jo sent him a picture of her outfit before she headed out for the night with a friend. She looked gorgeous, but of course, she did. That photo would be in his head all evening, so he thought it would be fun to return the favor.Â
He pushed back from the mirror and pulled the bill of his baseball cap down low so that just his mouth was visible. He checked the angle of his phone making sure he was in the frame before looking down and snapping a couple of photos. He sighed as he scrolled through them. This was so unlike him, but he had to admit, it was kind of fun. He got a little rush of doing this for her, curious what her reaction would be. Having fun like this, being silly and carefree and just being inâŠlove? Is that what he was feeling? It had been so long.
âAlright, letâs see what you think babyâŠâ he muttered to himself as he hit send, immediately putting the phone down on the counter and walking back to his closet to figure out which shirt to wear.Â
Bucky enthusiastically greeted Katie as she walked into Megan's house. He was excited to see her, sure, but he was more excited about the tray of little Cuban sandwich sliders in her hands.
âBucky, no no this isn't for youâŠmaybe your mom can give me one of your t-r-e-a-t-s instead,â she winked as Bucky jumped up on her legs. âOhhh ok, note to self, he knows how to spell,â she laughed, rounding the corner into the kitchen where Megan and Connor were getting their stuff packed up.
âHe acts like we never feed him,â Megan laughed. âYou've got it good my man,â she looked down at Bucky who gave her big puppy dog eyes. âDon'tâŠugh dammit it works every time,â she laughed as she grabbed a Milkbone. âDamn you Benny Miller. He got Bucky addicted to these damn things so I had to go to Costco to get more,â Megan gestured to the new treat container as Connor snorted.
âSpeaking of Benny, howâs it going with the training, C? Katie leaned against the counter.
Connor sat at the kitchen table, âOh pretty good. I feel like this week it's all really clicked for Benny. He seems to be having fun. Plus he got some good news, so that put him in an even better mood.â
âNews? What news? Ooo something about Vanessa?â Megan asked.
Connor absentmindedly scrolled his phone, âNah, no it's about his cousins from Texas they're coming to town.â
Megan and Katie looked at each other, a smirk forming across Megan's face. âCousins from Texas huh?â
âYeah, Benny was excited about it,â Connor added.
âI guess we'll see if all of Melissa's detective work paid off huh?â Katie tried to sound neutral but she knew Megan was onto her.
âYou gonna give David that bit of news or am I?â Megan raised an eyebrow.
âI mean, your kid was the one who had that little tidbit, so it's all yours Meg,â she winked.
With Frankie headed to a party at Lucille's tonight, Jo finally took her neighbor Bea up on her invitation to join her and some friends for a trivia night at a local brewery. They finished the first round and awaited the results, so she had time for a quick trip to the restroom. She checked her phone out of habit, not expecting to see any messages from Frankie. Her stomach did a little flip when she saw she had a message from him â and a photo at that. Intrigued, she leaned against a wall and looked over her shoulder to make sure no one could see her phone.Â
Frankie. Without a shirt. Wow, he looked good. And the part that made the slick start to pool between her legs was the little smirk she could see from under his baseball cap. It reminded her of a week ago, looking up at him as he was buried inside her, one of her legs wrapped around his waist. She pushed her thighs together for some relief before responding.
Jo: đ«Š
Jo: Benny is teaching you well there Morales
Frankie: Thought you might like that
Jo: Call me laterÂ
Jo: Actually, we should FaceTime đ
Giving herself one last look in the mirror, Vanessa fussed with her hair before heading downstairs. She could hear Victoria going over the kidâs nighttime routine with their cousin Maria, who agreed to come over and watch them for the evening. She smiled when she saw Nico lying on the couch playing a game on his tablet, watching him as she turned the corner into the kitchen, she nearly ran into Marcus.Â
âVandy!â He narrowly avoided crashing into her and took a step back to take her in. âWowâŠyou look beautiful,â he leaned down to kiss her cheek. âHeâs going to love it.â He whispered in her ear.
She shyly smiled, âItâs not too much?âÂ
âNo, you look perfect.â He winked as he walked over to the kitchen island to help pack up the food they were taking to Lucilleâs.
âYou donât look too bad yourself Buck, is that the guayabera Tio Gerardo got you?â
Marcus looked down at his black linen dress shirt, âYeah this is the one. Some of the guys wear these to the office and now I see why, theyâre comfortable as hell,â he chuckled.
Lucille hadnât thrown a party like this in ages. It felt nice to have the house full of people, the music playing, and the aroma of food wafting throughout. She was thankful to the boys for helping her get the backyard in order. Frankie and Benny set up a beautiful display of twinkling string lights among her trees while Will and Santiago and Connor constructed a dance floor and moved furniture out of the way.
A group congregated in the kitchen, David holding court as he took stock of all of the delicious food Lucille had on the menu. He let out a loud whoop as the Delta Force guys arrived. All of the neighbors showered them with hugs and warmth. In their own ways, each of the guys relished this. It was nice to have people genuinely excited to see them.Â
Everyone decided to take the party outside, helping to carry out various dishes and containers. Once everything was set, Benny reached into a cooler to grab a beer. He heard Lucille excitedly announce that the guests of honor were there. Turning around, he immediately locked eyes with Vanessa, like a magnet that found its other half. He let out a breath as he saw her. Fuck, she looks beautiful, no idiot, she looks gorgeous, he thought to himself. Will patted him on the back, but Benny couldnât hear what he said. It was like everything was in slow motion.Â
Vanessa wore a simple forest green wrap dress with a floral pattern that hugged her curves in all of the right places. The straps of the garment were delicate and the neckline formed a modest v, showing just enough cleavage to leave something to the imagination but also enough to make his mouth water. His eyes honed in on her collarbone, wondering what it would be like to pepper kisses along it as he moved his way up her neck to behind her ear andâŠ
âBen? Earth to Ben?â Santiago chuckled next to him.
Benny shook his head to bring himself back to the present. âHmm?â
âYouâre staring, Bean. Put your tongue back in your mouth and go over there and say hi.â Will added as Frankie smirked.Â
âShit. Yeah, ok.â Benny smoothed the front of his short sleeve blue button down, undoing another button because it suddenly felt like it was a thousand degrees outside despite it being a very pleasant evening.Â
A crowd formed around the new arrivals with everyone eager to welcome them to the party. Benny made a beeline to Vanessa waiting impatiently but respectfully as David chatted with her.Â
âGirl! Stunning. Tens across the board on this. I didnât know you had this little figure on you mama!â David winked.Â
âAw thanks, you look great too!â Vanessa blushed as she caught Bennyâs eyes from over Davidâs shoulder.Â
David followed her gaze. âAh, Benny! Hey, dâyou hear we have more empanadas? Vanessa made some too, so now we donât have to fight over all the ones Lulu made. Although if we did actually fight youâd kick my ass soâŠâ David chuckled.
Benny snorted as David excused himself, taking the opportunity to ask Will about his new motorcycle. âHi,â Benny looked at her with a soft smile, pushing the hair out of his eyes.
âHi,â Vanessa replied, a bit shaky.Â
For as much as he was in awe of her, she was equally as mesmerized by him. Heâd been almost exclusively wearing a baseball cap since they met, so she hadnât noticed that his hair was getting a little bit longer. His shirt fit him perfectly, showing off all of the hard work heâd put in at the gym. She looked down at his chest, appreciating the fact that he had a few buttons undone. His chain glimmered as it sat nestled into some sparse hair on his chest. He looked like a model and Vanessa couldnât believe he was standing there talking to her.
âY-you look absolutely beautiful,â he gave her a quick but appreciative up and down, trying his hardest not to let his eyes linger for too long.
âYou clean up pretty good yourself Bun,â she smiled back, brushing some lint off his shoulder. Her stomach did a little flip when he chuckled at the mention of his nickname.Â
Benny looked over his shoulder as Marcus and Will moved dishes and plates to make room for the newest additions to the buffet. âDâyou make all of that?â
Vanessa nodded, looking down feeling her face getting hot as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. âYeahâŠspent most of the day doing it.â
âWell, Iâm excited to taste youâŠI mean your umâŠwhatever you brought. What ah, what did you make?â Benny rubbed the back of his neck, thankful it was dark outside and she couldnât fully see how red he was turning.Â
âWant me to show you?â
âAbsolutely, lead the way boss lady,â Benny winked, letting her walk in front of him so he could check her out, noticing that she put a little extra swish and sway to her hips.
Lucille stopped for a moment as she walked outside with another plate of empanadas and croquettas to refill the trays. She took in the sight of her backyard so full of people, of laughter, of music, it brought a tear to her eyes. She wished her Julio could be there to see how their little neighborhood had grown. With a deep breath, she set down the plate and turned to see everyone starting to hit the makeshift dance floor thanks to David who has commandeered the speakers.
âVamos bailar Lulu?â Marcus winked, extending his arm out to her which she happily took.Â
âHabalas español muy bien Marcus,â she complimented as he led her onto the dance floor.
âWell, I had to learn quickly. Had to know what my mother-in-law and her family were saying about me,â he chuckled.
On the other side of the backyard, David dragged Olivia onto the dance floor, to the cheers of everyone including her husband Chris. They didnât get out much and were so thankful to Aria for coming over to babysit so they could have a night with their neighbors. Santiago twirled Victoria around, the two keeping up with the quick beat of the song.
In a move that surprised most of the neighbors, Will was eager to get out on the dance floor, bringing Katie along. Although she was a bit unsure of how to keep to the beat, she was pleasantly surprised to see Will take the lead.
âWhere'd you learn to dance like this?â Katie giggled as she held one of his hands and lightly rested the other on his shoulder.
âLearned a few things from my exes,â he winked as she rolled her eyes.
âDidn't pass along those tricks to your brother?â She nodded towards Benny who was sulking in the corner nursing a beer as he watched everyone.
Will shook his head as he twirled her, âTriedâŠwe finally found something he's actually not good at,â he chuckled before cutting his eyes over to check in on Benny. With a sigh, he added that Benny's ex used to make fun of him when he tried to dance, one of the countless ways she found to tear him down.
âAww poor Bean,â Katie pouted, sneaking a look at Benny as Will spun her around again. She noticed Benny's eyes were glued to Vanessa who sat twirling her Solo cup and politely chatting with Ty at a table.
âHe'll get his big boy pants on soon,â Will smirked.
âSoâŠyour motorcycle is the talk of the neighborhood,â she teased.
âHa yea,â he twirled her before bringing her back in close. âI have to admit, it's been kinda fun, you should go with me sometime.â
âNo way,â Katie shook her head. âCouldn't pay me enough money to do thatâŠbut I know someone who would,â she arched her eyebrow.Â
âAnd who is that?â Will looked skeptical.
âMiranda, my coworker. She's been watching this show about a motorcycle gang and it's kind of a thing for her now,â she chuckled, noticing Will's ears getting red.Â
Despite the fact that the two of them had moved on from anything romantic, Katie still had love for Will and wanted him to be happy.
âOh c'mon, I think you'll like her. She's really sweet and super smart.â
âShe been helping you with that big presentation for work?â
âYeah! Poor thing, she's been juggling a lot because ofâŠwell, she has a lot of responsibilities at home. But yeah, we both are looking forward to Monday being over with,â she chuckled.
âYou gonna dance with her or what?â Frankie leaned against the wall, turning his head to look at Benny who stood chewing on the inside of his cheek and looking down at his feet. He kept missing the occasional hopeful glances Vanessa tossed over her shoulder. Frankie sighed, shaking his head, âWell if you wonât, I will.â He pushed off the wall and strode over to Vanessa.
Vanessa heard someone clear their throat behind her and she felt a lump form in her throat.Â
âÂżQuieres bailar?â
She tried to hide her disappointment that the voice behind her wasnât the one she was hoping for. Turning around she saw Frankie looking down at her with a soft smile. He looked so much like her ex she had to do a bit of a double take. âYouâre sweet. It's ok, Frankie, I don't really like this song anyway,â she forced a tight smile.Â
âC'mon,â he leaned down and lowered his voice, âshow him what he's missing.â He offered her his hand with a wink.
Vanessa chuckled to herself and with Tyâs encouragement took Frankie up on his offer. She stood up from the table, smoothed her dress and placed her hand in Frankie's as he led her to the dance floor. Victoria cheered and Lucille clapped as she welcomed the newest couple to the dance floor.
Benny scratched the back of his head and took a long swig of his beer, wishing he could get past his insecurities. He watched everyone carrying on and having fun, but really he was only watching one person. He couldn't take his eyes off Vanessa. The way her nose scrunched as she giggled at something Frankie said, the way she tossed her hair, the way her hips swayed.
Frankie kept a respectful hand at her mid-to-upper back, but still brushed against some of her exposed skin making Bennyâs fingers twitch. As she twirled around again he saw her smile, a smile he swore could light up a pitch-black room. He was so caught up in this trance it didn't even register that Megan had walked up next to him.
âYou know, you strike me as the kinda guy who is the first one out on the dance floor no matter what the music. Didnât peg you as the wallflower.â
âIâŠahâŠIâm not a good dancer,â he pulled his lips into a tight line.Â
âI don't think she'd care,â she nodded towards the dance floor.
As the song ended and another started, a musical chairs of sorts ensued as everyone switched partners. Marcus kissed Lucille's hand and passed her off to Frankie just as Victoria crashed into her husband's arms in a fit of giggles. Santiago danced with Olivia after Melissa walked away from him, while David whisked Katie around, leaving Will and Vanessa. Even though Will had been nothing but sweet to her, she was still intimidated by him, like she wanted to make a good impression.
âWanna dance darlin'? Iâm not as good as Fish but I can hold my own,â he chuckled, looking down with a shy smile that reminded her of Benny.Â
âThat's ok, as long as you're having fun that's all that matters,â she smiled, taking his hand.
Somewhere between the second verse and the bridge, Willâs eyes clocked Vanessa stealing a glance over at Benny.
âDancing isn't really his thing, at least not fast songs like these. For as good as his footwork is in the ring, he's not the most coordinated on the dance floor...âspecially when there's a pretty girl in his arms distracting him,â he winked, which made Vanessa's cheeks feel hot. âHe just doesn't wanna look dumb, it's nothing on you sweetheart.â
âThanks, Will. Hey, you know for a gringo you dance really well. Took Marcus forever to learn,â she giggled, making Will break out into a huge grin.
As the song neared its end, Will tried to subtly get Benny's attention while also making sure Vanessa was having fun. Finally, he caught his brother's eyes and gave him a stern look that said get your ass over here now and dance with her.Â
Benny finished his beer and took a deep breath, willing his legs to move even though it felt like he had cement blocks tied to his boots. Thankfully, the tempo slowed down considerably for the next song, easing some of Benny's anxiety.Â
Vanessa's back was to him as approached, which gave him another chance to admire her even though he could feel Marcus and Victoria's eyes on him. He cleared his throat and tried to muster some of that Miller charm, âSâcuse me miss, this guy bothering you?â
Will smirked, looking down to see Vanessa's face light up at the sound of Benny's voice. He let her go putting up his arms in surrender, âjust keepinâ her company waiting for you,â he snorted. âThanks for the dance darlinâ,â Will kissed her hand and made his way over to Olivia since Santiago had bounced to Katie.
âHi,â Benny smiled, suddenly feeling like a middle schooler who finally worked up the courage to ask the pretty girl to dance.Â
âHi,â Vanessa tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.Â
âIâŠumâŠâ Benny's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, his mind went blank.
âHere, give me your hand, Bun,â Vanessa reached her hand out. She guided his hand to her waist, placing it lower than Frankie or Will's hands had ventured. She rested one hand on his shoulder and with her other she threaded her fingers with his. âThere, now rock side to side. See? All good.â
Benny shook his head before a mischievous smile danced across his lips. âNot yet.â His fingers dug firmly into her back as he brought her closer, their bodies flush against each other. She let out a surprised giggle which was music to his ears. âThere. Now we're good.â
Vanessa dropped his hand, seeing his brows slightly furrow before relaxing again as she wrapped both of her arms around his neck. They swayed side to side, completely off the beat but it didn't matter, they couldn't hear the music anyway.Â
Benny willed himself to keep it together but his eyes fluttered closed when Vanessa started lightly scratching the back of his neck with her fingernails. He wanted so badly to feel her fingers through his hair, to feel her tug on it while heâŠ.he took a deep breath and tried to think about puppies or baseball, anything that would distract from the fact that his body was pressed up against hers. An abrupt inhale made Vanessa's eyebrow twitch.
âAre you ok?â She recoiled a bit.
Vanessa's words pulled Benny back to the present. âHmm?â
âDid you just fall asleep on me?â She chuckled.
âNo, noâŠI'm just really relaxedâŠthe way you're scratching the back of my head, it's umâŠâ He trailed off laughing to himself as he shook his head to rid his mind of the dirty thought that flashed through it.Â
âSorry, IâŠdidn't mean toâŠâ She moved her hands back to his shoulders.
He shook his head and with a smile gently placed her hands back around his neck as his hands then traced down her sides, before finally resting on her hips. âNo, it's ok, I like it,â he licked his bottom lip, deciding to test things just a little bit. âYouâre just distractinâ me a bit is allâŠâ he looked down at his feet.
âOhâŠwell, I think you're doing a good job.âÂ
âYou're a sweetheart, but you and I both know I'm shit at dancing,â he said with a lopsided grin.
Vanessa's eyes narrowed as she stopped, bringing her hands down to Benny's biceps. âDon't say that about yourself. I'm having fun. Aren't you?â
The corner of Benny's mouth curled up as he nodded. âCourse I'm having fun. I somehow convinced the prettiest girl here to dance with me and my two left feet.âÂ
Vanessa tried to stay calm and coy, but inside she was exploding at not only what he said, but the way he was looking at her.
âWell, you can't get any better unless you practice right?âÂ
Benny smirked, feeling bolder seeing her reaction to his flirting, âYou tryna help me then? Help meâŠpractice.â
âMaybe,â she bit her bottom lip, their eyes locked on one another.
Benny took a deep breath through his nose as one of his hands snaked its way to the small of her back, resting at the top of her ass. Hearing her breath hitch gave him an extra boost of confidence to affirm he wasn't misreading this entire exchange. âWell, darlin' I wonder if I may bother you for some umâŠprivate lessonsâŠyou know, so I can get better,â he winked.
Vanessa could feel her heart pounding in her ear drums and the wet spot in her underwear growing. She gave him an up and down and leaned in, nodding so he'd lower his head toward her, âI tell you what, you win your match and,â she leaned in further and whispered in his ear, âletâs skip the lesson and Iâll give you a little private dance instead.â
âFuuuuck,â Benny let out a shaky breath and Vanessa swore she felt him instantly get hard. His grip tightened on her. She smiled to herself seeing the effect she had on him. I've still got it.Â
She giggled and leaned into Benny, resting her head on his chest and they continued to rock back and forth. Her mouth was dangerously close to his chest, thanks to the undone buttons. It took everything in her to remember where she was and who was around because all she wanted to do was grab his chain with her teeth and drag him to the nearest bathroom. She hadn't felt like this about anyone since the early days of dating Luce.
Benny cleared his throat and she looked up to see his Adamâs apple bob up and down as he swallowed, sensing he was a bit flustered. âYâknow, it's gonna be a hell of a long week till Friday knowing thatâs whatâs waiting for me darlinâ, but I'm patient. I can wait,â he winked. âDo I get to pick the song?â He raised his eyebrow which made her giggle.
âNope.â
They continued to giggle and talk in whispers, as one song bleed into the next and the next. They didn't even realize they were the last two on the dance floor. Looking around Vanessa felt a bit embarrassed, but she saw that everyone else was off talking or eating leaving the two of them in their own little bubble. A yawn escaped, the excitement of the day finally starting to catch up with her.Â
âTired?â Benny looked at her with some concern.
âYeah a littleâŠwoke up early so I could start making the food.â
âYou umâŠgoing to head home?â Benny asked, a little sad that their evening would come to an end.Â
âI shouldâŠwe're talking the kids to the aquarium, so I could use the sleep,â she smiled.Â
Benny cleared his throat before locking eyes on her again, âMind if I walk you home?â
Her first inclination was to say no, that she could handle walking a few houses down the street by herself. But seeing how earnest Benny looked, she thought she'd take him up on the offer. Plus, she knew Victoria would rip her a new one if she left this hanging. âYeah, I'd like that.â
Victoria saw Vanessa give her the signal that said she wanted to leave. After 10 years of being in the family too, Marcus picked up and saw it too.Â
âShould we start packing up since Vandy is leaving?â He asked.
âNot yet mi amor, I think she has an escort home. I still feel bad that we cock blocked them last week. C'mon let's get another drink,â she winked, squealing a bit when Marcus lightly swatted her ass.Â
Normally a fast walker, Vanessa deliberately slowed down her steps to prolong the walk back to the house. She and Benny walked closely side by side, their hands occasionally brushing against each other until one time where Benny reached for her hand and she took it. They both struggled trying to mask the massive grins on their faces.
âI had fun tonight,â Benny looked over.Â
âMe too. I really like it here, everyoneâs so nice. Feels like it was the right decision to move here.â She whispered to herself.
They walked the rest of the way in silence, just enjoying each otherâs company. Occasionally Bennyâs thumb would rub up and down her hand.
When they finally reached the Pike residence, Vanessa turned around, still holding Bennyâs hand. âWell ⊠this is my stop.â
Benny looked up at the ceiling of the porch with a smile before returning his gaze to her, âYes this is.â He stepped a little bit closer, hearing her breath hitch. All he wanted to do was cup her cheek and kiss her, but he didn't know if it was too soonâŠor if he'd be able to control himself because he wanted to do a lot more than just kiss her.
âY'know I didn't have dancin' on my bingo card for tonight, but I'm glad I was able to check that off.â
âWhat else did you check off?â
Benny gave a mischievous smile, a playful glimmer in his eye. âHmm, let's see. David made a comment about Frankie's hair. Check. Delicious food. Check. You played a big role in that last one by the way.â
She blushed at the comment, giddy that he enjoyed the food she made for the party. âI'm happy to cook for you whenever you want.â Her eyes darted back and forth between his as he stepped a little closer. âWhatâŠumâŠwhat else did you check off tonight?â
Benny snorted, âMelissa avoiding Pope, that counts for two.â
âSounds like a pretty packed evening.â
âIt wasâŠpretty awesome night I'd say. But I am missing one thing I was kinda hoping for.â
âOh yeah? What's that?â
It was now or never. Benny could hear Joelâs voice in his head telling him to go for it, so he took a deep breath. âA kiss.â
âWell, I'm sure the ladies would line the block if youâre offering,â she smirked.
He shook his head. âNo, not just any lady. I had aâŠuhâŠvery specific one in mind.â
She stepped a little closer as he sucked in a breath. âTell me about her.â
âWell, she's smokinâ hot,â he said with a lopsided grin which made her giggle. âShe's got the most beautiful smile, her laugh instantly makes me feel better, and her eyesâŠâ he trailed off. âYeah, I can get lost in them. But as beautiful as she is on the outside she's even more stunning on the inside,â he ran his hands down her arms and stopped to take both of her hands in his. âSheâs smart and kind. Plus she's an amazing cook. She's kind of a catch.â
Vanessa steadied her breath and smiled, feeling like her heart was going to explode out of her chest. âWell, I didn't think Lucille was your type but I can see it,â she teased.
Benny threw his head back in laughter. She loved seeing the way his entire face lit up when he laughed.Â
âNo way I'm taking Frankie's girl from him,â he chuckled, licking his bottom lip and returning his gaze to Vanessa.
âWell, thisâŠgreat catchâŠseems pretty special. I hope you're able to kiss her.â
âYeah me too.â He looked down, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed and mustered up the courage. âVanessa, IâŠâ he let out a little chuckle, trying to suppress that nervous feeling he felt in his stomach before doing something that scared him.
Ever since he suggested walking her home he thought about kissing her. But seeing her now, the way the soft light of the porch glowed around her, she looked like an angel. And she was looking at him in a way that made him feel like the most important person in the world â a fact that made him feel both unworthy but also like he could conquer any obstacle.
He brought his hand to cup her cheek, his calloused thumb caressing her soft skin. He willed his mind to not wander to how soft she must feel in other places.
âVanessaâŠI really like you. And IâŠâ he closed his eyes, shaking his head with a chuckle. Composing himself, he decided to just take the plunge. âCan I kiss you?â
She enthusiastically nodded, knowing she couldn't trust herself to form a sentence. All she wanted to do was kick her feet and squeal with excitement.
âYeah?âÂ
âYes, please,â she whispered.
He slowly lowered his head, wetting his bottom lip with his tongue as he moved his hand from her cheek to her neck. Their lips softly touched, both of them stunned but utterly giddy that they'd gotten to this point.Â
Benny pulled away, resting his forehead on hers and nuzzling her nose as they both smiled. âThat wasâŠwowâŠcan I do that again?â
Vanessa tugged on his shirt, their lips crashing together. Benny walked her backward, his hand extending out behind her so he could catch the wall, guiding her to rest against it. With one hand still cradling her neck, his other trailed down her body.Â
She opened her mouth a bit wider, giving him permission to test the waters further. He softly licked along her bottom lip as started to explore. A soft moan from her was all he needed to push himself right up against her groaning as her hands found his hair and tugged slightly.
From a distance, they could hear some whooping and cheering from Lucille's house, instantly transporting them back to reality and the fact that they were making out on a porch. Benny pulled away, his thumb caressing her kiss-swollen lips.Â
âCan't believe we were able to do that without getting interrupted.â
Vanessa let out a soft giggle. âI knowâŠBenny that wasâŠâ
âPerfect.â
âYeah.â She brought her hands down his chest, stopping to play with the pendant at the end of his chain as his hands lightly rested on her waist.
He let out a shaky breath, âI want to kiss you again darlin' but I won't be able to stop,â he smiled as she giggled. âIâŠumâŠI want to do this right.â He pulled back, both hands moving to rest on her waist.Â
âMe too. I don't want to rush this.â
âAnd what isâŠthis?â He arched an eyebrow.
âWell, I'd like to explore that, if you're up for it.â
âYeah, I'd like that.â He kissed her again and he'd never felt more invincible like he could take on anything as long as she was by his side. He trailed kisses down her neck, lightly tracing her collarbone with his tongue, in a move that made goosebumps appear on her skin as she mewled. He kissed up the other side of her neck. âI really can't fuckin wait until I win that fight now,â he whispered in her ear as he grabbed a handful of her ass and grinding his hardened length against her.
It was a miracle she was able to remain standing and not dissolve into an instant puddle. Feeling his warm breath against her ear and hearing the need in his voice, it was intoxicating. They made out a little bit longer, neither one wanting it to end but knowing if they continued things would escalate to a place they both wanted to go, but weren't ready for yet.Â
Benny kept trying to say goodbye but ended up kissing her, both of them giggling as they continued to explore with their hands and mouths.
Vanessa pulled back, cupping his face between her hands. âWe are definitely going to get interrupted soon, I'm surprised we haven't yet.â
âYou're right. Can I see you tomorrow?â
âI'd like that. You get home safely Bun.â
âYes ma'am.â
Next Time on As the Mule Falls: Friends. The long-awaited arrival of Cousin Joel is here. He arrives in the next chapter oh my am I excited. Weâll also gear up for fight night.Â
A/N: Hi! Woof that was a long chapter but we had a lot to get through, didnât we? I mentioned this after the last chapter, but Iâm experimenting with doing a few little side stories/extras for this main series. Iâve written two stories - Strike a Pose (Benny x Vanessa) and Weathered In (Frankie x Jo). You donât have to read them to keep up with the main story, but they add a little extra to the whole experience. Weâre gearing up for a storyline Iâve been tinkering with since the fall and am so excited about it and hope you all love it as much as I do.Â
On a personal note, Iâm headed out for a work trip and then vacation, so Iâm hoping to get some writing done but weâll see. Until next time! Thank you as always for reading, sharing, or sending me a message about this story!
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