"Holy shit how was Kai running with this thing?" Rey mutters as she hauls the painting into the living room in its black satin bag.

It's the next day after we had an entire day of eating in Chicago and no one has the courage to tell Rey about the brand new belly she is sporting.

Ariadne pouts at the bag, "If you would have given me proper dimensions beforehand I would have used a better material."

Yeah... Elara might have messed up the dimensions of the painting and forgot to correct them when she remeasured it.

"Dude you're strong," Rey says to Kai as we enter the house. I pull my hair loose out of my too tight ponytail as Kai stands up.

"Nah I just know how to carry weights to my adavantage," She shrugs her shoulders and begins to walk towards the stairs with Rey in tow, asking Kai to teach her how.

I pick the painting up and hand it over to Dharuna who had been sitting there ready, with Elara and Alby on her sides.

I nod at Elara, "Fetch me some profit," I glance over at Alby who is admiring Elara's new finished painting of Sirenhead, "And keep them safe, Dhara. Chicago underworld is sketchier than Philly."

Dharuna nods confidently and checks up on all the weapons she is keeping hidden beneath her robes.

Rey suddenly appears by my side, "Yeah don't worry I'm going with them as back up."

Elara frowns at Rey, "By that you mean 'sit in the car and wait for the signal'."

Rey nods a bit too quickly, "Right."

Ah great I'm not getting a profit.

And the brownie trading group of ours goes out the door in a matter of minutes after Rey stocked up on some knives and her handy pistol with a very trippy security handle that she just doesn't care about even though it scares the shit out of everyone else.

Monique also slipped on a silicon ring with a taser on the front on both Elara and Alby's index fingers for extra extra protection.

Kai had volunteered to sneak around and be their 'shadow' of sorts but then again we got Rey for backup and sending a large team for such missions is always a risk.

Instead, I sent Kai to pack up Rey's shit because I know the girl wouldn't be bothered to fit her stuff properly in one bag and will need several unnecessary ones.

I did send Yuri with Rey in another car just because it felt right to send Yuri. I don't know, my gut just told me to.

So here we are now, packing up Ariadne's little studio and I carefully look over my shoulder at Ariadne inspecting the dresses we wore yesterday and I break a sweat, thinking if I stained it in some way or another.

I release a breath which I had been holding for a miraculously long time as Ariadne sets down my dress and starts inspecting Cassie's.

Minnie hops into the room with an apple in her hand, wearing a T-shirt which displayed an apple with crosses for eyes and a stitched up mouth.

It is oddly terrifying.

"Alicia!" She groans after plopping onto a bean bag, "I need another glass of that scotch man! That shit is addicting!"

I frown at my best friend, "Then maybe you shouldn't drink any more of it."

She flips onto her belly and places her chin in her hands, "Hot security man bought it for me, how could I say no?"

I lift an intriguing eyebrow, "So... Did you guys hit it off?"

She just smiles at me, "Now wouldn't you like to know Miss In-Denial."

"She really is," Ariadne agrees with Minnie.

I stand my ground, "I'm not-"

"-Smart?" Ariadne tries to complete.

"-As amazing as Minnie?" Minnie adds.

"No I'm saying that-"

"-I am better than you?" Ariadne finishes.

"-You can never be as good as me?" Minnie says at the same time as Aria.

"Oh my God-"

"-Ariadne is a goddess?"

"-How can I ever come close to being as awesome as Minnie?"

"ARGHHHH-" I stop saying anything and focus on cleaning up the cloth scraps on the ground.

Ariadne turns and bends down to be on level with Minnie with a smile, "Good job."

Minnie hold her hand out which Ariadne shakes, "Pleasure doing business with ya."

"All of you really like bullying my poor Leesh," Alby walks into the room with an apple in her hand as well.

I feign a look of sad happiness, "Thank you Allie I love you."

Minnie crosses her arms, "When the fuck are you going to start packing?"

Allie waves her hand in front of us, "The flight's tomorrow, what's the rush?"

I throw one of the throw pillows on the futon next to me, "Bitch we have a red-eye tomorrow at two am, that means we leave before midnight today!"

Minnie throws a throw pillow next to the beanbag as well, "Pack your fucking stuff up!"

Alby groans, "Okay okay no need for violence-"

And she gets hit in the face by another throw pillow from Minnie.

Suffice to say, she took that as her cue to leave.

I walk over to Minnie and kick her in the side as she lies on the bean bag, "Come on, I'm taking you out."

Minnie's warm brown eyes light up in a split second, "Scotch?"

I roll my eyes, "Now way am I taking you intoxicated on a fourteen hour flight. We're getting decafs, now come on before I decide to take Cassie instead."

And Cassie finds the perfect time to appear at the staircase, "I'm down for a nice cup of hot chocolate."

Ariadne rolls her eyes, "Thanks for the invite I didn't get."

I narrow my eyes at her, "I thought you hated coffee?"

She scoffs, "Whatever bitch, get me a cookie."

****

I take a seat at my acclaimed favourite booth at the cafe down the street where we bully Alby into getting us coffee.

I gaze out of the window at the sky now slowly turning dark, and at the people who are switching hangout locations from coffee shops to bars.

It's the same trend everywhere, middle-aged workers trudging around in beige clothing looking for a drink, moms and babies in colorful clothes taking home groceries for tonight's dinner, teenagers with a full face makeup, most likely going to clubs and trying to pass like adults, and the actual young people dancing around the streets because now is the time of their lives.

I want that scotch. But I don't want the headache that comes with it on the flight.

I should have asked Larry for the brand, damn it.

Minnie slides into the booth holding two steaming cups of liquid and sets one down in front of me.

Cassie slides in after Minnie with her beloved cup of chocolate, "I see why Allie was crushing on the barista, she cute!"

I giggle, "Right?"

Minnie nods, "That nose ring, damn."

I narrow my eyes at my partner, "Aren't you into dudes?"

She lifts her head in defiance, "Doesn't mean I can't appreciate girls."

Cassie wraps her hands around her hot mug, "Y'all have made me a little scared with the way you talk of the Dubai job."

I shrug, "It's risky and the prep is expensive, so yeah it's scary."

"Expensive?" Cassie raises an eyebrow.

"Yeah we're gonna be living in a very lavish hotel for a week. And I arranged an airbnb for the week before."

Cassie gets excited, "Oh the cons I can run over there."

I look down a little, and Minnie's expression gets dark as well, "Some people out there are a little more dangerous than you think Cass. At a glance, even someone like you might not be able to tell."

Cassie nods her head solemnly, "Understood, understood."

Suddenly Minji perks up and starts waving her hand. Since I am sitting on the side of the booth facing towards the back wall, I turn to see a familiar head of blonde hair looming a bit over the rest.

The face becomes visible and a smile places itself on the face of none other than William.

He looks at me first, "Hello fellow dragon," then turns to Minnie, "And hello to you," And then he turns to Cassie, "And you too, pretty-friend-I-have-never-met-but would-love-to-get-to-know."

Cassie giggles and shakes his handhand while twirling a strand of her brown hair with her other hand, "Hello!"

"Be honest, are you following me?" I tease before taking a sip of my mocha.

"A gentleman never follows, he observes... intensely," Will says with a small smile.

"So you're stalking me?" I raise my eyebrows.

He laughs and shakes his head, "I should have calculated how that statement might backfire. What kind of a lawyer am I?"

Minnie tilts her head to the side, and some of her long black hair fall onto her cheek, "Lawyer man, huh?"

"Being an attorney is acclaimed to be an attractive occupation," Cassie nods in approval. What, she crushing on this dude as well?

William's smile grows wider and the blue in his eyes becomes more prominent in the dim light, "Indeed."

I marvel at how effortlessly handsome this man looks. The stature, the charm and the confidence he exudes. He must have girls falling for him left, right and center.

He would make an amazing conman. Maybe bring in more than what Alby and Cassie make.

I look back up at him, "You still haven't answered my question. Why are you stalking me?"

He shakes his head, "No ma'am I am just here to get coffee for my non-related brother because he has been working all day."

"You mean Hot-Security-Man?" Minnie asks. Is she asking to be smacked in the face?

William laughs out loud, "Is that how Alicia refers to him?"

Cassie snorts, "It's how everyone in our group but her refers to him."

He shrugs and adjusts his black coat over his shoulders, "That is a shame indeed. Anyway can I invite you lot to a round of drinks after I drop this coffee off?" He holds the cup of coffee up.

Minnie lights up, "Defini-"

I hit her arm, "No, we have a flight to catch later."

William looks intrigued, "Oh really, are you taking a holiday?"

I shake my head, "Nope, work is calling."

"So were you here on a vacation?"

I think for a moment, "Not really."

Now he looks a little concerned, "So, will I see you again?"

I shake my head, "I am not sure about that."

He now has a mildly sad smile, "It's a shame that we didn't meet sooner. I thought we could be great friends," He is facing me but his eyes don't meet mine. They are rested on where Minji and Cassie are seated.

He pulls his mobile phone out and gives me yet another small smile, "Do you have any way we can keep in touch?"

****

Minnie, Cassandra and I are walking side by side down the peaceful street towards our Airbnb. The landlady has bugged us all day, asking us when we're leaving.

We have the lease till midnight, she really should calm the fuck down.

Cassandra pokes my arm, "Don't you wanna meet Hot Security Man?"

I shake my head, "Why would I want to?"

Minji just shakes her head, "Leave it be Cass, she will do it on her own time."

Do what?

I also have a strange feeling I am forgetting something. I pull on the strings of Ariadne's hand-knitted scarf.

Ariadne....

The cookie!

I jump in my boots, "I forgot Ariadne's cookie!"

Minnie laughs, "You gotta get it instantly dude. How could you forget?"

I frantically adjust the scarf and jog back to the cafe because it's just a few blocks away from the house.

I reach and rush to the counter to order a few chocolate chip cookies and a handful of oatmeal raisin ones for Dharuna because why not?

The helper smiles at me as she hands over the package, "I added a scone in for you as well."

I smile back at her, "I will not be here from tomorrow, but I can tell you for sure, this is one of the best cafe's I have been to."

The barista comes in from the back, "Tell your other friend she is cute."

The helper and I laugh, "Yes I will. This comment might just make her week better."

Oh Alby is gonna have the time of her life.

I take the package in my right hand and make my way outside. I rub my hands together and exhale a little in the cold, making a tiny puff of steam in the air.

Like a dragon.

The sound of loud footsteps distracts me and in a matter of seconds I am face to face with... You guessed it.

"Al-Alicia!" Lucas pants, bending over while placing his hands on his knees.

I can feel my eyes grow wide, "Hi!"

"Fancy...seeing...you...here," He pants a little more.

"Oh yeah I was getting a cookie for a friend," I hold the package for him to see, "You seem to be in a rush."

"I needed a... Cup of coffee... "

I tilt my head to the side, "Didn't William come here to get you one?"

His eyes widen a little, they almost look black in the dim twilight, "Yes, yes, I needed a little more."

"Oh wow I didn't know you needed caffeine that bad, it's a little unhealthy, you know?"

He nods his head fast his curls bouncing along to the movement in a funny fashion, "Of course, of course, I knew that."

"Oh well, it was good seeing you for a last time, I'm leaving Chicago tonight," I smile sadly.

I ran into this guy so many times yet never remembered to get a phone number or email address or something, how dumb is that?

"I know- I mean... That is a shame... It was good running into you so many times," He says rushedly, not meeting my eyes.

I laugh, "Yeah, you seem like a cool person. The bitch who dumped you will regret her life from now on."

He smiles slightly, and one of the dimples becomes prominent, "I hope so. Thank you for distracting me that other day."

I laugh a little more, "When I said I would pay a hundred bucks for a nude statue of yours?"

He think for a moment as his smile grows, both the dimples now prominent on his cheeks, "I believe you said fifty."

I shrug teasingly, "I am willing to pay a hundred now, then."

Suddenly his smile drops and he takes a step closer, "Alicia..."

I have the urge to take a step back, but I don't, "Yes?"

The urgency in his eyes is still present from when I ran into him, and ownhis pupils are moving about frantically, as if trying to search my own. For something. I don't know what though.

So I try to take a guess, "If it's about last night, I'm terribly sorry. You're going through a tough time emotionally and I just gave you shit for asking some questions. I'm sure you were just worried for me because that artist dude is a weirdo."

He blinks, as if snapping out of a long stream of thoughts, "Right, that is all good, don't you worry. I hope he didn't do anything... fishy."

I pat his arm, "No he didn't, thanks for caring, I appreciate that, but I would advise you to focus on yourself more. Breakups can be really hard for some people, and I hope you find someone who makes it easier for you."

The smile reappears, "You did."

I am a little surprised, not gonna lie, "Really? I am glad."

Our eyes meet again, and I can sense some energy in the gaze, a little 'intensity' would be a better word.

I had been admiring William's eyes earlier, but they don't hold a candle to Luke's. They have a certain depth to them, a mysterious charm. And an inviting sense of warmth which seemed more and more prominent the more I met him.

I shake my head a little and look down at my watch, then jump, "I need to finishing packing, I'm running out of time!"

He seems to snap out of his own thoughts again and nods slightly, the smile be coming smaller till his mouth is set in a straight line, "I see, have a safe journey then," He holds his hand out which I take.

"Thank you," I whisper, and turn.

There is a sinking feeling of uncertainty in my gut, ans urge to enter the shop with him and just talk for a while. Like the day when I stank of the sewer and he had stripper glitter on his ear.

I just keep walking forward. Without turning back.

But I am forced to turn when I hear his voice again, "Alicia!"

He runs forward and stands a bit too close. I have no option but to stare as he bends down and places his hand on my right cheek and a whisper of a kiss on my left cheek.

A blast of warmth runs down my face and into my belly, and I can feel my heart beating fast.

Its just a gut reaction.

His lips linger there before he takes them away and clears his throat.

My hand shoots up to touch the spot where his lips just were, where I can feel the ghost of the kiss.

"What... was that for?" I ask slowly.

His pupils are dilated to a max, and his entire composure has shifted to something I can't put my finger on. He looks flustered, but at the same time, uncertain as all hell.

He bends his head, not meeting my eyes again, "You had told me this was the American way of expressing gratitude."

He abruptly turns and leaves, passing right by the coffee shop.

My hand is still on my cheek, "Right... "

⚜️

AAA I LOVED WRITING THIS ONE HOLY SHIT. I HOPE ALL YOU GUYS LIKED IT THOUGH.

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