𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝚃𝚆𝙾

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐮𝐬𝐞 & 𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐥

"Principessa mi dica chi è questo ragazzo, prometto che non farò nulla di folle" (Princess tell me who this boy is, I promise I won't do anything crazy) Giovanni spoke as I was giving him my famous eye roll.

"Ti manderò una foto, lui è facile negli occhi" (I'll send you a photo, he's easy on the eyes) I reply in a calm tone.

"I'll see for myself" Gio is in some room with dim lighting but it's daytime where he is.

"Where are you?"

"Tropical Island. Handling some business. I have someone I need you to meet soon"

"Me?! Meet someone acquainted with you. Oh I don't think so, mafioso" (mafia)

"Calm down it isn't related to that part of my life. Even though with you on my arm I'd have the wolves running to my beck and call. All to meet you, la mia sirena" (my siren)

"You know about that" I state to him with shock in my face.

"What do you think drew me to you. I watched as you moved your hips to the song, the way your dress took every curve. I think I would've beat someone up if they approached you before me"

I smile at his words remembering the night. I smile at the next thing to pop on my phone.

Giovanni tells me he must go and will surprise me in the week.

Rafe message makes my phone vibrate a second time. I reply with a question.

Zak comes in my room laughing at something on his phone "Harlow! look at this!"

It's a meme of spongebob that causes me to laugh for ten minutes straight. "I had to show you" he said smiling at me.

I ruffle his hair thanking him because I needed that laugh.

❀

It was crisp air today but the humidity was high, so it was a bit on the 'just right' side. Summers coming. I can feel it in my bones.

Rafe's smiling at me as I approach him, "hey Harlow"

"Hey Rafe, how are you?"

"Great actually since you arrived" the grin on his face says it all.

"Look at me really quick" he spoke again. I do and then he's pointing his phone camera at me to take my photo.

I smile, do a funny face, the pose I use as my go to.

"What are we doing here?" I ask. Since he told me to meet him today at this place on the outskirts of the outer banks. I ended up taking a Uber since it was too far to get too.

We haven't gotten to him picking me up yet, so now we are here in front of this place with fields, flowers, the scent of sweet grape nectar comforts my nose.

"This is a winery I arranged for use to do a tasting" Rafe voices travels like a symphony of music to my ear.

Wine and those blue irises woo wee. I thought to myself.

"Wow what's the occasion?" I spoke as my mind wanders to a moment where wine was my kryptonite. One foster home my foster dad would play with my body using wine. I was about eight. He only played with my breasts. Which made me feel icky.

"I want to get to know you" Rafe said as we are escorted to our table by the fields.

"This is a great way to do that" I smile.

❀

Four cups deep, we had one wine twice. We really liked that one. This fourth one we are drinking has white grape, a dash of vanilla, with lavender notes.

The chilled wine making my cheeks red. "So Harlow can we play a game?"

"Start" I smile

"Greek gods or Fantasy Novel gods? Coffee or Tea? Ham or Turkey? Meat or No Meat? Porridge or Oatmeal? DC or Marvel?"

"Greek gods, both, turkey, depends on my mood, porridge, both. Now you?" I respond.

"Greek gods, coffee. ham, depends for me as well, porridge, both"

"Your turn" Rafe continues.

"Forest or Ocean? Netflix or YouTube? Ice Cream Cone or Snow Cone? Jogging or Hiking? Glasses or Contacts? Movie at home or Movie at the theater?"

Rafe smiles sipping his wine as our little finger foods arrive. I take a sip of my wine. Another bottle is brought to us this time it's a blue wine. I grab a cracker with cheese.

"Forest, Netflix, Ice Cream, Jogging, Contacts, Movie at the theater. Go"

"Forest, Netflix, Ice Cream, Hiking, Contacts, Movie at the theater. Any more questions?"

"Last one. Date or Not Date?"

"Date" I laugh as that was a great way to end this game.

"What made you approach me at the party?" Rafe is searching my eyes as asks this.

"Drunken Boldness is my term for it. The liquid courage gave me the edge to look at a hot guy and want to go talk to him" I respond as this wine is getting to me.

"I love that term" his eyes ocean blue but they turn a midnight blue. My eyes travel to his body, the curvature of his biceps, his lips wet with wine, I am snapped out of my gazing of his body by the camera.

I hold up my wine glass since I know he's taking photos of me. Since I haven't taken photos of him I take this opportunity to. In the end we take photos together too.

This is the last bottle we get to try it's a Riesling which makes me happy. Sweet wines they make my soul happy.

It is like the spark ignited again, Rafe touched my hand as he said "could I take you home?" My eyes landed on his as he looks towards the door for us to get ready to leave this vineyard. I smile "I would really appreciate that, thank you" Rafe looks at me with this unknown emotion "the pleasures all mine"

My phone is vibrating in my bag as we reach the car. I look to see who it is, it's the girls. I must call them later I remind myself. Rafe opens the door for me before going to his side, he lets me sit first. Starting the car we head back to our humble town. Rafe tinkers with the Bluetooth as my eyes drift to my window. "Play something, Harlow" his voice soft full of seeds, rooting deep tones into the ear drum.

"Thanks" is all I could muster.

I settle on my R&B playlist once my phones connected to the car. Dying 4 Your Love by Snoh Aalegra begin to play. I couldn't help it but to sing along. I smile as I see a wide eyed Rafe.

"That happens a lot when people hear my singing. Only a few people know I can" as if I read his mind. Mixture of Amy Winehouse with Zhavia's range.

"fuck you're beautiful" with that whisper Rafe takes my hand in his.

My thumb makes small circles on his hand as the music creates this atmospheric vibe.

"Any fun quirks I should know about?" his voice broke the already comfortable silence.

"Every man can transform the world from one of monotony and drabness to one of excitement and adventure — Irving Wallace," I spoke Rafe cut me off before I could continue.

"Book quotes. You say them probably when nervous, in deep deep thought right?"

"You got it" I laugh

"I'd love to hear that everyday" Rafe kisses my hand. I close my eyes as the feel of his lips cause my breathing to change, feeling hotter than I already am.

❀

Two days had past since my first date with Rafe.

John B is texting me about a wave we all must catch next week. Everyone's excited including myself.

I laugh as a meme gets thrown into the group chat it's about touro's and outer banks parties.

"Babygirl, come ti sei sentito in questi giorni?" my mamma asked me as she looks in on me before starting her day. (Babygirl, how've you been feeling these days?)

"Quindi... così... Ho preso un segnale da Zak e ho di nuovo iniziato a scrivere diario. Il mio biglietto della giornata era piuttosto insistente sul fatto che la mia creatività sarà usata oggi. E tu, mamma?" I smile at her. (So, so. I've taken a cue from Zak and started journaling again. My card of the day was pretty insist on that my creativity will be used today. How about you, Mom?)

"Pretty great darling, you father is suppose to take me out tonight so I need your help"

Looking at my mom with elation I said, "shopping?! or closest raid"

Daphne Viotto looked at her daughter with a huge smile "shopping!!"

The elegant dresses in various designs, sizes, and colors occupy the walls of mamma's go to boutique.

She's picking out ones she likes, I'm picking out dresses I think she'd look stunning in. Our favorite customer service operational Eloise is beaming at us as she approaches "my two best customers. What are feeling today for date night? Frisky? Alluring? Sweet? Cunning? Petite Betty Boop or Jessica Rabbit Femme Fatale"

"Alluring, Jessica Rabbit Fem" my mamma speaks out before I get to ponder the question.

"Ouuu! I have four dresses! Be right back!" Eloise saunters off with a pep in her step.

"Mamma can we try the ones I picked out first"

"Naturalmente, la mia bellezza" (of course, my beauty)

"Grande" we smile at each other.

About one hour passes and it's down to two dresses. One of my picks plus one of Eloise's.

In the end, she gets both then asks Zak for his choice. Zak picks mine for tonight and says next date night to wear the other dress.

Approving my mom heads to get ready for the night.

❀

We've had three dates in one week crazy. I thought to myself.

Zak has gone out so I'm all alone in the house for the night. I am about to curl up and watch a sappy rom-com with some ice cream when my facetime tone echos off the walls.

"Hello?"

"Come to the front please" Rafe's voice effortless with the flirtation.

I get up only in my sweater, no time to run and get my pants.

I open my door. Rafe hands me tiger lilies in orange. He has a small picnic basket in his hand. "Official fourth date, your brother told me I'd find you home"

I smile, no words are coming out my mouth. I hug him as he comes inside. I feel his excitement as he placed his hand on the small of my back. My breathing picks up since I've had an edacious horniness this past week.

"Damn. I. Want. Y —" Rafe's kissing me, it's our fourth kiss. It was gentle but pulling me in like an emotion from the screen. A wild aspect to it, he goes further along my cheek, to my neck, a moan slips through my lips. All I do is submit to him, losing all focus on whatever I was going to do.

"Please... Rafe... it's been, 10 minutes"

"I found one" his voice calm as he stopped scrolling through the movies on my living room screen.

Of course, he picks a thriller/horror.

An hour of me jumping and hiding in Rafe's arms, flinging popcorn out the bowl due to freight. Eating whatever in the basket out of nerves, reciting a rumi quote in my head to calm me down.

"How was that?"

"As well as can be, I can watch scary thriller movies but not jump scare types of movies"

"You used me as a shield"

"Mmhmm"

"Please do that often" he smiles at me.

Once our second movie ends. We cuddle after that, I know I fell asleep to the sounds of his heartbeat.