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chapter ten
florence thompson
song: i wish you would – taylor swift

"Woah, woah. So let me get this right, you're going on a date with some random man you met online?" Ben asked, pulling back and raising a concerned brow at me.

I sighed, slapping my dishrag onto the white counter and placing a hand on my hip sassily. Rico mirrored my actions behind the counter, to the left of Ben who was currently wiping down the coffee machine.

The diner had come to a lull, not a soul to be seen in the last hour and a half. It was odd for a Saturday but we weren't complaining since the topic we were currently discussing would not be spoken of if customers were bustling through the diner. It was nice to have a small break before the rush that I'm sure is going to hit tonight, though I won't be working the night shift, thankfully.

"Listen, chico, you might not mind the diner wage and shitty tips but not all of us want to peak at mediocrity. It's a good thing! Imagine sis all decked out in Gucci everything, that would be wild. Not to mention maybe finally replacing that ridiculous, ancient ass Nissan that sounds like it's going to give out at any moment," Rico ranted, shaking his head disbelievingly as if Ben had no business in not being okay with this whole thing.

I knew where Ben was coming from, so I couldn't be mad. I mean, I am a little crazy for just going to meet this complete stranger by myself and hoping that I'm not going to get abducted or anything but in my defense, I know he knows Brandon, so he can't be too sketch.

Actually, I could be very wrong about that.

But at least I'm going to be in public, so kidnapping me would be a very hard feat and honestly I can't say a minimum wage diner worker is quite worth all the hassle and possible jail time. Although, I must say, he would probably even look hot in an orange jumpsu-

I need to stop myself.

"I don't care how she would look in some stupid designer brand or in a ridiculously expensive car, because to be quite frank, she won't be looking like anything in those things if she's dead," Ben seethed, continuing to wipe down the machine and glaring coldly at Rico who just rolled his eyes dramatically.

"Sorry, daddy, I'll make sure she comes to you for permission before she makes any adult decisions. God forbid she online dates like every other goddamn twenty year old," Rico spoke aggressively, narrowing his eyes at Ben who clenched his jaw.

"Rico is right," I spoke, breaking the thick silence between the three of us. "I'm twenty years old, Ben. While I appreciate your concern, it isn't needed. I'll be in a public place, and we have a mutual...friend."

Ben shook his head, clearly frustrated with myself and probably Rico as well.

"I love you, Florence, but this is completely idiotic if you ask me," he said sourly, causing my chest to ache.

"Well, I guess it's a good thing she didn't then, huh?" Rico retorted, glancing at Ben from the corner of his eyes as he started placing clean coffee mugs in the cabinets under the back counter.

"How is it idiotic?" I asked, pushing myself up from the counter and continuing to wipe it off with my dishrag. I was beginning to feel like I was slacking. "You just went on a date from Tinder two days ago, what was her name again? Lindsay? It doesn't matter, what I'm trying to say is that how is it any different when I go on an online date than when you do, hmm?"

Ben rolled his eyes at this, turning himself completely towards me and it was then that I caught the full effect of his agitated expression. His dark brows were furrowed together, a crease formed deeply between them. His lips were pursed, his eyes holding an emotion fairly similar to annoyance.

"You're not getting the point, Florence," he grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back against the counter. It was his turn to analyze me as I cleaned the counters that were pretty much already spotless.

I laughed humorlessly, shaking my head in disbelief.

"Please, do enlighten me on what I'm not getting because it must've gone way over my head if the point isn't that you've got some major double standards going on here," I spoke harshly, truly looking forward to this enlightenment that he was about to bless me with.

"You two sound like you're boning."

Both of us glared at Rico.

"There's no double standards going on! I just don't think it's safe for you to go meet a complete stranger off the internet by yourself! It is different between us because I can protect myself! You're like, what? 100 pounds soaking wet? What are you going to do if you get into a sticky situation, kick his ankles and run?" He snapped, waving his arms dramatically.

"That was the biggest contradiction maybe ever. Also, did you really just say that she can't protect herself because she's a woman, but you-you can, because you're a big burly man who can fight off all the bwig bwad gwuys," Rico butted back in, sticking his bottom lip out as he spoke the last few words in an obnoxious baby voice.

I had to stifle my laughter, curling my lips into my mouth and watching with an amused gaze.

Oh, Rico.

"You're the most ridiculous person I know," Ben huffed, pulling the rag from his shoulder and throwing it at Rico who dodged it in the last second before it fell onto the corner next to the kitchen door.

"Chico tonto," Rico mumbled under his breath, walking behind Ben and in the last second he brought his own dishtowel up, smacking him in the back of the head with it.

Ben rolled his eyes again.

This time I couldn't help the laughter and before I knew it I was full on cackling as Rico sauntered away dramatically, blowing Ben a kiss with a wink, surely in an attempt to piss him off further.

• • •

Work was uneventful for the rest of Rico and I's shifts, and we were itching to get out of there before rush hour hit poor Ben and the other associates who came in directly after us. When four o'clock hit we were out the door like we were going to turn pumpkins and sprinting towards my car that we'd carpooled in today.

Now, it's pushing quarter after five and we still have yet to both agree on an outfit.

"I'm about two minutes away from going in sweats with a topknot," I groaned, tilting my head back and staring at the ceiling.

I was currently sat on my floor, watching as Rico sifted through my closet, holding up different options that on average had less coverage than was deemed acceptable for the general public. He would groan in annoyance every time I gave an outfit the stank eye.

"I'm about two minutes away from setting your closet on fire!" He exclaimed in a high pitched tone, his accent only becoming thicker with his frustration.

"What about that," I sighed, pointing to a chunky knit light brown sweater that was hanging in my closet.

Rico looked at it, looked back to me and gave me a slow blink with his brows pulled up.

"I'm trying to ho you up and you're trying to cover the goods like a nun? Jesus Christ, no wonder why everyone thinks you can't be a sugar baby," he grumbled, rubbing his face in frustration before pulling the sweater off of the hanger.

I grinned at my victory.

"It's the first date anyway, I don't need to be trying to show him my nipples for christ sake," I motioned vaguely towards the ridiculous tube top he'd tried to get me to wear.

"It's the first date! That's exactly why you should be showing him your nipples!" He rebutted, tossing the chunky knit sweater and a pair of black skinny jeans at me.

I caught them just in time before standing up and shimmying out of my pajamas I'd been lazing around in since we'd gotten back to my apartment. I slipped into the skinny jeans, tugging them up and buttoning them before slipping the sweater over my head.

Rico pursed his lips in thought before leaning in and tucking the front of the sweater into my jeans.

"I guess that'll have to do, Virgin Mary."

"Thank you for the vote of confidence, Rico." I rolled my eyes, cuffing the arms of the sweater since they were a little too long.

Rico grinned, placing a swift kiss on my cheek. "Anytime, babe."

"I suppose I should get going," I sighed, looking down to the black banded watch that always sat on my right wrist. The time read five thirty and I released a nervous, shaky breath before grabbing my purse off of my bed.

Rico dove into my bed as I slung my purse over my shoulder, a wide grin on his handsome face.

"I don't know if I'll be here when you get back," Rico spoke, pulling his phone out of his pocket and scrolling through absentmindedly.

"Where are you going?" I asked nosily, grabbing my keys from my nightstand.

Rico's gaze flitted back over to me, a slow, sly smirk tugged at his full lips and I suddenly knew exactly what he meant.

"Ew, ew, got it. Never mind, remind me to never ask that again. Oh, ew. Yuck," I scrunched my face in mock disgust, shaking my head as if to shake the mental image out.

Rico laughed maniacally from behind me as I exited my bedroom, heading for the front door.

"Love you, chica!" Rico called from my bedroom, his voice distant as my hand rested on the doorknob.

"Love you, Rico!" I yelled back, a small smile on my lips as I exited my apartment and locked the door behind me.

Rico is like the brother I never had and even though I always felt like I was missing out on so much, being an only child, Rico filled that part of my heart perfectly. Even though Aria was usually the one I ran to about anything and everything, I can definitely say that Rico and I are weirdly bonding over this whole sugar baby thing and I don't mind it.

Rico and I have always been close but we've become even closer these past few days and it made me oddly happy.

I descended the stairs, making my way through the crowded parking lot to my beat up little Nissan and I was suddenly self-conscious about showing up to a date with this rich guy in such a crappy little car. Don't get me wrong, this car has gotten me through some bad times and for that, I'll forever be grateful but I can only imagine the immaculate cars he owns.

I slid into my car, plugging the address Vincent texted me this morning into my maps app and waiting momentarily for it to calculate my route. I attempted to even my breaths, my heart thudding loudly against my ribcage and my pulse pounding obnoxiously in my ears.

Glancing back at my crappy apartment complex that looked more like a druggy hideout, I heaved a heavy sigh. How does a girl like me have any right going on a date with a man who makes more money annually than I will probably ever make in my entire existence?

Short answer: I don't.

I don't have any business going to some immaculate restaurant accompanied by some guy way out of my league. But am I going to go anyway just for shits and giggles?

Absofuckinglutely.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

ahhh, here we go!

q: What is your favorite time of day?

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