Urquia

Chapter 19: Agatha and the perfect date part 1

*Andrea POV*

It was Thursday morning. 5 AM to be exact. I never woke up later than that. Years of trying to be the perfect wife, with everything ready and clean so that my stupid husband wouldn't snap at me and beat me up. A familiar bitterness tightened my jaw at the memory.

I put the coffee machine on and went outside to stretch. I wondered if the wolves watching us would be awake. I tried to see anything, but they were well hidden. I stretched and started warming up a bit. I did a few kicks and punches on the punching bag.

My mind started to wander around my stupid bad experiences. In three weeks, it would have been our anniversary, so I made it the beginning of Phase One. The plan we'd been setting up consisted of three parts. And in three weeks, the first phase would begin.

I kicked and punched, letting all my frustration out. Thinking about how HE found us was unsettling. I knew we had a mole in our small group of trusted people, but we still hadn't found him or her. I needed to be extra careful with what would be shared with the wolves. All the other phases depended on this first step. That pig damaged us enough, and when I found out he was involved in human trafficking, I had to do something.

I was thinking about that horrible week, absentmindedly, and with a strong upper kick, I shattered the punching bag. I was still punching it, though, when I heard a twig break the silence behind me.

Just then, when I stopped, I noticed all the sand of the torn punching bag all over the place, and panting hard, I turned to the forest with my arms over my head to take some air.

I couldn't see anything beyond the trees, but I knew they were there, watching me.

After I began with my pinans, a series of martial arts forms, to concentrate and relax. I finished my training and after feeding all my animals, I made breakfast.

My kids came all dressed up, but today only my princess would go to school. Damian was ready, but today he would spend the day studying with Cris. Nah, who am I kidding? That spoiling aunt would spend the day playing video games with him.

Feeding my little baby shark, I decided it was time for him to use only the bottle. His little tooth almost made me a new piercing, and when I squealed, that little rascal dared to laugh at me! So lucky he looks so adorable when he takes his feet with his hands while he giggles.

My day at the clinic went smoothly, well, as smooth as it can be. We had a senile patient today that accidentally punched me when he didn't recognize me. I wanted to help him sit, but he tried to get loose and he hit me. My eye is a bit swollen, but no big deal. I hope Nate doesn't notice.

When I got home, lunch was already done. I'm so grateful my parents are here. I can actually have a nice day without running everywhere. My day goes as usual, but I'm starting to get a bit nervous. Today is our night picnic date. I never had one of those, so I don't really know what to expect. At least when he came to my workplace, we were busy doing something.

I start cleaning a bit just to get my mind off it. Even after training with the kids, I'm still a bit nervy, so I text him.

-"Where are we going?" I bite my lips, hoping he'd say.

-"It's a surprise." Of course, that's his reply.

-"I'm not comfortable not kno—" I was just writing him when he wrote.

-"Do you trust me?"

I kept looking at those words. 'Do I trust him?' With a deep sigh, I write.

-"I don't know why, but I actually DO trust you."

-"Don't worry, princess, you're gonna love it."

-"Okay."

After dinner and putting the kids to sleep, I went downstairs to Cris. She wanted me to put on a dress, but I refused vehemently. I don't like showing any part of my body if I can avoid it. I have lots of scars, big and small ones. The big rosy gashes I have tried to camouflage with some tattoos over them. My legs and arms are almost fully covered with the tattoos, but you can still feel them if you focus. My back is bare because I haven't decided yet what design I want.

Cris is very talented, and she has done almost all my ink work since we were teens. I'm her Guinea pig, so I have tattoos over tattoos. My arms are tattooed as well as my belly. I have lots of styles. But you can't see any of the tattoos if I don't let you. Not even my arms.

I don't know how he will react when he finds out. I mean, he knows about what happened, but he actually hasn't seen it. I don't know if he will feel disgusted by me.

Cris did her best with suturing all she could with that Doc, but in the end, scars are scars. A knot of anxiety tightened in my stomach at the thought.

I end up dressing myself. Black high-waist skinny jeans, black ankle boots, a sleeveless white crop top, and a long deep blue cardigan. I apply some mascara, a bit of blush so I won't look so pale, and some peach matte lipstick. I put my hair in a high ponytail, but I'm not convinced, so I just leave it down. A nervous energy buzzed beneath my skin.

It's 9 PM already when I hear the doorbell ring. I was putting my small hoop earrings in when I go downstairs. I see Dad on the door, blocking him. He turned when I got down, and with a raised brow and a smirk, he was silently questioning me. I rolled my eyes, trying not to feel like a teenager with her first date, and I kiss Nathan on the cheek.

-"How have you been?"

-"Princess, you look beautiful tonight."

-"Umm, thank you. You look good too." I say, biting my lip while eating him with my eyes.

He was wearing a brown shirt-jacket with the sleeves up his arms, a plain white shirt, and well-fitted jeans with black combat boots. The clothes on him fitted so well you could see he was well-built and full of mus—

clearing his throat

-"Well, I don't think your plan is to stay here and look at each other all night... so go on... go have your moment someplace else. I don't want to know about it." He said, pushing me to the door and closing behind me.

-"Yeah, don't mind him. He is a bit crazy," I say, blushing and mentally facepalming.

-"Well, just watching you all night is not a bad plan, princess, maybe next time," he says with a sly smile.

-"So... where are we going?" I ask, trying to change the subject.

He chuckles, then offers me his hand without saying anything else. I took it without thinking, and he grinned at me, satisfied, intertwining our fingers. The tingling was making me flustered and my mind mush. A warmth spread through my palm from his touch.

He led us to a beautiful Harley Davidson bike. Costumed.

-"Wow, she's beautiful!!!" I said, excited.

-"She?" he said, amused.

-"Oh, yeah, all beautiful bikes are She," I said, grinning. -"Does she have a name?"

-"Umm, you give her one."

-"I'll call you Agatha," I said, grinning and touching her.

He gave me a helmet, and we rode Agatha to the outside of the city.

-"Aren't we going to the park?" I shout to his helmet. I was leaning against him, but I was trying to put some space between us.

-"Nope," he shouted back before making me squeal by speeding. I had to hold him tighter, but I'm sure that's what he wanted. I could feel the rumble of the engine vibrating through him.

About half an hour later, we entered what I know is his territory. We didn't go to the residence area; we went further into the forest. We parked and started wandering. It was dark, but he guided me, and that was quite exciting. Yes, I could see in the dark just like him, but he didn't know that. He was trying to be all mysterious and make me feel safe. I think it's cute.

We ended up in a beautiful cliff over a big lake. It had a picnic blanket with a basket and even candles. It was a really beautiful scenery. The moon was shining bright in the sky, and you could see all the lights of the residency complex far away; it was simply beautiful.

-"You like it?" he said with a low voice.

-"I absolutely love it," I whispered back.

He took my hand, and we sat facing one another.

-"You know, this is another first for me. I have never had anything like this, ever. I'm glad I can share these experiences with you," I say truthfully.

-"I'm happy you let me bring you here today. I actually thought it was going to be harder for me to get your attention." he joked.

-"Yeah... I'm surprised too."

He took out some sandwiches and cut fruits and cheese and even wine and two glasses.

We ate and spoke about things we used to do when we were kids.

Looking at the view, just enjoying the whole experience of being there with him, a man who makes me feel special and valued. I sigh. A sense of peace settled deep within my chest.

-"I have to tell you something," we said at the same time.