Adagio

Chapter 4

Coda had a day off school so we went shopping. He loved shopping, more than I did. He smiled for everything, even small birds flying low near him. He smiled at butterflies flying around us. I was blessed with a son like him. Sometimes I wonder how I ended up having such a kind and beautiful child, he’s nothing like me.

He never asked for anything even if he wanted something so badly he never touched something twice.

“ Coda ?”

He stopped in his tracks and looked up at me.

“ Do you want something in particular? Mama will buy it for you.”

He smiled and shook his head.

I sighed.

“ Something small? “

He folded his hands and shook his head.

I cupped his face and kissed his forehead.

“ You choose or I choose.”

At this, his eyes went wide.

He knew well enough that when he does this I always end up buying him socks as revenge.

He went running into a shop.

I ran after him, knowing well enough how easily lost he gets.

Suddenly I froze.

My son was looking up to a man I knew.

I walked to them.

“ Coda , go find a present okay ?”

He turned to me and nodded walking away.

Jace’s smiled when he looked at me.

“So, you have a thing for toys huh ?” I said.

He looked around and chuckled.

“ I work here.”

“Oh, so that’s why you told me you understood perfectly that I got a thing for small kids. So you’re the pervert here.”

A couple slowed down to here looking at Jace with a stern look.

I put a hand on my mouth. Not sure when was the right time to laugh at his absurd face.

“Great, thanks.”

I laughed and nodded. “ Welcome.”

Then I saw Coda running at us.

“ Coda, don’t ru-”

I Just when I was about to say it, he slipped and fell, face first.

I gasped and went running to him.

“ Coda are you okay?” I said panicking, examining his face and his body for any injuries.

He smiled goofily and gave me the toy he chooses.

It was a small space ship with a lego-astronaut waving.

I smiled and filled his face with kisses.

“ For not crying you, mister, deserve another present.”

He shook his head and grabbed the toy back.

He opened his eyes wide and he slowly moved the toy behind him.

Knowing well where this was going, I grabbed the toy.

“ Fine.”

He smiled and nodded satisfied.

Then he pointed at something at the back of the shop.

“ Don’t wonder off.”

He nodded and hopped off.

Then he stopped and turned to look at me.

He turned and walked very slowly.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

I heard a soft chuckled behind me.

“ You sure have an amazing kid. What was that about the toy though?”

I chuckled.

“ He usually does that, when I offer another toy. He is telling me, I will accept only this or I will return this as well. He hates me buying him presents.”

I shook my head hugging the little toy.

“ How old is he ?” Jace said smiling.

“ Six.”

He nodded and grabbed the toy from my hands.

“ This is on me.”

“ What? No n-”

He put a hand on my mouth, which covered mostly my face.

I grabbed his hands trying hard to remove it, but it was for nothing.

“ Don’t say another word. I just saw a beautiful mother, son moment and I would love to give this to you. Please?”

I shook my head. Not wanting pity from someone I don’t even know.

“ It’s not a pity act. I just want to do something for your son. And for you.”

I patted his hand and he removed it.

“ I hate how your hand smelled so good, but you almost choked me to death. And okay.”

He blinked at me and chuckled.

I didn’t say that he smelled good didn’t I?

Oh, crap. I told him he smelled good.

Oh s**t.

I thought I was only thinking about it.

Is there a hole I can jump in?

“ Here’s the deal.” He said while wrapping the present.

“ How about I give you this and you come with me to dinner ?” He continued.

I looked up at him astonished.

“ You’re using a toy for bribery? That’s deep.”

He chuckled. “ I didn’t have any other idea how to get your attention.”

I shook my head and smiled.

“ Dinner time, my son is at the house, I need to help him with his homework.”

He nodded.

“ How about a lunch? When your son is at school?”

I was about to come up with another excuse. But I didn’t have any.

“ Great, I’ll pick you up at the school entrance.”

He winked and gave me the bag.

Coda came running and pulled me with him. Not giving me the time to actually find some stupid excuse not to go out with a hot stranger, which makes me melt.

Thank God that didn’t come out of my mouth.

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A soft knock came on the door.

I opened the door to find a smiling Blaine with a soft toy in hand.

“ Is the little rascal here ?”

I chuckled and nodded.

“ He’s at the usual spot.”

A sound of footsteps running to the door sounded in the whole entrance.

Coda came running, not stopping, knowing it was Blaine.

Blaine grabbed him and twirled him around, running with him to the living room.

Davina was looking at them astonished.

“ No wonder he’s telling me about kids.”

I chuckled and hugged her.

Soft piano notes filled the air.

Coda must be about to learn a new tune.

“ Dav , I need your help.”

She put her bag on the table and sat.

I poured her a cup of tea.

“ What is it hun?”

“ Remember the guy we spoke about last time ?”

She nodded, sipping her tea.

“ He asked me out on a date.”

She gulped and spat the tea in my face, coughing.

I wiped my face and waited for her to calm down.

Somehow, this is getting old. This always happens when I tell them some good news.

The time I told them I was pregnant, they spat orange juice in my face.

She wiped her mouth and coughed.

“ And ?”

“ I didn’t even have the chance to give him an excuse.”

She put her elbow on the table and her face in her hand.

“ Why ?”

“Why what?”

“ Why do you always find a way to ruin your own happiness.”

I sat down.

“ It’s not about ruining my happiness Dav, it’s about thinking about my son’s happiness first.”

She put her hand on mine.

“Iris, you are doing an amazing job. That kid is a saint. Like a real angel among us mere mortals.”

I smiled.

She sighed.

“Gurl, you need your own happiness. That kid will always be grateful to you. But I’m sure that if he is old enough to understand this, he would tell you to accept your own happiness.”

She patted my hand.

“ I don’t know Dav. It’s just… I’m scared.”

She smiled. “ Of course you are. You have adapted to a life, you and your son, in your own little world. Then suddenly a stranger shows up and he’s giving you strange feelings. Feelings that you haven’t felt in so long. Give him a chance dear and it will help you grow.”

I thought about it. One date wouldn’t be so bad.

“ One date won’t be the end of the world right ?” I said.

Suddenly the door flew open and Lana was stomping in with Nate following in her footsteps.

I pointed to the living room. He smiled and nodded, almost thanking me for not making him witness his girlfriends rage.

“ What’s this all about sucker? You have a hot guy asking you out and you are gonna deny it? Bit-”

I put a hand on her mouth.

“ Remember that my kid is in the other room and I’m going to this date, so calm your tits.” I hushed her.

She nodded and sat down.

“ What are you going to wear ?” She said smiling.

I rolled my eyes.

“ It’s a fast lunch, until Coda finishes from school.”

Now it was their turn to roll their eyes.

“So? You still need to look hot.” Lana said.

“ How about some jeans and a sexy shirt? With heels of course.” Davina said flipping her long black hair behind her back.

“ How about jeans and a sweater and running shoes?” I said , grinning.

They glared at me.

I put my hands up.

“ Okay fine, a nice shirt but with flats, no heels, I have to walk.”

They smiled and nodded in satisfaction. They even choose a shirt for me. A one shoulder blue shirt with gold embroidery on the sleeves. Classy but not too much. 

Lana pulled out a pair of jeans which make my ass look good, as Lana specifically said.

I rolled my eyes.

All this for one simple date?

Yes, it was a date with the hottest man I’ve ever seen. But looks aren’t everything. If they were I would absolutely run away, I would melt into a heated ice cream with a single look at his face.

No , I’m not exaggerating.

He’s at Chris Hemsworth level.

Well, he’s Thor so, he’s not a mortal.

I shook my head.

Jeans, shirt, flats, makeup, everything check.

After dropping Coda at school, I will have a nice date with a guy I won’t see anymore.

There, I made up my mind.