Fatal Pursuit

diez

We retraced all of her steps until we eventually found her at the Airbnb, half asleep and still in her party clothes.
Dante was sitting at her bedside, caring for her as if she was an invalid. Making sure she was laying on her side, just in case she were to throw up.
The stone of anxiety that had been weighing on my chest finally lifted. On the way here, a million scenarios played in my head about what could've happened, each one making me feel more uneasy than the last.

"Genevieve, oh my god!" I kneeled beside Dante at her bedside as I stroked her head gently, "I'm so sorry, I'm the worst best friend in the world." I could feel my eyes becoming glossy with tears.
She groaned lightly and turned over.
I don't know what I would've done if something had happened to her.

"She's okay," he reassured me, "but she's gonna be hungover as hell tomorrow." he laughed and it made me smile as a tear rolled down my cheek.

"Hey, hey. She's fine." His smile comforted me but his eyes penetrated me. He put an arm around me, and then recoiled his hand, "Oh, you're wet..." he chuckled.

"Yeah, long story, I'm sorry." He smiled, putting his arm back around my waist, "That's alright. Why are you saying sorry? Everything is fine." He said softly.

"I know, I don't even know why I'm crying. It's just...she's been through so much and I was worried because she still won't turn her damn location on. I should've never let her run off with that Swedish guy anyway."

"Swedish guy?" He wrinkled his eyebrows.

"I didn't even ask his name or where they were going, I'm so fucking stupid."

"You're not stupid, stop. You just got caught up with your own things. If she..." he cleared his throat, "ran off with someone, that's not your fault. You're not her mom, you can't control her."

"Oh, I know her mom and she can't even control her." We both burst into laughter and I felt his grip tighten around my waist and pull me in slightly as he laughed. I looked up at him and I couldn't help but notice how adorable he looked at that moment. The way his lips curled when he smiled, the way the skin of his freckled nose crinkled.

"Infinity?" Ignacio was standing at the threshold of the door.

"Ignacio," I unhooked Dante's hand from my waist and stood up, "We were just-"

He cut me off, "How's your friend, is she alright?"

"Yeah, she's got a little alcohol poisoning but overall she's just fine." I smiled at him but he was staring blankly at Dante.

"Good, I'm gonna head out then." He said, turning and walking down the hall.

"Wait," I got up from my knees and followed him, "You're just gonna go?"

He didn't slow down or even look at me, "Yeah, I'll text you tomorrow."

"Is everything okay? Because that wasn't what it looked like. It was seriously nothing."

"You don't have to explain yourself," he opened the door and stepped outside, "I'll text you tomorrow. Have a good night."

"Ignacio, wait! So... are we good?"

He shrugged, "If you say it was nothing, it was nothing."

"Are you sure? I promise you, he's just a friend. He's not even a friend, he's just some guy that Genevieve hooks up with."

He smiled weakly, "Change out of those wet clothes, princess." He leaned in and gave me a kiss, "We're gonna see each other real soon, and don't make me wait so long this time."

"Why's that?" I inquired.

"Because now I have a taste for you." My heart skipped several beats.

"Heading out?" Dante popped his head out the door.