Lavender

Chapter 14 - Friends

LAVENDER'S POV

I immediately lookout outside of the cab's window as I noticed that I have arrived at Sunny Isles Beach. The driver continues to drive the car as we try to find where is Damon's mansion when suddenly, I heard my phone's ringtone pop.

It was a message sent by Larry, whom I just saved the number earlier in case he tries to make fun of me again. I'm still feeling embarrassed knowing that I almost said what I felt during the interview while Damon is hearing our conversation earlier.

Now that I know that Larry is not someone with secrets, I will need to endure more of him especially if he's that someone who is close to Damon and goes to his house like what friends usually do.

Confused, I opened my phone before tapping the message button and Larry's message.

"Meet me at El Tropico Cuban Cuisine. I'll get you there. P.S. Don't kill me when I got there," he said, which only made me roll my eyes before replying to just the letter 'K' and sending it.

"Uh, Sir. Can we just go to El Tropico Cuban Cuisine? My boss' friend said that he would meet there," I said that Driver instantly answered with a nod.

Only minutes passed before we got to the restaurant. I immediately saw Larry who also saw me inside the cab the Driver is parking now. When the car is parked, Larry immediately goes to the back of the car while I get out of the car as I took my bags with me. After getting my bags, I walked towards Larry, taking out my suitcase from the car's trunk, and took one of my two suitcases with me as I walk towards the car he's leaning into earlier.

"I'm going to take out some food for lunch, you staying in the car or you're going in with me?" Larry asked as he drags my last suitcase and put another bag on his shoulder.

"I'm going," I said before working near at Larry and smacking him in the back of his head.

Larry winced as he looks at me, shocked, "Why do you have to do that? I thought you're okay now, you replied K, right?"

That's what he gets for making me a fool. I don't know what kind of plan Larry has but I'm on the job now for his friend. Damon may have intimidated me but I think, everything is going to be fine. I will just need to do what is right and what is best for this job rather than think of what I should do whenever Damon is around. I admit that Damon has an absurd effect on me whenever he is around but really, I should stop thinking that way with my boss.

Damon is my boss, someone who is paying me for taking care of his sister. And besides, I think he's really not that affected, unlike me. I was really affected the whole time our interview is going. Especially that he appeared more gorgeous and packed with s*x appeal even if he always keeps his self distant. I need to do my best for this job.

And as for Larry, I smirked at him as he brushes the part of his head where I hit him while putting my suitcases in the back of his Jaguar Land Rover. After the long drive I had, I realized how much Larry had given me such good luck just being Damon's sister's caregiver. That's why I think I'm a bit okay now dealing with Larry's foolishness. As he still helped me find work that will surely give me enough money.

I smiled as Larry's eyes gaze back at me. "That's my way of saying you're a friend," I said with utmost sincerity but Larry just looked at me dumbly, making me sigh. "Oh, don't let me repeat what I said," I said before turning my back on him.

"C-come again. Can you say what you said again?" he asked.

I shooked my head. "Nope, you're a moron. I will not repeat what I said."

Larry walked faster and got passed through me before stopping in front of me. He was pouting as he was still rubbing the back of his head. "Okay, I admit I made a mistake but can't you see? I also want to help you aside from pushing you and Damon together," he said that only made me sigh.

"I think you must stop making me together with Damon. You see, it's inappropriate. He's my boss and I'm a caregiver he hired for his sister. If anyone or Jada knows what you are planning, they will think wrongly and I don't want that."

Larry sighs in front of me as he darted his eyes on the ground. "Fine. I won't tell her then," he said that made me close my eyes and put my palm on my face.

"You, are a hopeless case, Mr. Jones," I said, trying to calm myself as I want to give Larry another smack on his head.

"What? Don't you find my friend handsome? Damon is a nice catch," he said that made me laugh.

"Wow, I never thought you act cupid. The first time we met, you are the one who looks like someone who wants a relationship with me," I said that also made him laugh awkwardly.

"Well, I was just teasing you that time. I remember helping Damon hear your voice that time. My phone was actually on that time and he can actually hear what we were both saying through a call," Larry said, making me laugh.

It's bizarre hearing that Damon has a crush on me back then. I mean, I'm just a nobody. How can someone like him notice me? It's just so absurd. And what they did, what Larry did for Damon? It's ridiculous. Maybe some people will like being like or love being love, but I really don't think I was ready for a relationship back then. I can't also let Damon court me. I may have seen Damon attractive but I can't accept his attention. I also don't want anything to do with him. Jada has a big crush on him back then.

"What you did was ridiculous but it's all in the past now so..." I used my thumb to gesture to the restaurant in front of us. "Is this the place where you're going to buy food? Let's go. I'm also hungry."

Larry just smiles at me before gesturing to enter El Tropico Cuban Cuisine. When we entered the restaurant, Larry and I immediately ordered. Larry ordered all of the menus listed serving every Thursday just like today while I only ordered one sandwich packed with ham, sliced pork swiss cheese, pickles & mustard with plantain chips on Sweet Bread.

I looked at Larry, confused as I look at the foods that he has ordered in his hand. "How many of us are going to eat anyway? Do Damon and his sister still live with their parents?"

Larry has this serious but quite solemn expression as he opened the door for me for the seat beside the driver's seat before looking at me. "The night of the last tournament, that night where he said that he has feelings for you. His parents died that night."

What Larry said made me shocked. I don't know what to say but all I can feel is that I'm sorry and sad for Damon. I did not know that something happened to his parents. Now, I feel ridiculous. As I also rejected him the night that he confessed to me.

Without saying a word, I hop into the car. Still shocked of what happened to Damon for the past years that he became gone. Just like me, my Mom left me while Damon's parents are really gone. And now, I kind of understand why Damon has changed so much. It's not really easy for a person to live especially if they don't have someone to rely on. In Damon's case, his parent's death and her sister suffering from early-onset dementia can really make him stern and distant.

Also, the way he mentioned how he wanted to create the connection he once has with his sister, it's touching. Especially coming from someone who has faced hardship throughout the years we haven't seen each other. Damon is admirable for being a brother who wants to create a connection with his sister even if he's having difficulty expressing his self while his sister has early-onset dementia.

"Hey, Lavender," Larry said which snapped me back to reality.

Oh? I'm spacing out again. When I looked at Larry, the concern is written on his face while his forehead is knotted.

"You okay?" he asked that I answered, shaking my head.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Just spacing out again," I said that turned his mouth into O.

"Oh. Why? Do you have a problem? You know you can tell me, I might be able to help you," he said as he put the keys to the ignition.

I smile as I shake my head again. "No, just spacing out. I don't have a problem, and even if I have, I will not tell you," I said with squinty eyes that only made him raise his brows as the car engines started.

"What? You said I'm a friend, right? You said it back there," Larry said while he's maneuvering the car.

"Uh, yeah! But even if you're a friend now, I will not share anything with you." Not everything because just like what happened hours ago, his loyalty is with Damon.

I don't even know if Damon is already thinking especially since I know he heard everything that I said on the phone. Larry's friend with Damon for years while I'm just his new friend. I don't think sharing with friends I just met is okay at the moment. I only just accepted Larry as a friend earlier, I can't tell him anything that I'm thinking yet.

"I can't trust you with anything I'm thinking yet. I can still remember what just happened hours ago. You are letting Damon hear our conversation. Do you really think I wouldn't find out?" I said before grinning. "I should have smacked you hard."

"Please don't. I can't endure another hit coming from you," Larry said, chuckling. "But Daisy is really sometimes a pain in the ass. It was her you heard on the phone. That's Damon's sister, the one you will be attending to."

"Oh, really? I think I like her now. I think she's kind of a woman who doesn't submit to men like you and Damon," I said that made him laugh.

"Careful now. If Damon heard you said that, he would spank you. I'm telling you, Damon can be a little dominant anyway," he said that made me gawk.

Dominant? Damon? I gulped as I suddenly imagine really spanking me, in my butt, just like what Larry said. Damn it! I instantly shook my head, trying to erase what I have imagined but it's not something that I can easily erase on my mind.

Feeling hot, I fan myself with my hand as I feel uncomfortable feelings brewing in my system. God damn it, Larry. He shouldn't have said those. Now I feel shy facing Damon, knowing that I have imagined something inappropriate because of what Larry said.

"Lavender, you okay? Why are you fanning yourself?" he said as he clicked a button from the dashboard that made the window beside me open.

I instantly made myself near the window to cool down the hotness I'm feeling with the wind's breeze. Tch. Just because of what happened just now, I now confirmed that I can't trust Larry... yet. I don't know if he is just teasing me and saying those words on purpose or it just came out of his mouth.

I don't know but one thing is for sure, I feel nervous about facing Damon now.