This girl was straight out of my fantasies. She was placed in my path, hand-picked and delivered straight from the heavens.
The void in my heart mended when she was in my orbit and I craved her presence like an addict craved its choice of drug. Mine just happened to be a five-foot-seven girl with luscious black hair, slim curves, and an extraordinary gaze.
Speaking of my girlfriend, she was currently making uschampurrados—Mexican hot chocolate with a dash of spice—by the stovetop while I leaned against the kitchen counter beside her, eating the enchiladas she reheated for me.
I skipped dinner since I had a long night tending to business with Josh and Uncle Vance. So Ella took it upon herself to feed me after we finished the math assignment.
“Is it good?” Ella asked after I demolished half of my plate.
I waited until I swallowed my forkful of enchiladas to speak. “Delicious. Did you make it?”
“Yes,” she said proudly, stirring the pot with a wooden whisk called amolinillo.The aroma of chocolate, cinnamon, and chilli wafted in the air. “I enjoy cooking and this is my speciality.”
Was there anything this girl couldn’t do? “This is my new favourite meal.”
“And why is that?”
She was going to make me spell it out. As she should. I’d cherish anything she gave me. “Because you made it.”
Ella smiled smugly. “Well, I’m glad you’re loving it. Do you want more?”
I finished everything on my plate and patted my stomach. “I’m good, Ellie. Thank you for feeding me.”
A soft gleam entered her eyes when she reached forth to cup my jaw. “You don’t have to thank me for that. It makes me happy to provide for you in any way I can.”
I turned my head to kiss her palm. Ella didn’t know about my past. I could feel her wanting to ask, but remaining patient until I was ready to talk. I appreciated it. I didn’t know how to start explaining to her that I was malnourished for months in the last year.
Food was a sacred resource to me. So was the girl in front of me.
“I enjoyed this meal.” I pulled her into my arms. “Will you make it for me again someday?”
“Of course I will,querido.”
My heart warmed. “What’s something you like that I can do for you?”
She shook her head. “I’m not expecting anything in return for making you a warm meal, Cade.”
“I know, but I want to provide for you, too.” I wanted to fulfil all her materialistic and non-materialistic wishes. “Tell me, whatwould you like?”
Ella gave it some thought, tapping her chin with a finger. “Maybe you can give me a bouquet of lollipops every month?”
That was easy. “Done. What else?”
“There’s not much else I want besides you.” She kissed my cheek and my whole body melted under that singular touch.
“C’mon, humour me, Ellie.” I tightened my hold on her waist. “I know you like purses and shoes.” She always wore new ones and colour coordinated her outfits. “Maybe I can take you shopping some time?”
“Careful what you wish for, Cade,” Ella teased, grazing my cheek with her knuckles lovingly. “I have a bad spending habit and I’m known for doing damage whenever I go to the mall.”
“I’m good for it, baby.”
Ella hummed. “You weren’t kidding about spoiling me, huh?”
“What my princess wants, my princess gets.” I dotted fervent little kisses all over her face. She giggled, a lilting sound marrying with the music playing from the radio on the counter, where a woman sang about dreaming of her lover.
We drank ourchampurradosand then I did my dishes. Ella sat on the kitchen counter, sifting the tips of her orange-painted nails through my hair. The gesture caused emotions to well in my chest. I couldn’t remember the last time someone touched me with this much tenderness. I wondered if she could see on my face how much it meant to me.
“Will you tell me what you were doing tonight?”
