Amidst the jet lag and very strong urge to just sleep it off, we were not going to let our first day in Rio go to waste. We tried our best to ignore the loud calling of the comfy one hundred percent cotton and silky bed and sheets; Theo excluded.
“Theo, get off your butt right this instant!” I ordered, taking his hand and trying to pull him off of the bed.
“Nooo, just five more minutes, please.” He begged, his words practically muffled as he buried his face on the pillows.
“If you don’t move right now, I will-”
I was unable to finish my sentence when Theo suddenly moved his hand to grip on my arm and before I could react, he had instantly pulled me onto the bed with him. As always, his reflexes were too good and he had already turned around on the bed, making his chest the perfect landing spot for me.
“Hey!” I scowled at him unamused, but deep down inside I couldn’t help but immediately blush at our close proximity.
He had the most tempting smile as he held onto me. My whole body was directly on top of him that I could almost feel his heart beating and I can most definitely feel his warmth against my skin.
“You will what?” He said in an obvious insinuating tone as he bit his lips seductively before glancing at mine.
“I’m- I will-” I stuttered, unable to come up with a comprehensible sentence from how nervous I quickly got.
Darn my boyfriend and his stupid handsome face that was so hard to resist.
Theo chuckled lightly, his eyes squinting a little as he smiled. “You’re adorable.” He commented before taking me by surprise with a quick kiss on the lips and gently moving me to the side.
He got up off the bed and looked at me with raised brows. “Well, what are you waiting for? Your bucket list isn’t going to complete itself.” He said as if I was the one begging for five more minutes on the bed moments ago.
“Ugh, I swear if you weren’t so annoyingly attractive.” I confessed before rolling my eyes at him and standing up.
“You think I’m annoyingly attractive?” Theo whispered close to me and I jolted up when he lightly tapped my butt out of nowhere and then ran away before I could get my revenge.
I shook my head and watched him disappear into the hotel hallway as I didn't follow after him. I’ll get him when we’re in the car. For now, my priority was getting the schedule aligned properly with my list.
I pulled out a quite old and almost brittle brownish paper from my pocket and unfolded it. I don’t remember exactly when I started making this list, but I was sure it was around when I was seven years old and my mom told me stories about when she used to live here. I just couldn’t wait to visit.
“Number one on the infamous ‘Luna’s Bucket List for Rio’ is…” My eyes scroll down to the first writing on the page and let out a small scoff at how totally expected it was.
Take a food tour. Of course. Rio is home to literally some of Brazil's best restaurants and best dishes. I only ever had Brazilian food from this one restaurant in California, but if that was amazing, I’m sure the authentic one would blow my taste buds away.
“Sit with me, please!” Alexa hurriedly grabbed my arm as we arrived at the lobby at the same time.
I caught a glimpse of Theo pouting at me seemingly disappointed at my best friend stealing me away from him, and I just stuck my tongue out at him.
“So where are we going?!” My best friend enthusiastically asked before the car door could even close, inching her head closer to mine as she tried to get a glimpse of my list.
“Food tour!” I proclaimed amongst the people in the car which was just the four of us and the driver.
“But the where, that I do not know.” I turned to Theo who was sitting in the backseat with Aiden. “Can we just ask the driver to take us to a food place?”
He gave me a confident smirk and I looked at him confused. What was this guy looking so smug for?
“Meu amor, I already have everything planned out based on your list. You just have to sit back, let the driver drive, and enjoy the views.” Theo said flirtatiously I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I get laughed at for trying to be more romantic? Wow, that’s harsh, Valentine.” He said before turning to Aiden and muttering something under his breath, pretending to act offended.
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. It’s cute, it’s cute.” I tell him in the hopes of getting brownie points back but all he does is squint his eyes at me all suspiciously.
I think of what to do to have him soften up, and of course my first thought was to suck up a little. Putting on my best pout face, I tried my hardest to look and act cute.
“One kiss in exchange for forgiveness?” I said, placing my chin on my hands that were on top of the seat.
“Hm…” Theo c****d his brow at me. “Three kisses and you have a deal.”
Truly a Donovan. He was already unknowingly making deals with his own girlfriend.
“Fine.”
“Okay! Driver, to Fogo de Chão, por favor.” Theo immediately changed moods as he instructed the driver and in a split second, we were already on the move.
“You guys are so cute and so gross at the same time.” Alexa commented, faking a puking gesture and Theo and I let out a laugh.
“I could say the same for you and Aiden.” I tell her and Aiden butts in.
“Whoa, don’t drag me into that. My brigadeiro and I are minding our own business.” He said before eating another one of his chocolate condensed balls, a famous Brazilian dessert.
When and where did he even get so much and why isn’t he sharing?!
“Don’t think I don’t see the two of you and your flirty glances with one another.” I raised my brow at the two of them and their cheeks both evidently became flushed.
“Ha, got ‘eeeem.” Theo teasingly commented and we snickered at each other.
The two were about to fight back when they realized they had no chances of doing so and ended up giving the win to Theo and I, and we both let out our evil laughs.
-
The drive to wherever the food place Theo had planned to go seemed like it was only five minutes but in reality it was actually about half an hour. Looking out the window and watching the scenery pass by you, time just flew so fast.
Everywhere we turned, every corner and street we passed, it was filled with crowds of people having the time of their life under the sun. Many just walked in their swimsuits and no shirts as if it was just an everyday thing for them to do. I mean, if I lived here I probably would do the same because of the scorching hot summer weather.
The best part about all of this was that if you were feeling too hot, you could literally just take a few steps and you could already swim in the ocean. I can almost feel the cold water on my skin and the rejuvenating feeling of diving into crystal clear waters, but that was for later. Now it’s all about the food.
“I hope you all have empty stomachs because you will need a lot of space.” The driver commented as we stopped by the side of a road and all our eyes and mouth hung open at the sight beside us.
It looked so unreal. A tropical paradise of various street foods with tall coconut and palm trees surrounding the wooden infrastructures of small scale restaurants. It was like fast food restaurants but for the beach. What other better combination could there be?
It was past lunch, but there were still quite a lot of people eating. The good thing was that they all seemed to be mostly locals, and you know that was a good sign because that meant food was up to their standards. My smile was practically ear to ear and my stomach was rumbling in anticipation.
We were led inside one of the restaurants and sat on a table that was in the middle of a buffet-like set up. You could see it was filled with various meat and seafood even and I was practically drooling already.
Once the driver told us that we could get anything we wanted, I was ready to rush to the food until Theo got a hold of my arm and I turned around, expression on my face with a slight betrayal.
“Hey, what gives?” I said a little annoyed because I could almost taste the delicious crispy farofa in my mouth.
Theo stood up and walked over to me, pushing me back onto my chair before leaning closer to my ear. “I told you you just need to sit down and relax. I’ll bring all the food you want, babe.”
“Oh…” I was a little unsure at first, but I was blushing at his very eager action. “Thank you?”
“You’re welcome. Now I’m guessing that it would be two bowls of farofa?” He looked at me with an amused smile.
“Make that three, please.” I told him with a wide smile and he chuckled before nodding and walking to the food.
I wasn’t going to let the opportunity of having real farofa go to waste. That fried tapioca flour mixed with small pieces of bacon and served with rice and beans, mmm. I was humming a tune excitedly waiting for my food when Alexa sat next to me.
My eyes scanned her up and down and caught the messy hair that had just been slightly tamed, her dress a little crumpled, and a part of her lipstick smudged.
I raised my brow at Alexa as I stared at her in a connoting way. “Really, you two? Already?” I asked knowing full well what went down as Aiden came out of the same corner fixing his hair immediately.
And I thought Theo was the hormonal one. I scoffed amusedly, remembering how Aiden was always so shy, but it seems Alexa had definitely brought out the wild side in him.
“What? A little appetizer doesn’t hurt.” She gave me a quick wink and I shook my head at her before rolling my eyes.
Although I still had some getting used to these two, I was thoroughly happy to see them unable to keep their hands off of each other. I still remember the exact day Alexa had called me squealing about Aiden.
I knew they had ended up in the same university and had become closer because of that, but when she called me at three in the morning saying Aiden had helped her get home after someone tried to hit on her aggressively in a club which led to something a little more between the two of them, I was shocked and at the same time thrilled to hear that my best friend had an amazing guy such as Aiden with her.
Alexa had her crushes when we were younger and it was always the bad boys that she had a thing for so when she told me she kissed Aiden that night, I needed time to process it all. Although it was just like Aiden to be such a sweetheart. Truly I couldn’t pick any better guy for my best friend. Oh how things have changed between our types, though. Who knew I would actually end up with the former bad boy?
“Three bowls of farofa for my girl and extra pão de queijo at the side.” Theo appeared next to me, but my eyes were all focused on the food on the table.
My mouth is watering staring at the scrumptious meal. I didn’t take a second to indulge on my cravings, immediately taking the spoon and digging right in.
“Mhmm, oh my goodness. Nothing beats authentic Brazilian food.” I said, momentarily closing my eyes as I took in all the flavors and the spices that burst into my mouth like fireworks.
“If I didn’t know you were eating, I would have thought you were moaning over something else right now.” Alexa teased and my eyes shot open, staring at her embarrassedly.
“A! Rated parental guidance, please!” I said, slapping her arm slightly and everyone laughed at me as my cheeks vividly blushed.
I don’t know why I’ve always been so shy when it came to intimate things such as that. Theo and I have always held hands wherever we went, kissed and made out a little, but when it came to going further… We just never did.
Imagine being in university where students in every corner were making out and even my own roommate would sometimes ask me to keep the room empty when she would bring someone over. It was awkward at times, but Theo was very understanding. He would never pressure me into something I wouldn’t do or wasn’t comfortable with yet.
“Hey.” I was slightly taken aback when I felt a warm hand on my thigh, turning to my right where Theo was looking at me with a worried expression.
“Everything okay, love?”
“Oh! Yes, yeah. I’m alright. I was just….” I bit my lip, looking away as I tried to think of an excuse.
“ThinkingabouthowIwasgoingtostealyourpaçoca!” I replied, purposely speaking fast and smiling innocently at him, unbeknownst that I had already grabbed one of the desserts on his plate.
“I have no idea what you just said.” Theo confessed. “But-”
I let out a gasp as he leaned closer to me, his hand sneaking around my waist and I stopped breathing for a second. My jaw clenched tightly when I felt Theo’s warm hand on mine, pulling away what I was holding and not even realizing it until he was dangling it in front of me with a smirk on his face.
“This paçoca is mine.” He said with that bewitching smile of his and I couldn’t even feel embarrassed that he caught me trying to steal his food because I was too distracted from staring at him.
Theo Donovan has always had that aura to him. Back then he was much darker, much more mysterious, but now he was somewhat more open. That doesn’t mean he still didn’t have that bad boy look to him, though.
Frankly, I beg to differ. With his dark black hair swept to the side perfectly, those soft locks so tempting to run your fingers through, perfectly carved cheek and jaw lines clean and shaved - there was no denying that he was still the same irresistible man I met years ago.
Less intimidating, yes, because he was no longer walking around like he was going to your funeral. Less attractive? Not at all. I don’t even think that was possible with the Donovan genes.
Neither of us noticed just how much time had passed while we were eating and giving each other side glances at one another until both of us were taken out of our moment.
“Okay, little lovebirds!” Alexa stood up and clapped her hands together.
“My dashing angel boyfriend and I-” She pulled Aiden up from the table as he tried to get one more bite.
“Are going on our solo adventure now.” Alexa made sure to emphasize that they wanted to be alone, raising her brows up and down as she stared at me insinuatingly and I looked at her with widened eyes, practically mind-linking her to shut it.
“Have fun you two.” Alexa and Aiden waved goodbye and then it was just… the two of us.
There was a moment of silence between us both, but not around us. The samba music that echoed in the restaurant and the chattering of locals in Portuguese filled the place. It was hard not to feel yourself slowly melting into the moment, taking in every single thing around you and it was even more exhilarating when you were right next to the person who made your heart beat faster than usual.
It felt like electricity traveled through my body when Theo’s hand intertwined with mine and I looked up at him.
“Want to go?” He asked as he gently rubbed his thumb on the top of my hand.
“Go where?” I asked, unsure of what else he had planned because I was sure I just wanted to eat a lot.
“Hm…” He looked to the side seemingly in deep thought before he turned his head back to me, his gray eyes immediately piercing into mine and there was a quick twinkle in it
“What do you think about going on a sunset swim with me?”
I immediately perked up at his proposal, an excited smile forming on my lips.
“You don’t even have to ask twice.”
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