chapter 48: plans

Miles POV:

I was still hanging out at Bose's penthouse, trying to survive this whole babysitting situation. The girls were all over the place—laughing, shouting, trying to get Bose's attention while playing games. Meanwhile, I was doing my best to stay out of their way, feeling more like a third wheel than anything else. Watching Bose handle all of it like a champ, though, made me realize I wasn't really needed here.

I leaned back on the couch, scrolling through my phone, when suddenly Bose walked over to me. He had this easygoing smile, the kind that usually meant he had something up his sleeve.

"You know, man," Bose said, glancing over at the girls who were still busy with the games. "If you wanna dip out, it's cool. I've got everything under control here."

I looked up at him, surprised. "You sure?"

"Yeah," he nodded, still smiling. "They're having a blast. I can handle them."

I didn't need to be told twice. Babysitting wasn't exactly my idea of a great Sunday. "Thanks, man," I said, getting up and grabbing my jacket. "I owe you."

Bose waved me off. "Nah, you don't. See you later, Miles."

I gave him a grateful nod, said goodbye to the girls who barely noticed, and headed out. After driving for a while, I found myself pulling up at the Man's Nest. It was quiet—too quiet. It felt good to have some space, though. I turned on the lights as soon as I stepped inside, expecting to unwind a little before figuring out what to do next.

But then I froze.

Sitting on the couch, looking like she'd been waiting for me, was my mom.

I stopped dead in my tracks, completely caught off guard. "Mom? What are you doing here?"

She stood up quickly, her face tense and serious. "Miles, I've been trying to get ahold of you."

I closed the door behind me, still confused. "Yeah, I've been... busy. What's going on?"

She walked toward me, her voice urgent. "I need to talk to you about Aunt Didi's birthday. You have to come, Miles. And you need to bring Maddie."

I sighed, feeling my frustration rise again. "Mom, we've been over this. Maddie and I broke up. I'm not dragging her to some family event."

"I know, I know!" she said, practically pleading now. "But I already told Aunt Didi you're still together. If she finds out I lied, she's going to be so angry with me. She's been asking to see Maddie for ages."

I couldn't believe we were doing this again. "Mom, that's not my problem. I already told you, you should've told her the truth."

She stepped closer, eyes wide and desperate. "Please, Miles. Just this one time. After that, you can hate me all you want and you can tell her you broke up. But you have to come. And Maddie has to be there."

I clenched my jaw, trying to hold back the frustration building up inside me. "This is ridiculous. I'm not going to lie for you."

"Miles, please," she begged, her hands clasped together like she was praying. "Aunt Didi will be so upset. You don't understand how important this is to her. And me if you don't show up."

I stood there for a long moment, torn between telling her no and just giving in to make this whole thing go away. Part of me wanted to walk out and forget this conversation ever happened, but the other part—the part that still wanted to keep the peace—was nagging at me.

Finally, I sighed heavily and ran a hand through my hair. "Fine."

Her face lit up instantly. "Thank you, Miles! You have no idea how much this means."

I nodded, but inside I felt a sinking feeling, knowing I was making a huge mistake. I was setting myself up for even more problems later. But right now, I just couldn't deal with her begging anymore.

"Yeah," I muttered, "I know exactly how much it means."

As she hugged me tightly, I stood there, feeling trapped in my own decision. This was going to come back to bite me, I knew it. But I had agreed, and now there was no turning back.

Bose POV:

It was around 6 PM when Chapa stretched out on the couch and mentioned she had dinner plans with Mika around 7 PM. She had already been a good sport, hanging out while I watched Blaise's sisters, so I didn't mind her slipping out soon. But before she left, we all played a few more games together. The girls were practically glued to the console, and Chapa even joined in for one round. Seeing her get competitive and laughing with everyone made me really happy.

She was sitting next to me on the floor, half focused on the game and half on her phone, probably texting Mika about their dinner. Just as we were finishing the last round, Remi suddenly blurted out, "Don't you want kids?"

I froze. Chapa was halfway through sending a text, but her fingers stopped moving. She turned to Remi, completely caught off guard. "Who? Me?" she asked, blinking rapidly. "No, no please, no."

She said it so casually, like it was the most obvious answer in the world, but I couldn't help feeling a bit... sad. I hadn't really thought about kids all that much before, but the idea of Chapa being so against it stung more than I expected. But what could I've expected?

The girls, especially Remi, looked surprised. "Why not?" Jennie chimed in, her face full of curiosity.

Chapa shrugged, leaning back against the couch. "Kids are just... not for me. It's all responsibility. You have to take care of them 24/7, make sure they grow up right, and all that. It's too much pressure."

"But you'd be a cool mom!" Lena piped up, almost offended by Chapa's response. "You're like, fun and stuff!"

Chapa smirked at that, but her answer didn't change. "Thanks, but trust me, it's not for me. I've got enough to deal with without adding kids into the mix."

The girls seemed genuinely disappointed. I could tell they had imagined Chapa being some kind of super mom, and it was hard for them to understand why anyone wouldn't want that.

Meanwhile, I sat there in silence, processing her words. I mean, I knew Chapa was more of a free spirit, someone who valued her independence, but hearing her outright reject the idea of kids made me think about our future in a way I hadn't before. I guess I always just assumed that we'd figure it out down the line. But now, hearing her say that, it felt like something more final.

The girls tried to change her mind, throwing out ideas like, "You could have the most awesome kids!" or "We'd help babysit!" But Chapa just laughed it off, shaking her head.

"I think I'll stick to my life without a mini-me, thanks," she said, leaning into the lighthearted vibe they were trying to create.

Still, the mood had shifted for me. I couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment settling in the pit of my stomach. I hadn't realized how much the thought of family—of a future with her—had meant to me until she shot it down like that.

As the girls eventually moved on, switching back to the game, Chapa must've noticed something off about me. She nudged me with her elbow. "You okay?" she asked, her voice low enough that only I could hear.

I forced a smile, trying to shrug it off. "Yeah, I'm good."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it, but she didn't press. I was grateful for that, at least. I wasn't ready to dive into that conversation. Not yet.

The clock kept ticking, and eventually, it was time for her to go meet Mika. She stood up, grabbed her jacket, and smiled at me. "I'll see you later, yeah?"

"Yeah," I nodded, smiling at her as she waved to the girls and headed for the door.

Once she was gone, I felt a strange emptiness fill the room. The girls were still chattering, but my mind was elsewhere, turning over her words again and again. It wasn't like Chapa was saying we had to decide now, but knowing how she felt made me think about things differently.

Mika POV:

I had just finished adjusting my earrings, giving my reflection one last look when the doorbell rang. A quick glance at my phone confirmed that it couldn't be Chapa—she and I had only decided an hour ago to grab dinner together. I wasn't expecting anyone else, so I headed to the door, a little curious.

When I opened it, there stood Andrew, leaning against the doorframe with that casual charm he always seemed to carry. His hair was slightly tousled like he'd just run his fingers through it. He looked up at me and smiled, but there was something playful in his eyes.

"Andrew?" I asked, tilting my head, genuinely surprised. "What are you doing here? I thought you had dinner with your mom and Lily tonight?"

He gave a little shrug, his smile faltering slightly. "Yeah, well, Lily got sick—fever and all that. So Mom's busy taking care of her."

"Oh no, is she okay?" I asked, a little concerned, but still wondering why he was here.

"She'll be fine. It's just a fever," Andrew said with a wave of his hand, downplaying it. Then he looked at me with a grin, "But, you know, when I realized my night was suddenly free, I thought maybe I could see you. Hang out, maybe."

I smiled politely but kept the door only halfway open. "That's sweet of you, but I actually have plans with Chapa tonight. We're grabbing dinner."

Andrew's grin faltered for a second, his eyes flicking down to my outfit, and then he recovered, leaning in slightly as if we were sharing some kind of inside joke. "Plans with Chapa, huh? You didn't have any when I last checked. Must've been a last-minute thing."

I nodded, feeling the awkwardness creep in. "Yeah, kind of. We just decided like, an hour ago."

Andrew let out a soft sigh, running a hand through his hair. "You always have plans, Mika. I mean, it's like every time I try to see you, something comes up. I thought maybe tonight..."

He let the sentence hang, giving me this look—half serious, half teasing. It was like he was disappointed, but trying to play it cool. And then, out of nowhere, he added, "You look... amazing, by the way."

I felt my face flush a little. "Thanks," I said, a little unsure where this was going.

He stepped in closer, that charm of his turned up just a notch, his voice softer, "Are you sure you can't cancel? I mean, we haven't hung out in forever. We could grab takeout or something, have a chill night here."

I shook my head, giving him a sympathetic smile. "Andrew, I can't just cancel on Chapa. We literally just made these plans."

He let out another sigh, this one more exaggerated, and took another small step toward me. I could feel the shift in his tone, the way his eyes lingered on mine, like he was trying to read my thoughts. "Come on, Mika, just this once. I really thought tonight we could finally hang out."

I frowned slightly, not sure if I liked where this was heading. "It's not like I'm avoiding you, Andrew. I just... have other stuff going on. You know that."

Andrew raised an eyebrow, leaning just a little closer, his hand lightly brushing against my arm. The touch was subtle, but enough to make me feel his presence. "Yeah, but it's always something. I miss us, Mika. Hanging out, laughing. You and me. You know I always know how to make your night fun."

I shifted my weight slightly, feeling a bit trapped between his charm and the doorframe. "I get that, Andrew, but I can't bail on her now. She's expecting me."

He looked at me for a long moment, his eyes soft but persistent. Andrew reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering just a little too long. "You always look so beautiful, especially when you go out," he said softly, his voice almost teasing. "Wouldn't it be nice to just stay in, relax with me? I'll make it fun, I promise."

I stepped back slightly, giving him a pointed look. "Andrew, I'm not canceling on her."

"How about this—you don't have to cancel. Let me come with you."

"What?" I blinked, taken aback by the suggestion.

"Yeah, I mean, why not? We all know each other. I could tag along, we could still have dinner, and I get to spend time with you." He smiled, clearly pleased with his idea, as if it was the most reasonable thing in the world.

I paused, thinking it over for half a second. I knew Chapa wasn't the biggest fan of Andrew—she found him kind of annoying, always pushing boundaries. And honestly, I couldn't imagine her wanting him at dinner tonight, especially since we hadn't made plans for this to be anything other than a simple catch-up.

"I don't think that's going to work, Andrew," I said gently, trying to soften the blow but still be firm.

He didn't drop the charm, though. He moved even closer, his hand brushing against my waist now, just a light touch as he smiled at me, that teasing look back in his eyes. "Come on, Mika. One dinner. I'll be on my best behavior. You won't even notice I'm there."

I could see how much he wanted to be part of my evening, and it tugged at me a little. "Fine," I finally said, exasperated. "You can come. But you better not make it weird."

His face lit up immediately, like a kid who just got what he wanted for Christmas. "I promise I won't! You won't even know I'm there."

Chapa POV:

I sat at the restaurant, tapping my fingers against the table while scrolling through my phone, waiting for Mika. My mind was only half on the screen, though—I was hungry and wondering what was taking her so long. But when I glanced up at the door, I nearly did a double take.

Mika walked in, smiling nervously, and... Andrew was trailing behind her.

You've got to be kidding me.

Mika approached the table, giving me an innocent look that was way too obvious. "Hey, Chapa," she said, sounding way too cheerful for the situation. "So, um... about this..."

Andrew grinned like nothing was wrong, waving at me. "Hey, Chapa."

I stared at them for a moment, trying to process. "What... is this?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at Andrew, then turning to Mika for an explanation. She knew how I felt about him—how he always had this weird habit of showing up when I least wanted him around.

Mika held her hands up immediately. "I'm sorry! I know, I know," she said quickly, cutting Andrew off before he could say anything. "He showed up at my place and kind of... begged to come along? I told him no, but he was just whining about how we never hang out anymore and, well..."

Andrew jumped in, laughing a little too casually. "I mean, she said I couldn't come, so naturally, I had to see if I could change her mind."

I rolled my eyes, letting out a dramatic sigh. "Of course you did." I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. "Alright, fine. You're here now. But at least tell me what the hell is going on with you two. I'm still curious."

Mika shot me an apologetic look but sat down, and Andrew slid into the seat next to her, clearly not fazed by my annoyance. I wasn't going to throw a fit about it, but I was definitely curious to hear the story, considering how he randomly showed up tonight.

Andrew chuckled and exchanged a glance with Mika, as if they were suddenly part of some inside joke. "Alright, alright. So, get this," he started, leaning forward a bit like he was about to share a secret. "I had dinner plans with my mom and Lily tonight, but then Lily got sick."

"Yeah, she's been running a fever," Mika chimed in, giving me a sympathetic look.

"So, since they were out, I figured I'd drop by and surprise Mika," Andrew continued. "You know, just be spontaneous."

Mika rolled her eyes but smiled. "He showed up at my door, looking all charming, thinking he could just waltz in because his night freed up."

I raised an eyebrow, feeling the frustration bubble up. "And you let him?"

She sighed. "I didn't! I told him I already had plans with you, but he kept pushing. Saying we never hang out and all that."

Andrew shrugged, unbothered. "I mean, I wasn't lying. It's been forever."

I shot him a look but stayed quiet. Mika continued, "I tried to tell him no, but he... kind of... wouldn't leave."

Andrew grinned again. "What can I say? I'm persistent. I figured, hey, why not hang out with both of you?"

I let out a soft groan, rubbing my temples. "Great. So, here we are. What a lovely dinner this'll be."

Mika gave me an apologetic smile. "I'm really sorry. I didn't want to cancel on you."

I sighed but waved her off. "Fine, whatever. At least now I get both of your stories. Spill."

Andrew started telling me about how he was thinking about Mika 24/7, laying it on thick with all his usual charm. Mika filled in the details, explaining how he basically made an excuse to meet her in the evening and then confessed. They went back and forth, sharing little bits about that moment, and I just sat there, half-listening, trying not to roll my eyes too much.

And then, right when I thought this awkward trio dinner might actually go somewhat smoothly, Andrew's phone rang.

He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and frowned. "I gotta take this," he muttered, getting up from the table. As soon as he answered, he switched into rapid Spanish, walking a few steps away.

I blinked, surprised. Mika looked just as confused. "Do you know he speaks Spanish?" I asked, tilting my head.

"Nope," She said, her eyes following Andrew as he paced by the entrance of the restaurant, talking into the phone. "That's new."

We exchanged a look, both of us a little intrigued, but also weirded out. I watched as he gestured a few times, sounding more serious than usual. There was something about his tone that made us a bit uneasy.

"What do you think that's about?" I asked, leaning in like we were trying to eavesdrop, but Andrew was too far for us to catch any of the conversation.

"I don't know," she muttered, watching him as he glanced back at us briefly before turning away again. "But it feels... off."

I nodded slowly. "Maybe it's work? Or family?"

"Maybe." She frowned, still watching him. But there was something about the way he was talking, the way his body language changed, that made us feel like there was more to this than just a casual phone call. Whatever it was, it wasn't anything like the charming Andrew that had just been sitting with us.

He finished the call and walked back over, shoving his phone into his pocket. His smile returned, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Everything alright? Spanish guy?" Mika asked, trying to sound casual.

"Yeah, uhm sorry," Andrew said quickly, and sitting back down after the call, his hand immediately reaching for Mika's arm as he noticed her concern. "Hey, it's fine," he said softly, trying to calm her down. "That was my aunt. My grandma passed away."

Mika's eyes widened, worry clear on her face. "Oh no, Andrew, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"

He gave a small shrug, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, don't worry. I didn't really know her. She lived in Spain, and we never got to meet, I mean we did, but I was only 2 years old."

Mika tilted her head in confusion. "Spain? Why was she living there?"

Andrew chuckled and raised an eyebrow, leaning in a little. "Wait, I've never told you? My dad was Spanish and I'm half Spanish."

Mika blinked in surprise, then broke into a laugh. "No way. How did that never come up?"

Andrew smirked, obviously enjoying her reaction. "I guess I like to keep some things mysterious. Can't give away all my secrets at once."

Mika shook her head, grinning. "That's crazy. I would've never guessed. I mean, you don't even have an accent."

Andrew leaned closer, lowering his voice as if it were a playful secret. "Well, I don't speak Spanish much unless I'm on the phone with family. I could try it out more if you want though. Might impress you."

Mika laughed again, clearly charmed, and Andrew's hand lingered on her arm, his fingers gently brushing against her wrist in a way that felt a little too intimate for my taste. Watching them share these little touches and laughs made me shift uncomfortably in my seat.

I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my growing annoyance. "You two want me to leave, or should I just sit here and watch this rom-com play out?"

Mika shot me an apologetic look, pulling her arm back from Andrew's hand but still smiling. "Sorry, Chapa. I know this is... unexpected."

"Unexpected? Yeah, sure, that's one word for it," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. "I didn't realize tonight was turning into date night."

Andrew glanced at me, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "Come on, Chapa. Don't be like that. It's just fun."

I gave him a flat look. "Fun for you, maybe."

Mika glanced between the two of us, clearly trying to diffuse the tension. "Okay, okay, let's get back to the real reason we're here—dinner." She turned back to Andrew, curiosity still written on her face. "But seriously, how come you never mentioned your Spanish side?"

Andrew shrugged, his tone playful. "I don't know. I guess I didn't think it mattered much. But now that it occurs to me that it does for you, I could teach you a few things in Spanish." He winked, and Mika laughed again, obviously enjoying the banter.

I, on the other hand, let out a sigh and picked up the menu. "Can we just order? I'd rather not be a third wheel to this whole Spanish lesson."

Mika shot me a knowing look but couldn't quite hide her smile. Andrew just chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Alright, alright. Let's get some food before Chapa kicks me out. I'll pay."