The moment she received a message from Dylan stating that he was almost near her house, Laurice who has already washed and dressed up went immediately downstairs to welcome his arrival. Even she got a little excited to see her big 'brother' that she haven't seen for over five years.
Oh! How she missed those glorious days that she can play and make music with her bandmates where Dylan was the drummer while she being the female vocalist.
It has always been a therapeutic exercise for her when she sings. She even remembered performing on the streets of L.A. with her band and it was definitely the most memorable time they've had together before they eventually went on their separate paths. But it was no ordinary performance especially on her case, since she was painting and singing at the same time live with an audience. There wasn't even a makeshift stage, no backdrops, no nothing but she was elated the whole duration of their performance. That day was just too precious for her as she was able to marry both her love for music and visual arts.
If not for the band, she would not have had the courage to pursue her dreams. Dreams that ended soon and was tossed around the corner when her father left her side.
...
Laurice was already standing still in her front patio waiting for Dylan when she was suddenly pulled from her own musing, her jaw instantly dropped by the sight of the high-end car that had just entered. It did not made a sound from a distance but it seemed the driver was bragging right on her face when the vehicle made a screeching sound as it swiftly approached a corner and maneuvered around on top speed leaving tiremarks on her driveway.
She snickered.
'What a swank!'
...
Dylan finally made a fullstop on the roundabout driveway to Laurice's house and parked his sports sedan car. It was a new edition black raven Cadillac CTS-V. An imported vehicle that is only made available in the country thru a luxury-car importer trade and dealership company which is currently marked at over a hundred thousand u.s. dollars.
Laurice shook her head with a completely perplexed expression on her face as the flamboyant arrival of a certain bachelor filled her line of vision.
Suddenly, a pair of black leather boots alighted from the sedan car and there she saw the man wearing his usual haughty attitude on his body, hugging an iron-pressed white tee and a stretchy navy blue jeans.
Dylan lazily strode towards her with his arrogant face and was soon confidently standing right in front of her, hand on his waist as if allowing her to assess him from head to toe. She ultimately recognized his nice and neat hair, prominent square jaw, high cheekbones, sultry hazel eyes and thin lips curled to a cheeky grin. He was oozing with masculinity and a certain sexy charm that is unique of him. He wasn't a hunk but rather possesed the rugged boy-next-door type of demeanor.
He was good-looking alright.
However, his usual languid behavior has always been annoying for her. The man hadn't changed a bit.
"I won't bother asking for the market price, i'm more interested with how much you paid the customs to ship it." Laurice sneered.
Dylan laughed happily, he was expecting such reaction from her, making the woman more annoyed. Her face turned even uglier with his next statement.
"What? This is the most low profile car i have recently." He said a matter-of-factly.
"Low profile my a*s!" She scoffed.
"Hey darling, no swearing ok?" He said and laughed.
"Hmp! Did you bring what i requested?" She asked, ignoring his flashy and coquettish smile. She was totally immuned from his charms to the point that it irritates her instead.
Dylan seemed to have noticed an approaching figure behind her that his smile suddenly became even more flirtatious and said to her, "C'mon darling, is that how you welcome me after all these years we've been apart? Not even a hug from you? A kiss perhaps?"
He was now leaning towards her with his slightly puckered lips while Laurice was silently watching his silly behavior with an odd expression as if looking at an annoying drunken fellow.
The man is obviously putting on a show.
He wasn't this persistent with his jokes before.
It's not funny any more.
Laurice wanted to slap him awake but this was certainly their first meeting since the man moved back in the country to take over their family business.
She heaved a sigh and looked at the man before her with wide opened arms and was about to hug him around his waist when she suddenly felt a familiar cold aura from behind her.
Her body jolted.
She immediately retreated backwards and did not dare look at her back.
She can now see a distinct shadow that belonged to a particular man who did not bother making any sounds for them to acknowledge his presence at all.
She stood rooted to the ground in a confused state while Dylan did not left her gaze at all and out of the blue, he swept her body across his and wrapped his arms around her.
Laurice: " ... !!! "
'What the he*l?!'
"I missed you a lot Liz. Did you miss me too?" Dylan spoke rather softly in her ears.
'This man! Is surely putting on quite a show! I have a guest for goodness sake!'
Dylan was acting so weird it was creeping her out.
She was quite baffled with the situation that she was not able to react fast. She was about to push Dylan away when a firm grip abruptly withdraw her arms from Dylan's embrace and held her close to him.
Laurice who was now facing Sid instead was stunned and unconsciously looked up and was greeted by a pair of deep brown eyes that was so warm and intense her knees almost gave away. While the man's firm hands clutching her felt rather cold against her frail arm and small waist making her shiver a little. It was a beautiful contrast that's making her senses drift away ever so slowly.
She was in a daze for a minute when she suddenly realize that the man was actually nude from his waist up. Laurice gasped sharply. Her eyes flew wide open.
" ... !!! "
Sid was only wearing a towel that's enough to cover his manhood while showing a perfectly toned abs and biceps. But the thing that catches her attention the most was those rather light stubborn hairs on the man's chest. The man's physique was taking her breath away.
Sid was looking at Laurice intently and was rather satisfied with her reaction that made his face softened a tad bit. Then he turned towards the 'unwanted' visitor with a subtle mocking gaze and with a deep voice he said,
"She doesn't miss you."
Laurice: " ... ??!!! "
Dylan: " ... !!! "
Dylan who was equally stunned could not utter a word and could only gnash his teeth when he heard what the man has said. He shot a deathly glare towards him and at the woman who was blatantly ogling at the man as if she was mesmerized by his beauty. 'You mean body?!'
His hand balled into fist.
'Fu*k!'
Right there and then, he knew exactly that his plan had totally backfired.
Song Inspiration for today's chapter:
Halsey's 'Without Me'
...
Can you guess the living inspiration
for Dylan's character?
Eh. It's Adam Levine. Lol.