Mariposa - Chapter 3 TEASER
just finished the rough draft of chapter 3, which will be around 5k words 😍
I'm hoping to edit tomorrow and post it either Monday or Tuesday @ 8pm EST but in the meantime, here's a little unedited snippet 💜
Excerpt from Chapter 3
He seemingly comes to a realization as he asks you, “Wait, you don’t have a telephone at home?” His tone is genuinely curious and the simplicity of the conversation almost makes you chuckle.
“Um, no, I don’t - it’s broken,” you stammer, struggling to come up with a lie while he’s watching you so intently. His tongue absentmindedly swipes over his bottom lip, instantly calling your attention to his mouth.
Stop staring, you drag your eyes back to his only to find him staring at your lips as well and you suddenly wish you’d worn less layers today, your body growing feverish under his gaze.
The intensity in his eyes makes your heart race and your skin tingle as if he’s stroking you with the tip of a feather. That image alone has a small gasp getting caught in the back of your throat. Enough of this, Y/N. You force yourself to look away, heading straight for your desk without another word, hoping he'll let the moment - whatever it was - be forgotten.
But then you remember this is Javier you're talking about - the man probably doesn’t even know the definition of discreet.
“Do you like...dancing?” his question has you lifting your head in confusion. He’s joking, right? I mean, he hardly seems like the dancing type...if he’s asking what I think he’s asking.
Your curiosity gets the best of you and you find yourself indulging him, “Why do you ask?” Crossing your arms over your chest, you await his response, which is sure to be...interesting, to say the least.
~~~
Yeah, why do I ask? Javi thinks as you squint suspiciously at him, no doubt assuming the worst. And he can’t blame you, given his reputation.
Truthfully, he wasn’t planning on joining Steve and Connie tonight when Steve had invited him that morning...
“We need a fuckin’ break, man - we’ve been working nonstop and we’re no closer to Escobar than we were two weeks ago,” he releases a heavy sigh, dragging a hand down his face.
Javi simply nods in agreement, too exhausted to respond. He pulls out a cigarette and lights it while Steve continues, “Connie wants to get out of the apartment too, so I was thinking of taking her to that bar we went to a while back - the one with live music. You in?”
He slows to a stop as they near the embassy’s entrance, his eyes landing on a familiar figure a few yards away. She’s here early.
Your head is bent down, holding the telephone to your ear in a white-knuckled grip when your eyes land on his and he can’t help but notice the color in your cheeks, despite the strained look on your face.
Steve lightly smacks his arm, calling his attention back to him, “You got a thing for her, huh?” he asks, a knowing glint in his eye. Javi merely raises an eyebrow as he drops his cigarette on the ground, grinding it under his boot.
He rolls his eyes, “I’ll meet you inside, pendejo,” then looks back at you, Steve following suit and walking away with a stupid smirk on his face. Yeah, yeah, mind your own business, Javi thinks as he heads in your direction.
I do not have a thing for her. What is this - fucking high school?
But as Javi watches you patiently wait for him to answer your question, he can’t think of a good reason why he’s about to ask you to go dancing with him - well, with him, Steve, and Connie.
Too late to turn back now, though.