Ricky’s head tilted at her remark, the grin creeping back onto his face like she’d just handed him his favorite game to play. Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, Rick was great at games. Call him the game master. “Wowww, are you saying I’m not charming?” he asked, clutching a hand to his chest in mock offense. “That’s… harsh. Really harsh, Annie. Especially because if you ask around, people will tell you—like, without hesitation—that I can be extremely fun to be with.” He leaned closer, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he added, “But okay, sure, let’s go with that. IM the problem. I’ll embrace it. I am a problem. But every problem has a solution…” His grin widened, his voice dropping into a teasing whisper. “And maybe that solution… is you.” . There was something in his eyes, a sparkle - so to speak - as he let his green eyes look into hers. Was this one of his many moves? Oh for sure. He he got a penny for every time a girl said they could swim in his eyes; he’d be rich…er… richer than he already was.
After a second; he looked away (the annoyance apparent in her eyes but honestly he was true drunk to care). He took another lazy sip of his drink, tilting his head back just enough to let the alcohol burn his throat before continuing, “See? I’m charming. So I’m prettyyyy sure it wasn’t me scaring… uh… Lisa? away?” . Yeah he reallyyyyy didn’t remember that girl’s name anymore. Could anyoen blame him?
Her dry “Very original” didn’t even faze him; in fact, it only made him smirk wider. He gave her a little nod, taking her sarcasm at face value just to bother her. “Thanks.” The simple word was delivered with just enough mock sincerity to border on maddening.
When she launched into her Stockholm syndrome jab, he barked out a laugh, clutching the counter for balance as he nearly spilled his drink. “Wow, so you think I’m soooo unlovable,” he replied, letting the mock despair drip off every word. “Sure, I’d agree with that. But you know what? Who needs love, anyway? It’s overrated.” He took another drink, pausing to savor the burn before adding with a smirk, “As my grandpa used to say, ‘El amor dura poco, pero el sexo nunca se olvida.’” (“Love doesn’t last long, but sex is unforgettable.”). No he’s not kidding. His grandfather did sit him down and say these exact words. Was the man drunk? Yes. Was Ricky 8 and understand what sex was? Nope. But was the man right? Honestly, yeah.
But then he caught it—her eyes darting around the room, clearly looking for an escape. Oh, no. She wasn’t getting out of this that easily. He set his cup down, leaning forward slightly. “Aww, trying to get rid of me already? That’s cold, Annie. Especially because, let’s not forget, you’re the one who made my entertainment of the night leave. I mean, we kind of established it wasn’t me soooo it goes back to you. So, guess what? You’re it now.” He tapped her lightly on the arm, like they were playing some absurd game of tag.
Her defensive scoff didn’t go unnoticed either. Ricky grinned, leaning back as if he were observing some fascinating specimen. “I’m not defensive,” he repeated in a high-pitched imitation of her voice, complete with a theatrical wave of his hand. “She says… defensively.”
When she called out the empty bottle, he grinned and threw his hands up. “Guilty as charged,” he said, standing up a little too fast but catching his balance with surprising grace. “But see, I’m a man of many talents. Sit tight.”
Ricky scanned the kitchen like a man on a mission. He grabbed a bottle of vodka from the counter, then rummaged through a cabinet until he found a dusty bottle of Kahlua and a martini glass shoved in the back. He flung open the fridge door and triumphantly held up a carton of cold brew coffee like he’d struck gold. “Perfect.”
With a practiced flair, he started making a drink, throwing the vodka bottle in the air with a woosh… and yes… he also said the word “woosh!” , and raised his eyebrow at her as he catched it smoothly. The liquor poured into the shaker, followed by a dash of Kahlua, a splash of coffee, and a drizzle of simple syrup he found tucked away in a corner. He shook it with a little too much enthusiasm, the ice clinking loudly inside as he spun the shaker in his hands like a pro.
When he finally poured the drink into the martini glass, the creamy espresso martini settled perfectly, and he even garnished it with a sprinkle of cocoa powder he’d found in the spice cabinet. He slid it toward her with a proud grin. “I was a bartender in Barcelona last summer. See? I’m full of surprising facts. Like the fact that I can still do this drunk.” He tossed the shaker in the air one last time, catching it without missing a beat. “Anyways, I don’t know, you look like a girl to drink an expresso martini at a party where everyone else is drinking beer out of our favorite little red cups.” . With those words, he was already adding more vodka to his previously empty cup.
“Either way… There’s soooo much you don’t know about me, Annie. Get to know me. Come on. I can be pretty damn fun, you know.” He raised his own cup, clinking it to the martini class she had yet to pick up, the grin never leaving his face as he took a long sip, watching her reaction with unabashed amusement.
@novella come on fall in love with him already