Before You Replied

“Despite what had happened here years ago, it still held a vital space in my heart."

"You're going to do great. Just remember to be assertive and confident. And don't slouch, it's not attractive."

I gave Mum a nod and a quick smile before grabbing my bag, getting out of the car. The eye roll I was fighting was a losing battle and came the second I closed the car door.

She meant well but she was being ridiculous. My parents, being who they were, believed in independence and made sure my little brother and I could do pretty much everything by the time we were 15, even if we didn't have to.

So when summer came around before my senior year, guess who got their final lesson in their independence series?

Me - apparently my brother, Tobi, was exempt for the summer.

It ended with me getting a summer job at their own restaurant no less. Talk about nepotism.

Not that I minded it too much in this case. I understood that everything they taught us was because they didn't want us to go through what they went through as kids. Plus, they liked to give the illusion of total independence, while still letting us know that they always had our backs.

I entered the restaurant and went towards the offices to find my dad's manager, Angel. She was the sweetest woman ever - always sneaking me tres leches, arroz con leche or flan growing up. I'd known her my whole life; she basically felt like one of my aunties at this point.

"Digi!" Angel opened the door right as I was about to knock, then she pulled me in for a squeeze like she always did. "How are you, cariño? Ready for your interview?"

I laughed, wrapping my arms around her and hugging her back. "Yes, though I'm pretty sure mum would say this is unprofessional." I pulled back, raising an eyebrow at her. "Hugging your potential future boss?"

Angel waved a hand in front of her face like she was swatting away a fly, which made me laugh even harder. "I don't believe in that nonsense - besides, it's you. Now come in, let's get started."

I straightened and entered her office, doing my best to show I was taking this seriously. We sat, and I handed her my resume before we went through the motions. It went pretty similar to how my parents' mock interview was - asking me about my experience and why I wanted the job, what I could add to the team etc.

After she was done, she dropped her professional mask and walked around the desk with a box of churros that I swear she pulled from thin air, then gave me another hug.

"You did amazing, mi amor. I'm so proud of you," she praised, swaying me from side to side.

"So I got the job?" I was the type to always need confirmation of things, even when it was clear sometimes.

"Of course. Your parents wanted you to just have some interview experience. You were always going to get the job.”

I shook my head at that. I seriously didn't get why they wouldn't just let me interview for a job somewhere else. Ever the protectors.

"Thanks for placating them, Angel."

She laughed at that, then went back to her desk, scribbling down a number on a piece of paper. "Of course. Send Max a text about your schedule." She placed the paper on top of the box of churros and handed them over to me.

"Will do. And I'm pretty sure no one else gets desserts after an interview?" Not that I was going to refuse them. They smelled amazing. It was like she always knew what I was craving.

"I'll have you know that they do. I'm a generous boss," she huffed, pouting a little as if I had offended her. I chuckled and pressed a kiss to her cheek in thanks, letting her know I'd see her soon before leaving the restaurant.

Cedar & Coal was an Afro- fusion fine dining restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating lined with cedar plants and mini fire pits. Dad went all out when he designed this place, with mum adding her touches here and there to make it feel more homey. The ambiance screamed elegance with a nod to African textiles. I would have felt uncomfortable in my jeans and T-shirt if I wasn't used to being dressed down here.

My favourite part about the restaurant, though, was the location. The beach was a five-minute walk away and the perfect place to eat the snacks Angel always gave me. I strolled down the sidewalk, taking my shoes off before I stepped onto the sand and headed towards the place I always sat. Not too close to the sea but not too far either.

After living here my whole life, I knew this stretch of beach like the back of my hand. Despite what had happened here years ago, it still held a vital space in my heart.

It was one of the lesser-visited destinations. Only frequented by surfers and other readers.

I lay back after putting on some sunscreen and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon sun, reading the book Amaya recommended to me as I munched on Angel's churros. After that, I started working on the solo for the song that we were going to sing in the choir competition before the start of school, running through the riffs.

As the sun started to set, I finally decided on the key I was most comfortable to singing it in, when my phone pinged with a new text message.

Authors note:

There you go guys the first chapter. What do you think? Digi is gonna mess up in the next chapter, buckle up.

Next chapter will be out tomorrow, then I'll be posting on Tuesdays and Fridays, but, in the mean time you can learn more about these two on my insta darasstories. Thank you guys again for reading and remember to leave me comments and questions ok. I want to hear your thoughts and please vote ⭐️.

And remember if you guys want a playlist to vibe to as you read let me know?

With all my love and more,

Dara x