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Come to think of it, it’s a bit abnormal that they’ve never met in a grocery store before. Given that they’ve lived in the same city for years. Well, she can only assume he’s lived here for a while, being a crime king and whatnot. He had to claim it in some way, mark his territory.
And she knows he grocery shops. He has to. Well, if he wants to eat, he has to. But still, that doesn’t make it any less odd to run into him here. Doing something as casual as grocery shopping. Well, she hasn’t run into him yet. But she’s going to.
She decides to roll her cart up to him and annoy him a little. Tease him about… something she can’t put her finger on right now but it has to do with him being conventional.
Her brain doesn’t come up with a quip fast enough apparently. He hadn’t turned around, hadn’t even glanced her way but as she sides next to him he says,
“Aren’t you afraid of people seeing us together?”
Leaving her gaping and disappointed that she can never be the one to surprise him.
Ever since she became councilwoman, she’s worked with him in the shadows. She can’t afford to be seen with him and go down the way his brousin did. She’s been telling him for months that he shouldn’t call her office or drop by or park in front of the building. And that he should probably park further away from her house too. The more she insisted on it, the funnier it became for him to try and get them caught. Calling her office pretending to be some maintenance guy, waiting for her outside her house because he “didn’t park his car upfront, did he?”.
“Nothing wrong with shopping in the same place for vegetables. It’s coincidental,” she points out.
“You’re talking to me, that’s not coincidental.”
His eyes flick down at her and she rolls her tongue inside her mouth. He always had to be right, didn’t he? She quickly scans the room, checking if anybody’s spying, or has noticed them, but it’s Saturday, and people are busy trying to get it all done so they can have the rest of the day to themselves.
“What are you doing here? Not really your neighborhood.”
She looks down at his cart and there’s barely anything in it; a toothbrush, a deodorant, beers. And now he was standing in front of the canned food and hadn’t moved or taken anything since she’d come up to him.
“Yeah, it was just on the way.”
Beth starts filling up her cart so the both of them don’t look suspicious, standing there, unmoving. She came here to buy some things, not to chitchat. But the more he tried hiding his reason for coming here, the more she couldn’t help but ask him more questions.
“Where are you going?”
He smirks, turning to look at her grabbing cans on the shelves. “‘s personal baby.”
She wants to take a can of peeled tomatoes but it’s on the highest shelf and she can’t reach it.
“You don’t wanna tell me?” she asks as she jumps for the can unsuccessfully.
Rio joins her, pressing his chest into her shoulder, and easily reaches for the can. As he puts it in her cart his mouth grazes the side of her face and he whispers,
“I think it’s best if you don’t know.” He stands in front of her and adds, “you shouldn’t be asking Ms. Councilwoman.”
Beth swallows. Leaning away from him so she isn’t staring at his lips, and properly looks at him in the eye when she answers.
“Oh, so you’re keeping secrets to protect me?” her voice breaks a little, even with how hard she’s trying to stay unaffected.
He tilts his head, pouting.
“Would that be so terrible?”
Beth’s chest warms up but she knows better. With a raised eyebrow, she quips back, “unbelievable comes to mind.”
Rio smiles, his gleaming eyes diving into hers. She thinks she’s smiling too, that she may even have pressed herself a bit closer, but it’s all cut short by a loud gunshot.
“Everybody on the ground!”
Beth’s head falls and Rio sighs.
“I thought that was your grocery store?” Beth says.
Rio jerks his head in front of him as the robber passes their aisle
“Yeah, well, take a good look at him.”
Upon seeing them still standing, the robber walks into their aisle and waves his gun at them.
“ON THE FUCKING GROUND I SAID!”
Beth rolls her eyes and does as instructed, Rio following. But instead of lying on the floor, they wait for the robber to be out of sight so they can sit next to each other leaned against the shelf.
From a distance, people eye them with fear but no one tells them to lie down.
Beth huffs.
“Figured this would be the one day I’m trapped in a grocery store,” she grunts.
“Got plans?”
“You don’t?” Beth asks rhetorically, voice going up with frustration.
Rio points at the door at the end of the aisle.
“Wanna make a run for it?”
Beth follows his gaze and hesitates. Then she sighs, going limp against the shelf.
“No, I can’t. I’m a Councilwoman, I can’t just leave these people here. People will talk.”
She takes out her phone to send a text.
“Kids waiting for you?”
“No, I’m texting the Police Chief .”
Then suddenly Rio stands up.
“Yep, gotta go.”
Beth looks up at him, as does everybody else.
“Wait, what?” Beth gapes at him.
“Can’t be here when they come.”
“So you’re gonna leave me here?”
Rio rolls his eyes.
“You’ll be fine, mami, just talk him out of it.”
Beth frowns. “I’m not worried, I’m just gonna get bored. Can’t you stay until they arrive?”
He taps his fingers on his jeans, deciding. If he stays with her, there’s a chance he can go through with his initial plan.
He sighs and acts annoyed, as if he was doing her a favor even though he knows it can be fun. And he might get something out of it.
He sits back next to her, nestling closer than needed.
“You owe me.”
Beth stays silent to that. She waits for him to stop wiggling and her eyes fall to his hands, and what’s in them.
“The police already know your face, what don’t you want them to find out? That you buy extra scented deodorant?”
Rio doesn’t answer. They both know why he can’t be seen by them, why he has to avoid them at every chance he gets. But it’s fun to tease him about it. Once.
“Your birth name?” she adds, a mischievous smile playing at the corner of her lips.
Rio scoffs at that, head falling forward.
“Yeah,” he murmurs, challenging her gaze with the same smile on his lips.
They wait like this for a couple of minutes while the robber apparently still tries to get everybody on the floor. Rio, as could be expected, sits stoically. There’s probably a ton of internal monologue going on but she isn’t part of it and unlike him, she gets bored easily.
“So, how does it feel?” she asks.
“What?”
“To be on the other side.”
They’re so unbothered they’re not particularly discreet with their chitchatting, not that anyone can hear them, but not that they’re whispering either. Except when Rio leans closer to murmur, “I could ask you the same thing.”
It sends a shiver coursing through her. She glances around the room.
“It’s pretty boring.”
Rio huffs a laugh. “Probably because this guy sucks at this.”
Beth nods. “Yeah… He looks like he’s in a bit of trouble. Maybe you should give him a hand,” she suggests in false seriousness.
Rio laughs as quietly as he can.
“Teach him your ways.”
He sniffs. “No thank you. I don't wanna be associated with that.”
Beth shifts, leaning her shoulder against the shelf so she can look at him.
“Yeah? What would you have done differently?”
Rio takes a big breath as if there were so many things wrong with this robbery he doesn’t even know where to start. He turns his head toward hers, leaning its side against the shelf.
“Well, first of all, I wouldn't have done it on a Saturday, way too much crowd to handle.” He opens his palm in front of him, showing all the people on the floor in the aisle.
They hear “ON THE GROUND” at the other end of the store and Rio nods, the robber proving his point.
“And also, I wouldn't have done it alone.”
Beth frowns and looks around.
“How'd you know he's alone?”
“Well, do you see anyone else?”
“Maybe he's got someone on the inside,” she hypothesizes, looking up at him with big eyes.
They wait for a beat, trying to hear what the robber is saying now. “WHERE’S THE MANAGER? OPEN THE FUCKING REGISTER.”
Beth bites her lips. This is embarrassing. This guy is definitely alone. And failing miserably.
“Doesn’t sound so,” Rio comments. “Having someone on the inside is your line of expertise, maybe you should be the one helping him.”
Beth grins. “No, thank you.” Rio just stares at her with a sly smile so she adds, “And I don’t do that anymore.” She turns away from him.
“Too bad.”
She shrugs.
“You were good at it,” he finishes.
She bites the inside of her mouth to stop herself from smiling but she can’t avoid the warm feeling in her chest. She can’t help it. She likes it when he compliments her. Even if it’s about something illegal. Mostly when it’s about something illegal.
She’s avoiding his gaze but he hasn’t moved, he’s still staring at her, his face is still turned her way, he’s still breathing down on her cheek, close enough so no one hears them when they speak. And he closes the gap even further, practically murmuring directly in her ear.
“You looked good doin’ it too.”
She barely shifts and finds herself facing his lips, eyes lowering on their own accord.
“NO PHONES.”
Beth wets her lips. “He’s coming back.”
“Let’s move, I don’t wanna lie on the floor with this jacket.”
Beth scoffs but lets herself be pulled up when he takes her hand. They hide behind the side of the aisle while the guy strides across the store and waves his gun in these poor people’s faces. When he’s passed their aisle, Rio takes her closer to the back exit but there’s a padlock on it.
“Well, he’s done one thing right,” Rio sighs.
“Just- wait until the police are here then it will be a mess and you can just shoot the thing open.”
Rio agrees so Beth drags him by their still entangled hands to the closest aisle and sits them down next to one another.
When she becomes aware of their physical connection she drops his hands but Rio makes sure their bodies are still touching, even if it’s just by the tip of their knees, or feet.
They wait again, Beth checking her phone for news from the Chief, Rio looking around at the fewer people next to them.
“So what kinda plans’d you have?”
“What?” Beth turns to Rio.
“You said today wasn’t a good day to be trapped in a grocery store.”
Beth chuckles. “Is there such a day?”
“Was it a date?” Rio insists, stretching one leg down.
She clocks his wet lips, smiling and it puts her in a teasing mood.
She shifts toward him, bending a knee under her and placing her hand on his thigh for support.
“Why? Would you be jealous?”
Rio glances down at her hand then plunges his gaze back into hers.
“Maybe.”
Sirens echo outside of the store and Beth’s phone buzzes.
“Sounds like it’s time for you to go,” she suggests but none of them moves.
“It does,” Rio rumbles.
They stare at each other for a few more seconds, lips inching closer and closer. They hear cars pulling up and a megaphone being plugged in but it’s all a haze.
They have to come to their senses when the robber starts shooting in the air, agitating the crowd inside, as well as outside. It’s the best time for Rio to leave.
Rio’s head falls forward and he exhales loudly. “‘kay.” He pulls away, hand slipping out of her inner thigh, and then gets up. “See you outside, councilwoman.”
She smiles at him and Rio leaves her field of vision. She frowns, wondering why he isn’t shooting the padlock and escaping as they planned. A few seconds later, he’s back with his deodorant, toothbrush, and beers in hand. This time, he does shoot the padlock and gives her one last wink before leaving. A few courageous people follow behind him.
Since they were both right and the robber had no idea what he was doing, it doesn’t take long for the police to cuff him and get everyone out without any casualty.
Beth reports to the Chief of Police and eludes most of the journalists’ questions. She’ll make a proper statement when she has all the facts. Overcrowded, Beth tries to look above for a sign of Rio. He’s probably left by now but she still tries.
She finally makes her way out of the cluster and reaches her car, eager to reclaim the rest of her day.
She jumps when Rio shows up from behind her car.
“You’re still here?”
He walks up to her and in turn crowds her but it doesn’t feel as claustrophobic as earlier, definitely doesn’t feel as uncomfortable, surely feels arousing.
He pushes her hair back, pressing his chest into hers.
“Nah.”
She tilts her head.
“Why?” she asks in faux naivety.
“‘Cause I got a feelin’ you’re gonna invite me over,” he says, stepping between her legs.
Beth inhales deeply, heat already pooling between her thighs.
“Hm, interesting.” She wets her lips, then bites the bottom one, teasing him. With one finger, she traces a line from his shoulder to his chest. “But I don’t think so.”
“Oh yeah?” Rio presses harder, making her feel him against her crotch, his hands gripping the soft flesh of her waist.
A mischievous smile plays on Beth’s lips. She looks up at him with big eyes, pupils blown up.
“I have a feeling we should get into our respective cars and drive to your place though.”
Rio hums appreciatively. His legs move subtly, creating friction between their groins.
“Can't afford to have the paps taking pictures of me in your bedroom," he teases. Then he takes a breath and says, "Thought you’d prefer to have your things for your night routine.”
Beth’s brows shoot up.
“‘Cause you thought I’d let you stay the night?”
Rio waits for a beat before answering in all seriousness, “I would.”
Beth is taken somewhat aback. She simply wouldn’t have thought of it. But now that it’s been said, now that she thinks about it. It doesn’t sound so bad. She’s even disappointed it’s never happened before. The simple thought of it relaxes her in Rio’s arms. She’d love to make love with him knowing there’s nothing to rush back to. Laying in the sheets, his big strong hands holding her, stroking her skin. She’d get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, then come back to the bedroom, to him. And when she’d open the covers he’d instinctively reach out for her, pull her in and nuzzle himself in her neck. And she’d have the best night she’s had in years. Her naked body nestled against his naked body, all warm and cozy. Yeah. That doesn’t sound so bad.
“Good thing you bought a toothbrush the-”
Then she sees it on his face, and she understands.
“That was your plan all along wasn’t it?”
He chuckles softly. Something in his reaction tells her he wasn’t entirely sure this would work. But it did. And she can’t stop the smile appearing on her face. His eyes roam over her features quickly, and, once again, with one finger he gently pushes her hair behind her shoulder.
He steps away and her arms fall between them. He catches her by the pinky finger and gives it a squeeze.
“Follow my lead?”
She knows where he lives. He knows she knows. And with a simple quirk of her eyebrow he understands he'd better take the lead if he doesn't want her to get there first.