Chapter 12 The seat belt trick

“You are my favorite distraction.” -Unknown

Dexter POV

“It’s time to go, sweet pie,” I spoke as I noticed that we had spent few hours here. The golden globe in the sky was scorching from above and it seems to send fire to the ground.

 “Ok, daddy.”

“Let’s help Elsie clean up first, shall we?”

“No problem, daddy.” She showing me the ‘okay’ signs with her little finger. I chuckle at her cute gesture.

We gathered all the leftover food and placed it into the basket and folded the mat and headed to the car.

“Daddy, Elsie, ice-cream!” She suddenly screamed out of joy when she saw an ice-cream truck nearby the exit gate. She pointed to the ruck and jumped due to the excitement.

“You want some?” I asked her which I already knew the answer. She nodded with expectation, a big smile curved on her face. I handed the car’s key to Elsie and asked them to wait in the car while I went to the truck to get some ice-cream.

“Strawberry, her favorite,” I muttered to myself.  I get two strawberry flavors for both of them while I’m buying mint flavor for myself.

“Here you go.” I passed them the ice-creams who was now seated at the passenger seat. I moved to the driver seat and my mind suddenly thinking about something naughty.

“Love, can you please help me to buckle the seat belt?” I said to her showing her the ice-cream cone that I was holding in my hand.

“Huh?” I peaked at her through the front mirror and I saw her eyebrows knitted. Probably, she found my request was absurd.

“Let me help you holding the ice-cream,” she said refusing my order.

“No, just help me with the seat belt. I don’t want to make it dirty.” I said which left her no choice. I’m not going to accept any refusal from her. I loved it when she listened to my order without objection. It made me felt satisfied and powerful.

“Princess, can you hold this for me, please?” She handed the ice-cream cone to Andrea who was now licking the ice-cream. She just nodded without saying anything, the ice-cream occupied her whole attention.

She moved herself to the middle of the passenger seat and tilted her head to the front tried to figure out how to help me.

“How?” I’m not sure if she was asking me or mumbled to herself that question. I suddenly found her face cute with that expression. I wanted to laugh but I suppressed it, shield it with my serious face.

“Move your body a bit here and help me to pull the seat belt.” I twirled my head to my right. I didn't show any emotion to her.

Just like what I instructed, she moved her upper body closer to my side and tried to reach the belt. I could smell her perfume in the close distance. I slightly sniffed on it without her realizing it. I was intrigued by the cranberry rose smell.

I saw she struggled for a while, avoiding any skin contact with me like I’m having some skin disease. “Move yourself closer,” I whispered to her which her head was basically near my chest. She turned and look at me until I noticed that our faces were mere inches from each other. It felt like the time was been paused and everything stopped moving around us.

“Elsie, faster. The ice-cream is melting,” Andrea’s voice brought us back to reality. Ah, the little intruder. My conscience scolded her.

She cleared her throat with the awkwardness and quickly raised her hand further and finally reached the seat belt. She buckled it and returned to her seat, like a bat out of hell.

We finished our ice-cream with Andrea’s chatty voice in the car. I smiled thinking about what happened earlier. I must be out of my mind for acting weird.

Like a psycho man!

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