RED NOTES AND KISSES-Chapter 37: FRIDA -

As the jet touched down in Vegas, Frida’s nerves were a tangled mess.

She hadn’t been able to sleep a wink on the flight, her mind racing with anticipation and anxiety.

When she stepped off the plane, the intense heat hit her like a slap in the face, the wind carrying the distinct aroma of the desert and city life.

Vegas was alive, a place that seemed to hum with energy even as the sun began to set.

A sleek black Lexus pulled up to the tarmac, its paint gleaming under the lights of the private runway.

The driver’s side door opened, and a man stepped out. He was of average height, with messy, dirty blonde hair and a grin that made him look perpetually mischievous.

"Leo?!" Frida exclaimed, her eyes narrowing in disbelief.

Leo. Laz’s stepbrother. Of course.

"Hey, your mom told me to come get you," Leo said, pulling her into a warm, slightly awkward hug.

Another man emerged from the passenger side, his tall frame striking against the fading light. He had sharp black hair that framed his angular face, and he moved with an effortless confidence.

"Long time no see, Frida," Leo added, stepping back as if this was just another casual family errand.

Frida offered a polite smile. "You too, Leo."

Leo turned to his companion, gesturing casually. "Oh, and this is my boyfriend, Danny. Danny, this is Frida aka Dreamy, Laz’s girl." He smirked as he said it, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm.

Danny leaned into Leo, resting his head briefly on his shoulder as they exchanged soft whispers that Frida couldn’t quite catch.

Their unspoken bond was evident, a mix of love and effortless teasing.

Frida’s cheeks flushed red, the heat in her face rivaling the Vegas air.

"Nice to meet you, Frida," Danny said, his voice smooth and kind.

He was dressed impeccably in loose-fitting pants, a stylish sweater, boots, and dark sunglasses that gave him an air of quiet sophistication.

He looked worlds apart from Leo, who wore a jersey and shorts like he was heading to a casual barbecue.

Frida returned his smile, her voice steady despite her embarrassment. "Nice to meet you too. And no, I’m not Laz’s girl, Leo’s just an idiot."

"Right!" Leo drawled, the smirk on his face widening. He held the car door open with a dramatic flourish. "Get in the car, Dreamy."

Rolling her eyes, Frida climbed into the backseat, watching as Leo effortlessly tossed her bags into the trunk.

The drive through Vegas was anything but peaceful. Leo’s mouth ran like a motor as he regaled Danny with stories, his voice rising above the city’s bustling sounds.

"And that’s how Mother cut Danny and me short on our Paris vacation so we could come home for Thanksgiving," Leo said with mock indignation, gesturing wildly.

Frida leaned her head back against the seat, rubbing her temples, though she couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips.

Danny, ever patient, leaned over to kiss Leo on the cheek, his hand gently stroking Leo’s hair.

"Yeah, right," she muttered, though her tone carried more amusement than annoyance.

Leo suddenly turned to her, his tone shifting as he attempted to sound interested. "So, how’s medical school, Frida?"

"It’s alright, I guess," she replied, her gaze fixed on the vibrant evening streets outside. Neon signs flashed, and people bustled along the sidewalks. "Not as hard as I thought it would be."

"Still a virgin, I guess," Leo said, arching a brow at her with a side-eye so bold it was almost comical.

Frida’s scoff was immediate. "You all need to stop gossiping with my mom! Lord, can’t I have any privacy?"

Danny gave her an amused glance, his dark eyes appraising her. "Like seriously?"

"I swear, I think she’s planning to become a nun or something," Leo quipped, laughing so loudly it echoed in the car.

Frida rolled her eyes and gave up trying to argue.

"Oh, shut up, Leo. You’re disturbing the poor girl," Danny said, pinching Leo’s arm hard enough to make him yelp. "Don’t mind him, Frida."

She didn’t. She’d long since accepted that this was just how Leo operated.

The virgin joke, after all, was her own fault. When she was fourteen, she’d been a self-declared feminist rebel, loudly proclaiming that no boy would ever touch her because "all boys are evil."

Leo had taken that nugget of information and turned it into a running gag that he now shared gleefully with Danny.

"Still such a kid, Leo," she muttered, desperate to change the subject. "Anyway, is that your family’s new jet?"

"Yeah, Mother sent it for you," Leo replied with a casual shrug.

Frida bit her lip, a pang of disappointment flickering through her.

When they finally arrived at the mansion, she couldn’t believe her eyes.

Back when she and Laz had been friends in New York, she was sure they had been a family just a bit above middle class.

They lived comfortably, maybe a little more than comfortably, but their wealth had always seemed reasonable. Modest even.

But this...this was staggering.

The estate loomed before her, a sprawling masterpiece of modern architecture.

Towering gates opened to reveal a driveway that wound through manicured gardens and led to a mansion stretched endlessly, with pristine white walls, towering glass windows, and perfectly manicured lawns.

A cascading fountain in the shape of a golden phoenix adorned the driveway, and the marble steps leading to the entrance glistened like pearls under the evening lights.

As they passed through the gates, the housekeeper appeared to take her bags.

Frida followed Leo and Danny to the grand front door, still trying to process the sheer scale of the place.

The door opened, and suddenly, her mom and Laurel were there.

"Hi," Frida croaked awkwardly, her voice barely above a whisper.

In an instant, they screamed like teenagers at a concert, pulling her into a suffocating hug.

"OMG, Dreamy! My little princess! My baby!" Laurel gushed, her arms tightening around Frida like a vice.

"Mom, stop!" Frida protested, squirming for air.

"I’m so happy to see you," Laurel said, wiping away a tear. "You’ve grown into such a pretty young woman. I still remember you in those cute Hello Kitty onesies!"

Frida winced as Leo and Danny chuckled their way into the house. Laurel, oblivious, continued to chatter, tugging Frida inside.

Her mom clung to her arm, leaning in to whisper, "Did you like the jet?"

"Mom, did you send their family jet to come get me?" Frida asked quietly, her brow furrowing.

Her mom’s eyes widened. "Oh no, the family jet is with Laz’s dad in Italy."

Frida blinked, the confusion settling in. "But I just came in one. So... they have two?"

Her mom shook her head, her lips curving into a sly smile. "Not really."

"Then whose jet did I come in?" Frida asked, feeling a strange mix of curiosity and unease.

Her mother’s smile deepened, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I wonder who?"