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Sure, she was an emotional mess inside, but at least she felt pretty.
“You look good, Mich.” Her eyes cut away from the road for a second, giving him a quick, sweeping, up-and-down glance. Just as he thought she was going to say “You too,” her gaze returned to the road and she said, “I know.”
“God, Michelle, I want you so fucking bad I can’t think straight.”
“This is why you ignored me?” she demanded, her voice breathy. “Because I’m too sexy and amazing?”
“We’re never going to move on until we get this out of the way.” And then she went up on tiptoe, leaning her body flush against his. Lowering her voice, she whispered in his ear, “Let’s fuck.”
And no, you probably shouldn’t sex me against the wall under my First Communion glamour shot.”
For years, Gabe had imagined this moment. Never in his wildest dreams would he have guessed it would go quite like this. Shit, it wasn’t even seven in the morning.
If she wanted him on his knees, all she had to do was ask. He’d never been able to deny her anything.
“Because I would’ve come back for you.”
“Gabriel Aguilar, do you mean to tell me we’re both bi?” He grinned. “Looks that way.”
“A smile is your best customer service skill,”
Dropping down to the mat, Gabe caught Michelle around the waist and flipped her onto her back. She let out a peal of laughter, but made no move to push him away. Gabe braced himself above her, doing push-ups that brought his mouth an inch away from hers. On the third one, Michelle lifted her chin and kissed him.
“I have always thought you were beautiful. Now even more so. You take my breath away, Mich.”
Don’t worry, Gabe. I’ll remember our backstory for us.
When she met Gabe in the living room, he did a double take. “Never mind,” he said. “I think we should just stay here. In bed.”
“God, that ass,” Gabe muttered behind her, and she let out a surprised laugh.
“I need you, Mich.” His voice was raw with longing, and all she could do was close the distance between them.
“Why does it feel like this?” He cupped her cheeks and peered into her eyes. “Like what?” “Like I’m going to fall apart if you don’t touch me?”
“Gabriel,” she whispered. “I’ve got you.”
His hands slowed, fingers slipping one button loose at a time, gradually revealing his defined abs. “Ooh yeah, baby, take it off,” Michelle cooed in a sultry voice once he’d reached the last button and pulled the shirt from the waistband of his pants. “I would give you all my dollar bills, if I had any.”
“Why is everything ten times better with you?” he said softly, lifting a hand to brush her hair back from her temple.
“You know, I used to fall asleep narrating emails to you in my head,” he confessed.
“It was awful, Mich. I couldn’t decide between the condom brands’ core values, and then suddenly my dad was right there.”
“I don’t think I can ever have sex again after that conversation,” Gabe mumbled. Then he gave Michelle’s boobs a sidelong look. “Never mind. I take that back. Somehow I’ll find the fortitude.”
But when Gabe put one strong, solid hand on her waist and pulled her close, everything else fell away. It was just the two of them and the music.
“Did you buy this yesterday?” he asked, because let me worship you seemed like too much.
He almost added, I love you in anything or nothing at all, but held his tongue.
“However long it takes, your pleasure is worth it. Anyone who’s made you feel like it wasn’t . . .” He worked to get the anger out of his voice, because he wasn’t angry at her. “I’m just sorry anyone ever made you feel that way.”
“Don’t worry, Mich,” he murmured. “I’ll make your fantasy come true.”
“A burden shared is a burden halved,”
One meeting led to another, which led to a never-ending stream of emails. He was behind on his inbox after not checking it much over the last three days, and when he opened it that morning, he wanted to cry.
Mood
Michelle’s honey-colored eyes were dazed and dreamy. She blinked slowly and licked her lower lip. “What was that for?” What could he say to that? For being incredible. For seeing me and my vision clearly. For caring about my gym. For caring about me.
“Everything okay, Michie?” her dad asked. She sighed. Her dad was far more perceptive than he let on. “No, Daddy. But it will be.” He gave her a big hug and kissed the top of her head. “Let me know if you want me to . . .” “Dad, don’t be a stereotype,” she warned. “What? I was gonna say, let me know if you want me to leave bad Yelp reviews for his gym.”
Part of me will always be waiting for you.
His gaze shifted to hers, and she saw love there, but also fear. “Is it too late, Mich?” She swallowed, glancing down at the new collage. Part of me will always be waiting for you. Did he even need to ask? “Too late for what?” After the way he’d left, she wouldn’t make this easy on him. Even though the story he’d sent had broken her heart and put it back together all over again. He set the papers aside and took her hands in his. “For me to love you,” he said softly. “I feel like I’ve been waiting forever to tell you that I—” “I love you,” she blurted out, then grinned at his look of surprise.
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“I love you,” she whispered. He lifted his head and kissed her softly. “I’ve always loved you.” She smiled. “I know.”
Most of all, home was wherever Michelle was. And right now she was here, holding his hand. Gabe raised their joined hands to his mouth and kissed her fingers. He was home.
