“You’re not okay,” he whispered, his breath caressing my skin.
A wave of tension rippled through me as our eyes met. His palms still held my chin, and it affected me in ways I cannot put into words.
Antonio’s eyes seemed to bore into my soul, seeing the pain and grief that I tried to keep hidden.
And then his hand moved, slowly… he reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch sent shivers down my spine, but it was a gentle, comforting touch, not a threatening one.
“Kendra,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “I can see the pain in your eyes. What’s going on?”
I struggled to find my voice, but the words caught in my chest, refusing to come out. Antonio’s eyes never left mine, his gaze steady. And then he pulled me into a hug.
Antonio’s arms wrapped around me, holding me close as he pulled me into his chest. I felt his warmth, his solidity, and for a moment, I let myself surrender to the comfort he offered.
His arms were strong, yet gentle. I felt my body relax, my tension easing as he held me. As I breathed in, I caught the scent of his cologne, a subtle, masculine aroma that filled my senses.
I felt my heart slow, my breathing deepen, as I let Antonio’s warmth seep into my bones. It was as if he was absorbing my pain, taking it from me and holding it in his own body.
I didn’t think about how close we were, about how our bodies were pressed together. I didn’t think about the flutter in my chest or the way my skin seemed to hum with awareness. All I knew was that I felt safe, that I was exactly where I needed to be...
In Antonio’s arms.
Antonio’s arms wrapped around me like a lifeline, grounding me in the present. For a brief moment, I let myself forget the pain, the grief, the endless days of waking up to an empty bed, an empty life. I let myself believe that in Antonio’s arms, I could find a semblance of peace, even if only for a moment.
But then reality crashed down on me again.
I pushed away from him, my hands trembling. The grief, the guilt—it all came flooding back, making me feel like I was drowning in it.
“I— I’m sorry,” I stammered, stepping back as I hugged the blanket tighter around my shoulders, creating a barrier between us. “I shouldn’t have… I didn’t mean to—”
“Kendra, it’s okay,” Antonio interrupted, his voice soft, his eyes filled with a depth of understanding that made my chest ache even more. “You don’t have to apologize for anything. I just— I just wanted to make sure you’re alright.”
But I wasn’t alright. I hadn’t been alright since the day Elon died, since I lost the baby, since my entire world crumbled around me. And no amount of hugs or comforting words could change that.
And then, my phone rang, shrill and loud, breaking the spell. I hesitated for a moment before answering, my eyes still locked on Antonio's.
"Hello?" I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Kendra! Oh my God, I have the most amazing news!" Tina's voice squealed through the phone.
I felt a pang of guilt for not being more enthusiastic, but the situation wasn’t exactly… well, conducive to celebration. "What is it?" I asked, trying to sound more interested.
"Management just asked the HR to get across to some selected names, and since the HR is my friend, she managed to steal a peek at the names. And guess what? You got the job!" Tina exclaimed.
I felt a surge of surprise, followed by a sense of relief... and then gratitude. "Thanks, Tina," I said, trying to sound more excited than I felt. "I owe you one."
Tina's voice continued to chatter in my ear, but I wasn't listening. I was lost in Antonio's eyes.
Finally, I managed to extricate myself from the conversation, promising Tina I'd call her back later. As I hung up the phone, Antonio's eyes never left mine.
"Good news?" he asked, his voice low and husky.
I nodded, feeling a growing awareness of my own vulnerability. He had seen me cry, and had witnessed my raw emotion. Antonio, my obnoxious, rude neighbor, who had once been the object of my college crush, had seen me at my most exposed. I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as I tried to compose myself.
I took a step back, creating some distance between us. "Yeah," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I got the job."
Antonio's face broke into a warm smile, "Congratulations," he said, his voice filled with genuine warmth. But then his expression faltered, and he asked, "The diner?"
I shook my head, relieved that I could finally regain some control over the conversation. "No, not that one. I got that one back a week ago."
