Even Erik laughs, and we’ve been speaking in Spanish this whole time. I lean over. “Hey—you keeping up with everything?”
He nods. “I’ve been practicing my Spanish on an app,” he says, pushing his phone across to me.
My grandmother sees the phone and arches a brow. Flushed, Erik slides the phone off the table. “Lo siento,” he mutters, and everyone starts laughing again.
“You know they’re laughing because they like you, right?”
He sends a smile in my direction. “I do.”
Per Emil’s excellent request, we spend the rest of the evening keeping it light. We even talk through my grandparents’ leather business and their plans to retire next year. Gael pulls me into the living room and shows me a pair of shoes he made for me, beautiful black leather ankle boots that fit perfectly.
“What do your parents think about your plans to move north?” I ask quietly, admiring the fit of the boots.
“It’s hard on Dad, but Mom has been super supportive,” he whispers back. “They both have, really. It helps that your boyfriend is willing to fly them up and down as much as they want.”
“Don’t call him my boyfriend,” I hiss.
He raises his brows. I stick my tongue out at him. “Yeah, you got away with it once, but I don’t want you to freak him out.”
Gael’s eyes widen as long arms snake around my front, and my heart pounds as the man in question puts his chin on top of my head. “You can call me your boyfriend. It won’t freak me out. Promise.”
“Yeah?” I ask, looking over my shoulder as I lean back into his warmth.
He nods. “I’ve eaten your grandmother’s posole. I’m pretty sure it’s official.”
Gael kisses my temple, sending Erik a quick smile before slipping away, leaving us alone in the living room.
“Here,” Erik says, hooking his foot on my grandfather’s ottoman and tugging it next to us. “Stand on this so I can kiss you.”
I immediately comply and throw my arms around his neck as he surrounds me in his perfect hug, pulling back just enough to take me in a world-spinning kiss.
“We said no faking,” he says, drawing back to kiss the tip of my nose, “so I need to tell you that I have no intentions of letting you go after this trip.”
“No?” I ask, relief flooding my body.
“No. You amaze me, Ant, and if you want me to be your boyfriend, well, that would make me the luckiest man I know.”
I cradle his face and touch my forehead to his. “Then be prepared to get very, very lucky.”
His deep chuckle vibrates my body, and we kiss until Gael clears his throat.
“Abuela incoming,” he stage-whispers, and I step down from the ottoman just in time for my family to join us.
Fuck. What a miraculous sentence.My family.
We gather around the coffee table and play dominoes, complete with the same kids’ rules we used when I was young. When Abuela puts down her winning move, Gael leans his shoulder into mine.
“So, what’s the plan when you move here?” I ask.
“I’ll need a workshop of some kind but will probably hold off on a brick-and-mortar to see what can be done in the online space.”
Erik leans in, resting his chin on my shoulder. “I think that’s a great way to start out. We have a number of wealthy, stylish friends, so make sure to send us a link to your website once it’s up and running.”
Gael rubs Erik’s arm, his nose scrunching like he’s trying to stave off tears. “You’d do that for me?”
“Of course. You’re family,” Erik says as though it is simple logic. “Though…you look upset. Did I say something wrong?”
Gael sniffs and dashes away a tear from his cheek. “No, not at all.” Gesturing to the gathered family currently squabbling over a sneaky play from the quiet Emil, he says, “We know what you and Charlie did for Ant. That you two are together now…I’ve never seen my grandparents happier. To know he will never be in danger again…it’s everything. So, helping me out with my business seems a little excessive, you know?”
