I’m so glad you’re alive. I love you, papi chulo!”
“I love you too, mamacita. It’s been a long ride. Let’s go to sleep.”
“Okay.” I turned around and he spooned me from the back. I had the most peaceful sleep that I’d had in months. I woke up to the morning sun and the soft hum of the radio. I stretched backward and felt for Diego, but no one was there. I sat up with my hair flowing in every direction. Finally, the madness was over. Diego entered minutes later with a hot coffee and those low-slung jeans I liked. In his other hand was a plate of toast. It’s the little things like this that make me love him more.
“Good morning, beautiful.” He kissed my lips with such tenderness I thought I might cry. I took the coffee in my hands, watching the steam rise up and the rich aroma fill my nostrils.
“Good morning,” I croaked. “I definitely have to go in to school today. I’ve missed classes.”
“Did you miss classes because of me?”
“Yes. Well, because of the situations going on.”
He kissed the side of my forehead as he walked out and came back with his coffee. “I don’t want you to miss out on anything else. I want to ask you something as well…” I peeked over my coffee, amused at his uncertainty. “Would you move in here with me?”
I paused for a little deliberation as my lips curved into a smile. “Yes, I would.”
“You’re making me a happy man right now. I adore you.”
“Funny how things work out.”
“Sure is.” The phone buzzed from the kitchen, and Diego jumped up. For some reason, he had it on speaker.
“Hey, Ryder.”
“Hey, Diego,” a deep voice said.
“You did good. Keep rolling with your chapter. You stood for what was right and didn’t back down. You’re a real Outlaw. I’m proud of you, now more than ever. I’m glad Yoda backed you to open Merced.”
Diego smiled hard. “That means a lot coming from you, OG.”
The man with the deep voice laughed. “Your girl must be a good one for you to go out on a limb like that. We might still be opposing forces, but Las Balas got a couple of stand-up people in there.”
“For real. She’s a keeper, for sure.” Diego rubbed my knee, winking at me as I ate my toast. “At least we know we got some allies up here.”
“Absolutely. I’m sorry I doubted you in the first place.”
“Yeah. It got a little rough between us, but I understand your point of view.”
“It’s all good. We are a family. Sometimes we fight and then we make up.”
“Look, I’ll let you go, I’ll check in with you later in the week.”
“All right, bye, Diego. Thanks.”
“Bye.”
I rubbed Diego’s back and gave him a naughty smile.
“I’m a keeper?”
“Yep, you’re a keeper.” He took the mug from my hand and set it on the bedside table.
I waggled my finger at him. “Don’t start that. I won’t make it to school again.”
He laughed. “I guess I can wait. You will be waking up with me from now on so it’s all good.”
After some more morning time snuggling, I got up and dressed.
