She sighs, contented. “I can see why you love it here. Your family is amazing."
“They are, but they’re also a lot.” I chuckle at the memory of Mami quickly whispering a question about whether Holly loves me yet when we first walked in.
I didn’t answer, because the words “I love Mateo” haven’t left my mind since she said them to Jorge. Then again, who knows if they were true? She was talking to Mr. Toadflax. I’ve been afraid to ask, for fear it was just an act.
Are those three little words playing through Holly’s mind right now, like they’re playing through mine?
Holly giggles before turning around in my arms, wrapping her hands around my waist. “They might be a handful, but you’re lucky to have them.”
I lean down and kiss her cheek, whispering in her ear, “I’m lucky to haveyou.”
“Right back at you.” She goes up on her tiptoes and brushes a kiss against my jaw.
Fire races through my blood at her touch, those three little words begging for escape. But I won’t say them impulsively. I’m determined to say them when she’s ready, not a moment before.
I suck in a breath as she kisses my jaw again, branding me with the brief brush of her lips. “So.” My voice sounds hoarse to my ears, and I wonder if Holly knows what she does to me with her simple touch. An impulsive thought flits through my head, and I grab onto it and its hint that I’m feeling more like myself since coming home.
I swallow, but it doesn’t quite fix the husky tone of my voice, my vocal chords still affected by the sizzling imprint Holly’s lips left on my jaw. “Should we kiss or go bug hunting?”
Holly throws her head, her silky hair brushing against my arms as she laughs. Her laugh is gold to me. I treasure every time I hear it. But Holly laughing in my orchard because of a joke I told, well, it’s like somebody handed me a bar of platinum.
“You are such a boy.”
I master my vocal chords, and this time ask my question with my normal mischievous tone. “Is that a vote for bug hunting?”
She lightly smacks my chest. “Absolutely not, farm boy.”
I shrug. “You’re missing out. Mormon crickets are super fun to catch, and their size means you have to get out the big ice cube tray to use them.”
Holly shudders and her hands reach up to my face. One hand sinks into my hair as the other cups my jaw, both pulling me down to her. “Farm boy. Shut up and kiss me,” she whispers against my lips.
“As you wish.”
As we kiss, I become sure of one thing: Holly is my home.
Chapter 33
The Cycle
Holly
We never made it to Mateo’s house. Which is fine because we realized we forgot our bags in his dad’s truck anyway, so we wouldn’t have had anything to unpack when we got there.
The orchard was beautiful, the trees full and gorgeous as the summer sun filtered through their leaves. I can see why Mateo loves this place so much.
Especially because the smells in the kitchen are mouthwatering.
We walk in from the back room and Mateo pulls me to the counter where I see Canela directing Cruz and Nadia as they all work on different parts of what is soon to be dinner.
“Mami, how can we help?”
Canela looks up and points her wooden spoon at Mateo. “You go talk to your dad. He mentioned farm business, and I want it taken care of before we have dinner. No work talk around the table.”
Mateo nods and kisses my knuckles before following her orders like a dutiful soldier, leaving me behind with his mom and sisters.
“Holly?” Canela’s voice breaks my gaze away from Mateo’s retreating figure.
“Yes?”
