Bruno's words didn't make me uneasy. They weren't threats. Actually, my heart welcomed them, and I smiled.
Bruno caught my wrist, gentle and sure, and time froze around us. Cold air turned our breaths into small white ghosts that hovered and vanished. Traffic hissed somewhere behind us, a faint reminder that other lives kept moving.
He stepped closer. Snow dusted his dark hair, melting when it touched the heat of his skin. Our silence felt thick enough to touch, every unsaid word pressing in on my ribs. My pulse thumped hard at the base of my throat. Bruno watched my mouth like he'd already read my next thought, like he was waiting for permission I did not know how to give.
I parted my lips to say something easy, maybe a joke, maybe a warning. Nothing came out. The words tangled with the rush of want that slammed through my chest. He tilted his head, slow, deliberate. I felt the warmth of his breath before the touch of his lips. When they met mine, the world narrowed to that soft collision. Heat bloomed, shocking against the winter air. For half a second, I froze, every warning bell clanging. Then want won, louder than fear.
I kissed him back, fierce, almost greedy. His hand found my neck, thumb tracing my jaw in a way that made me shiver. The street, the snow, the weeks of arguing all faded away. There was only the glide of his mouth over mine, the quick hitch of his breath when I pressed closer, the sudden knowledge that I'd missed this more than I had ever let myself admit.
"I might be on my way to forgiving you, but I'll never forget."
He squeezed me tighter. "I don't want to forget anything about us. Even the parts that hurt still made me grateful to have you in my life."
I rolled my eyes. "Alright, take a break with all the flowery words. I'd take you back just to stop all the corny talk."
Bruno laughed, wrapped an arm around my shoulder, and steered me into a nearby restaurant. "You never did like getting romanced in public."
"Nobody talks like that except you. It's so cheesy."
By the look on his face, Bruno wasn't buying my words. "So, what you're saying is you've missed it."
Lowering my head, I hid my reddish cheeks. The man might have been right, but he knew I would never admit it. As the restaurant door closed behind us, Bruno's laughter followed my words. We sat at an empty table. He and I were back together, and anyone who knew us understood that meant we had entered our own little world.
When several seconds went by without anyone taking our order, I glanced at him, worried. He smiled, but he was obviously freezing. Since I had forgotten my coat and he had given me his, cold might have been an understatement. From my seat, I could see the contrast between his pale skin and flushed cheeks. He wasn't blushing; he was just cold.
Oh hell no. I'd just got him back, he wasn't leaving me so soon. Leaning to my right, I scanned the restaurant behind Bruno, desperately trying to spot a waitress. Not caring if she wasn't ours, when I spotted a person wearing a shirt with a logo, I lifted my hand and waved it like my life depended on it.
Before Bruno turned his head to see who I was gesturing to, she smiled and made her way over. "Hi. Sorry, we're a little understaffed today, and I didn't see you guys come in."
"It's OK," I said and lifted my hand when it looked like she would speak again. I had no interest in hearing about the specials or anything else. "Can you please get my boyfriend a hot cup of coffee? He's freezing, and God knows if any part of him is frostbitten."
Bruno's eyes flew open, and I figured he thought the server would use her imagination about what was frozen.
The lady nodded and sprinted away. She didn't go far. I watched her grab a pitcher and two mugs. Good. As soon as he got some warm liquid in his body, I'd feel more at ease.
"I'll get you two some menus," she said, then started to leave but hesitated. When she lowered the pot of coffee on the table, I nodded. "I'll leave this here. Have as much as you want," she said before hurrying off.
Impatiently, I watched Bruno across from me, but when he didn't take a sip, I was puzzled.
"What? Why aren't you drinking it?"
He smiled and finally, slowly lifted the cup, but when the ceramic mug touched his lips, he froze. Maybe I was mistaken and he was fine, thanks to the thermal underwear under his clothes.
"So I'm your boyfriend again?"
My eyebrows shot up and my mouth fell open as the words tumbled out. "What? Did I say that? When?"
Warmth hit my cheeks when I replayed my words, but I raised my chin right away. There was nothing to be ashamed of. "Well, you begged hard enough, and here we are again."
"It's just been a while since I heard you call me that."
I poured myself a cup while admitting, "Since you, I haven't used that word for anyone."
Bruno took a gulp of his coffee and winked. "That's nice of you to share."
Share?
"Long as I'm not sharing YOU again, I'm not stingy," I mumbled. Then, as my own cheeks heated up again, I realized what pleased Bruno earlier. My slip made it clear I cared more than I admitted. It wasn't just one-sided, as I'd been pretending all along.
