After losingto Bruno at pool, I hung my head in shame and suggested we grab some wine and appetizers, while sitting near the fireplace. The rain had taken a break, and he liked my suggestion.
"Remember, you said loser buys," Bruno reminded me, and I clenched my fist.
"It was close. You only won because you chose to tell me you loved me while I was shooting," I muttered. It wasn't fair, and my chest was still buzzing from the words.
Bruno chuckled. "I don't see why. It wasn't a secret. I've never pretended to stop loving you."
He was right, like always, and it annoyed me, just like his victorious smile did, especially when I was the one who taught his ass to play pool back in college. "I want a rematch."
Bruno laughed, low and playful, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes even as a smile tugged at my lips.
After ordering wine and appetizers, I joined him by the fire. We sat on an oversized chair, watching the flames.
Our last morningat Stone Peak, I stood barefoot by the sliding door, tempted by the balcony. It was snowing.
Now.
Hours before we were about to check out.
Wearing Bruno's oversized shirt, I held my warm coffee mug. It was beautiful outside, and my resolve was breaking.
"Maybe we should stay an extra day."
Behind me Bruno stopped typing on his laptop. I turned to see what he thought about my suggestion.
"Why, isn't it snowing in the city too?"
"I know, but we missed out, and I wanted us to experience it all together."
"Baby, we can come back next weekend. We have forever. Plus, don't you have breakfast with your girls tomorrow morning?"
Shit! I forgot. Already I could hear the teasing from those three bitches."So you get a man and forget your girlfriends."
It wasn't worth it. Plus, Bruno was right, the lodge was a few hours away from the city. We'd be back to cross the mountain off my list. From his place on the couch, Bruno watched me like I was something rare, but he didn't say anything, just smiled a soft and knowing smile. And in that quiet, I knew I'd made the right decision to let him back in my life.
I'd never been happier.
An hour later, we started the two-hour drive home. Bruno drove with one hand on the wheel and the other wrapped around mine, our fingers laced together as I watched the snow-covered trees outside my window.
Interrupting our moment, my phone rang. Annoyed, I reached for it and sighed. When I spotted Madre's name on the screen, I looked at Bruno, who gestured with his head that I answer, so I did.
"Hi."
"Are you busy? Is this a bad time?" she asked.
Wow. Never before had my mother asked. Normally, she waited for me to answer and started to ramble. Turning to Bruno, who lifted my hand to his lips, I took a deep breath and answered truthfully, "No. I can talk. Is everything OK?"
"Yes. Just checking in on you."
I heard a loneliness in my mother's voice for the first time. I felt like I was her only friend. Whether it was healthy or not, the reason she called me countless times was because she missed me, her confidant, the person she cried to.
"Padre giving you trouble?"
Mother giggled. "No. The Good Lord has fixed him."
"Huh? How?"
I could hear the glee in her voice when she answered. "Tomás had a checkup after complaining about chest pain."
