“She’s a natural,” Matthew says.His arm wraps around my waist, pulling me against his side.He’s sweaty and smells faintly of grilled onions, and I have never found him more attractive.
Sal laughs, pointing his spatula at Matthew.“Matty, she’s better than you were when you started!I recall a certain burger patty ending up on the pavement of Capitol Square.”
Matthew groans good-naturedly, pulling me tighter against him.“You’re never letting that go, are you?”
“Never,” Sal confirms with a wide grin.He turns his warm gaze to me.“You,mija, can work in my truck anytime.”
“Thanks, Sal,” I laugh, leaning my head against Matthew’s shoulder.
“Alright, you two.Go sit.”Sal’s expression turns resolute as he turns back to his grill.“Best burgers in the house.On the house.For my favorite couple.”
We exit his truck and collapse onto a nearby picnic table.
A few minutes later, Sal joins us with three boxes of burgers and fries, along with ice-cold sodas.He sits, taking a long, appraising look at me, then at Matthew, then at our hands, which have found each other on the tabletop.A slow, profound smile spreads across his weathered face.
“I knew it.”He chuckles to himself before smiling at us.“I knew you two would work things out.”
“Thank you for your help, Sal,” I say humbly, a blush warming my cheeks.Matthew gives my hand a squeeze, his eyes full of gratitude for the older man.
Sal waves a dismissive hand, but his eyes are shining with emotion.“We just made burgers together,mija.You two did the hard work.”He leans forward slightly, his expression turning serious.“Pain from the past makes you build walls so high you forget what the sun feels like.Pero, the right person,” he says, his gaze softening as it moves between us, “hands you a hammer and helps you break them down.Brick by brick.”
His words land deep in my soul.A perfect, poignant truth.
“Matt brought the hammer,” I murmur.My confession makes his grip on my hand tighten.
He turns his head, his full attention settling on me.“Amy brought the sun.”His eyes are full of a staggering adoration.It makes my heart swell with a love so fierce it feels like it might spill over.
“Look at you two,” Sal says, his booming energy returning as he beams at us both.“Mi corazón, my heart, is happy to see you both like this.”
“You’re very kind, Sal,” I whisper.
Matthew places his free hand on Sal’s shoulder, giving it a firm, grateful squeeze.
Sal’s smile widens.He looks at the two of us and releases a hearty, satisfied sigh.“Alright, alright, enough of all this.My burgers are getting cold,” he declares, waving a hand to break the emotional spell.“That would be the real tragedy.Eat up!Buen provecho!”
I let out a light laugh and pick up my burger.I savor the uncomplicated flavor.It is deeply satisfying.The taste of a simple, perfect moment.Across the table, Matthew is watching me, a soft, contented smile on his face.
We eat in comfortable silence, the delicious taste of the burgers feeling like a celebration.
This, I think, watching the sunlight gleam on ‘Wisconsin’, the golden statue keeping watch over the city…
This must be what it feels like to belong.
The sun is setting by the time we get back to Matthew’s house, casting long shadows across the street.He pulls into the driveway and turns the engine off.A comfortable silence settles around us in the dimming light.
“We can leave the petitions in the car,” Matthew says.“No point bringing them in just to take them out again tomorrow morning.”
I nod, the practicalities of tomorrow feeling a world away from the peace of this moment.“Okay.”
He opens my door, his hand reaching for mine the moment I stand.We walk up the pathway hand in hand, tired in the best possible way.Full of good food and the quiet joy of a day spent just being together.
He unlocks the door, stepping back to let me enter first.I walk into the silent foyer as he closes the door behind us, dropping the keys into a small ceramic bowl on the console table.He turns to me with the gentlest of smiles.But standing here, in his home, a new, unshakeable resolve crystallizes within me.A thought born not of fear, but of strength and a deep, abiding love.
To truly be his equal, I need to be whole on my own.
I take a deep breath.“I’m going to start looking at apartments this week,” I say, my voice clear and calm.
He stops, his hand hovering over the lamp he was about to turn on.He looks at me, his head tilting slightly, and I see him process my words.
