“Caitlin?” Gemma opened the door. “What are you doing here?”
Even in sweatpants and a wild tangle of hair, Gemma stopped Caitlin’s heart.
“Can we please talk?”
Gemma squinted as the sun peeked out from behind the clouds.
Caitlin held up the coffees and bagels she’d picked up at the bakery on her way over. “I didn’t come empty-handed.”
Gemma took a paper cup from the tray without a word and led Caitlin into the kitchen.
“Just give me five minutes. If you still don’t want me here, I’ll go.”
They sat down at the kitchen table, and Gemma took a sip of the hot caffeine in her hand. “We only got coffee together once, how’d you remember my order?”
Caitlin’s face burned as she shrugged her shoulders. Her memory wasn’t that great, and her school grades reflected it, but somehow, she remembered everything about Gemma.
“Okay, so why are you here?” Gemma asked, looking a little lighter now that she had her morning lifeline.
“I know I’ve been acting insane lately… I’m sorry for cornering you in the bathroom at Troy’s party, I don’t know what the hell I was thinking,” Caitlin started, trying to keep her voice steady while her leg bounced with anxiety. She took a deep breath and went on. “I’ve been messy, and toxic, and honestly, I know that I don’t deserve another shot. But if you gave me one… Gemma, I swear I’d do things right this time.”
Gemma lifted an eyebrow, just as unconvinced as she had been two nights prior.
Caitlin’s voice dropped, barely above a whisper. “I ended it with Troy this morning. I don’t want anyone else, Gemma. I just want you. And I can wait if I have to.”
“You broke up with Troy?” Gemma sounded genuinely surprised.
“Yeah... I saw you leave the party with Emily Friday night, and it destroyed me. I hated seeing you with someone else. I swear, every time I saw you kiss her, I thought my heart would rip itself in half. I kinda hoped it would.”
“You really hurt me, Caitlin. Like, not just a little, either. I cried myself to sleep the night that you kicked me out of your house.” Gemma’s arms folded across her chest as she cleared her throat. “And now you’re here saying all the things I wanted to hear months ago, just because I found someone else.”
Caitlin moved to interrupt, but Gemma stopped her.
“No, that wasn’t a question. My question is, how do I know you won’t just disappear again?”
Caitlin slid her chair closer to Gemma. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I don’t think this feeling could ever ‘just disappear.’”
Gemma sat in silence for a long beat before she finally spoke again. “After we left Troy’s party, I walked Emily back home and told her that I couldn’t be with her anymore. She deserves someone who can give their whole heart.”
Caitlin’s mind whirled, trying to make sure she understood Gemma’s meaning. “Wait, are you saying…?”
The corners of Gemma’s mouth turned up even as she tried to stop them. “I’msaying…” Gemma was dragging this out, playing with her, and Caitlin’s heart leapt within her chest as she hung on Gemma’s words. “That I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the day we met. And when you kissed me Friday night, I knew my feelings hadn’t gone away, either.”
Caitlin’s smile reached her eyes. She stood, hovering over Gemma. Reaching down, she cupped Gemma’s face with both hands and pressed their lips together. This kiss was deeper than the first two they had shared. Unrestrained and vulnerable, this kiss was the direct result of knowing that nothing stood in their way now.
Wanting privacy in case one of her parents returned early, Gemma led Caitlin up the stairs to her bedroom and shut the door. Without a word, the two crawled into her bed, rearranging until Gemma was lying on her back, her arms wrapped around Caitlin.
Caitlin lay on her side, caressing Gemma’s cheek and looking into her eyes. “Eres mi toro,” she whispered.
Gemma’s chest began to bounce with laughter, catching Caitlin off guard. Why was she laughing at her?
“Wait, what’s so funny?” Caitlin asked, sitting up. She had remembered the line from Spanish class and thought it was sweet.
“You just said you’re my bull.”
Caitlin giggled, dropping her head back onto Gemma’s chest in embarrassment. “Well, youarepretty stubborn. I guess I should really pay more attention to Señora Lopez, though.”
“Eres mi todo,” Gemma corrected, still laughing, and intertwined their fingers as they sank into the bed. “You’re my everything.”
