“We weren’t very happy about it either, but we try to be civil as best we can. We talked about what we’d do if you came. Your brother got a house out in the countryside and we could celebrate there. He said you’re welcome to stay with him anytime.”
That doesn’t make me feel much better. “So, I can basically never go home again? Never visit my old room? What if Papi’s health worsens?”
“Aye, mijo. We can figure it all out as we go, we just don’t want you out there all alone. Not only for the holidays but in general.”
“Yeah, I know.” I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to even my breathing. “And I said I’ll come visit next year, or it might be easier if I buy you all tickets to come out here to me.”
“That could be nice. Last time we were there, we barely had time to tour the town.”
“And next time I’ll make sure you do.”
“Oralé, we can talk about it again later. Your dad isn’t too big a fan of going too far these days.”
“I’ll fly you first class with lots of legroom and free lobster.”
She laughs. “It does all sound really nice, so we’ll see. We love you very much, and if it is truly what you need, we will try to meet you halfway in whatever way you need us to.”
“Okay. Huey and I are about to have dinner so I’ll talk to you again later this week.”
“Adios, hijo.”
“Bye, Ma.”
Hanging up the phone, I strip out of my shirt and my phone buzzes from my bedroom nightstand while I’m washing my face. I rinse my hands in the sink and wipe them on my pants as I rush to see who it is. It’s him. He’s asking me to accept a video chat.I can’t. I know I said I’d still help him, but I need a little time to think things over first.
The phone keeps going off, and turning away from it doesn’t stop me from hearing how it shakes on my dresser. I tug at my hair and try to walk away, but I can’t move from where I am. It stops and my stomach plummets when I look back and don’t see his name anymore. As I’m on my way to the kitchen to distract myself with food it vibrates again, and without a second thought, I jump to answer it with worry brewing in my chest. He must really need help to have called back-to-back like that. What if he’s badly hurt or close to injuring himself and I continue to ignore him?
That guilt is almost as bad as the amount I have for letting him get this close to begin with. I’m about to say, “What’s wrong,” but then my words get trapped at the back of my throat as his writhing body fills the screen. His chest lifts to the sky like a prayer and he’s pumping his hips. Moaning, he lifts enough for me to see the purple dildo on the floor. The one we ordered.
Slamming his hips down, he strokes both of his nipples and mutters my name. Is that what happened? He was imagining me touching him and said my name causing his phone to dial me. It’s resting on what I think might be a pillow, and the only reason it would be is because . . . My thoughts vanish when he blinks his eyes.
His body slows down and then he goes still, sweat gathering between his pecs. Reaching for his phone, he says, “Play video.” He repeats himself and then lets out a frustrated growl. His cock is as flushed as the rest of him with an angry purple, swollen head. I can’t stop watching. I need to stop watching. To turn the phone off and pretend this never happened to save him from more embarrassment.
“Alexa, play the video.”
“Video can’t play while there’s a video call in progress,” a female robotic voice says.
His mouth falls open, face going stark white. “Video call with who?”
My chest caves and I can’t speak. Say something Raf. Anything. Maybe he didn’t save my number to his phone yet.
“You are on call with Raf. Would you like to end the call?”
“I . . . Raf?”
“Hi, Honey. I think you might have called me by mistake, but I wanted to stay on just to make sure. I’m sorry, I should have hung up.”
“How long have you been there?” His eyes grow bigger, his words wavering.
“A while. For however long it’s been since you heard the video you were watching playing. What were you watching by the way?”
“None of your business,” he says lower than a whisper.
I smirk. “Doesn’t sound like it was a Christmas movie. Unless it was one with lots of good kisses and cock cages.”
“Raf. You’re supposed to be busy helping a friend. You asked for a rain check, which is usually done on a different day, and this isn’t what I had in mind.”
“You’re right, and I shouldn’t even schedule a rain check with you because you should be watching movies with guys more worthy of your time and screaming their names.”
