“Shit, I’m so sorry, freckles. I really thought I could do it. Fuck, I’m an idiot.”
“No, it’s okay. This is too much, too fast. Give me a second.”
Leaving him in the middle of the dance floor, I quickly go to my cousin—who’s in charge of the music—and ask him for a more suited song. El Cuarto De Tula is too advanced for Lex.
I excitedly return to him, his curious gaze on me. As I reach him, the music fades into a new track, slower, smoother, and better suited to a beginner. The suave rhythm of Bésame Mucho by Los Panchos resonates in the room. It’s one of my favorite songs, one I heard my entire life. It’s deep and profound, the lyrics particularly poignant. The atmosphere changes instantly, and the dancers embrace each other closer.
“We can dance like a salsa, but slower,” I explain.
Immediately, he takes my hand and rests his other one right under my arm. This is much easier for him, and within thirty seconds, he relaxes, letting me lead us through the twirling couples. There are quite a few people here with us, so after a few bumps with them, we adjust. We stay mostly in place, flush together, with his chin resting on top of my head and the regular beats of his heart in my ear.
Oblivious to the other couples around us, we swing gently in this intimate embrace for a while. It’s only Lex, me, and the beautiful music. The lyrics never struck me so hard before. It’s all about longing, intense desire, and the fear of losing a loved one. It hits too close to home. So close that silent tears slowly fill up my eyes.
Kiss me. Kiss me hard, as if tonight were the last time.
Encouraged by the lyrics, I look up, craving his lips on mine. I want to kiss him, not as if it’s our last night together, but as if it’s the first of endless more to come.
When he sees my teary eyes, Lex instantly worries. “Are you alright?”
I nod. “Kiss me. Kiss me like it’s the first time all over again.”
After a brief hesitation, he lowers to take my lips. The music continues, but our dancing stops. His kiss is extraordinary, profound, loving, tender… It’s everything I’ve ever needed, and everything I’ll ever want. It’s as intense as our love for one another, and I forget we’re surrounded by strangers, friends, and family.
I find myself conflicted between wanting to live in the present and wanting to skip to the future. He’s always been good at making me greedy, but this is a whole new craving. This is visceral, like a core need, something every single cell in my body demands. I yearn for the life we’ll build together as much as I long for the journey that’ll lead us there.
We kiss until the song merges into another one, something upbeat, and a couple bumps into us, breaking the trance. With palpable earnestness, Lex kisses my forehead and wraps his arms around me, hugging me so tightly it becomes hard to breathe.
“I love you, Andrea. So fucking much.”
“And I love you, baby.”
He gives me one last peck before releasing me. “I need a drink. Can I get you anything?”
“No, I already have my tall glass of water.” He doesn’t get my meaning, his brows twitching. I giggle at his perplexity and explain, “It’s you. A tall glass of water is a hot guy.”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “Alright. I’ll get myself an actual glass of water, and when I come back, I guess you can… drink me?”
It’s my turn to laugh before I take his hand. “I’m not letting you disappear on me again, so I’m coming along.”
We walk away from the dancing couples and into the dining room. Once there, Lex pours himself a glass of sparkling water, and I change my mind, grabbing another mojito. MC is sitting on a chair in a corner, her feet up on another one. We join her with our drinks, and I give her a scolding look.
“Las sillas son para sentarse, no para que pongas los pies,” I remind her, as she told me dozens of times as a child.
“I’m an old woman who spent two days standing up to cook. Give me that and fetch yourself another one,” she demands, pointing at my mojito.
She’s used to going to bed way earlier than this, so I don’t test her patience and hand her my glass. When I return, I smile upon finding Lex sitting next to her in the same position, his feet next to hers on the chair. These two are getting inseparable, aren’t they?
My amused endearment turns into something else when I notice letters written under Lex’s shoe. He sees me, sees I’m staring at it, and swiftly brings his feet down.
But it’s too late. I saw it.
Holy shit, that’s the answer to his riddle.
He wrote A?DY under his shoe. My two favorite toys are him and Toy Story. From head to foot, he’s mine, and everyone can know it with one look. This is his brilliant and adorable way of showing he belongs to me.
I take the few steps that separate us and clasp his forearm to get him up. “If you’ll excuse us a minute,” I tell MC. I down half of my glass before setting it down by Lex’s.
Intransigent, I pull him away from everyone, seeking a quiet room. The first one I find is my father’s home office, and I shove Lex in there, eager to be alone with him.
