“With the blood infused into the wine, it tastes like…me.” I smiled, knowing it was an inside joke between the two of us whenever blood was involved. “But in all seriousness, I’ve drank a lot of wine, but this is special.”
A wide grin stretched across his face, his white teeth flashing in the dim light. “Anything for you, Vin.” He leaned across the table and touched his lips with mine. The kiss was passionate and meaningful, a silent language of longing and desire spoken only through the gentle pressure and warmth of our lips. “I love you.”
His touch, though tender, sent a jolt through me, causing my body to stiffen in response. Gabe didn’t kiss me outside of when we were nearing intercourse. Over sixty-five years of knowing each other, the non-sexual kisses we shared were so few, they could be counted on both hands. “I-I love you too?” I didn’t mean the words to come out as a question. Looking into his handsome, yet hopeful face, I knew why. I did love him. He’d been my rock, a steady presence through the storms of my volatile emotions, frustrations threatened to consume me, and grief that threatened to break me. I knew I could rely on him.
But is that enough for me?
The server, a shadowy figure barely visible through the misty darkness, returned bearing two small plates overflowing with frizzy green leaves. He carefully placed the pristine white dish on the charger before us, then vanished as quickly as he’d appeared.
“After dinner, I have a surprise for you.” Gabe reached out and lightly held my fingers in his hand. “I booked the observatory for your birthday. The stars will be bright tonight.”
I feigned a smile, knowing full well his intention was to fuck under the stars, before using my salad fork to stab a piece of lettuce. My mouth was instantly enveloped with a sharp taste, as if a bee had stung my tongue. I looked toward Gabe, who was chewing with no indication anything was wrong. Was it just mine? Taking a long sip of the refreshing water, I cleared my throat, feeling my vocal cords loosen.
He swallowed. “I figured it would be like when we used to meet in the park.”
“I wish we could go back,” I admitted. “Everything was just so…different. Easier.” I took another bite of salad and winced once again. I thought maybe I was being overdramatic, but it was just as bad as I remembered. “Is this salad?—”
“Terrible? Yes,” Gabe finished.
Our loud and unrestrained laughter shattered the night’s stiff formality, breaking through Smoke’s suffocating atmosphere. I stole a glance toward the other tables illuminated by candles and wondered if the other patrons were wondering why we were snickering to one another.
I loved it when he loosened up; it reminded me of how we used to be. As hot as he looked when serious—his jaw tight, eyes narrowed—seeing him genuinely laugh felt like winning the lottery. My heart ached every time his eyes crinkled from his wide smile.
The waiter appeared once again. “Are you enjoying the salads?”
Gabe and I stole a glance, a silent communication passing between us as I bit my lip to stifle a snicker.
“It’s great,” Gabe answered and held the plate out. “I think we’re saving room for dinner.” With the vile appetizer cleared from the table, his intense gaze seemed to see past my very soul. “I know I ask this every year, but what are you looking forward to?”
Seeing The Carlton tonight.
Since leaving my floor, I was aching to see more of Elysium. The world seemed to open up to me within a matter of hours. “Not sure.” I shrugged. “I think getting my father to let me out of my room is a huge step, so I’m excited to build more relationships with other people. There’s still so much I don’t know.”
“Like what?”
I had to change the subject so I didn’t give an indication that I was itching to sneak away. I needed to deflect the conversation back to him. I arched my eyebrows, and my voice took on a playful, teasing tone. “For example, I don’t even know your middle name.”
Gabe tilted his head back, a hearty laugh booming from his chest before he took a slow sip of the smooth, red wine. “My middle name? Is that really what’s been keeping you up at night?”
“I’ve never thought about asking.” Lifting the wine to my mouth, I took a swig, mirroring him. “Tonight was my first time in Elysium. I don’t know what I don’t know until it dawns on me.”
He nodded and closed his eyes, a smile on his lips. “Edward,” he breathed. “As embarrassing as it is to say it, my middle name is Edward.”
I squinted at him, furrowing my forehead. “Why’s that a name to be embarrassed by?”
Gabe rolled his eyes. “Do you really want to know?”
I nodded expectantly, my fingers laced together, with my chin resting on my hand.
He let out a dramatic breath of air. “I’m not sure if you remember the book series, Twilight, but my mother was obsessed with it. Originally, she wanted it to be my first name, but my father wanted to name me after my deceased uncle, so they agreed on Edward as my middle name.”
“Twilight? The book about vampires?” An unbelievable laugh, full of unrestrained joy and surprise, escaped my mouth.
“Ironic, right?” A laugh escaped his lips.
“Gabriel Edward Lopez,” I whispered. “I love it.” Knowing this piece of information only opened my heart more for him. You’d think we’d know every detail about each other after sixty-five years, but these small, easily overlooked things slipped through the cracks. I suppose we thought we had all the time in the world to get to know each other since aging was so slow.
“I need to ask.” Gabe reached over, holding my fingers in his palm. “For someone who has it all, why are you so keen to uprootit all? Every person in the world would love to switch places with you.”
