“I want a rematch.” Miguel pants, his arm slung over my shoulders as we make our way off the court.
I nod, a contented sigh escaping my lips. “You’re on.”
He chuckles. “I’ll be waiting, baby.”
Next on theagenda is the local grocery store. Miguel has his arm slung over my shoulders, his fingers tracing patterns on my skin, making my insides melt.
“Alright, pretty boy,” he says, his voice low and playful. “Let’s plan out some meals for you to take back to the dorm. I want to make sure you’re well-fed, even when you’re not with me.”
I smile, leaning into his touch, my heart swelling with love. “Look at you. Who would have thought Miguel Veracruz could be so… domestic?”
He grins, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Only for you, baby. Now, let’s see. How about we start with some enchiladas? Red or green?”
I nod enthusiastically. “Definitely green. And maybe some Tinga Verde? I’ve been craving that lately.”
Miguel smirks, and that look makes my stomach flip. “Going for multiple days of heartburn, I see. You got it. And for dessert, how about some arroz con leche?”
I laugh, my eyes shining with amusement. “You’re spoiling me, Miguel. Have you been talking to Mom? Is she telling you I’m not eating?”
“She would never try to get me to do her bidding.” He feigns shock, and that’s when I know it was definitely Celeste. I gotta hand it to my stepmother—using her son to make sure I get fed was a smart move.
We make our way through the aisles, Miguel pushing the cart with a determined look on his face. He consults his mental list, his brow furrowed in concentration as he talks to himself.
His love for me really shows.
Why do I deserve it? I don’t give him anything back in return.
He deserves someone who… who’s not me. Someone better than me.
“I can see you,” he whispers from behind me. His arms snake around my waist, pulling me into his chest. “Whatever is going through your head right now… forget it.”
“I just don’t underst?—”
He spins me and presses his lips to mine, and we share a soft, lingering kiss, and any thought I had is gone. Miguel and I pull apart, and immediately I can feel the weight of the world lift from my shoulders, my anxiety fading away.
The way he has the power to just make my brain turn off.It’s addictive.
“Better?”
“Much better.” I give him a smile, and he nods, stepping back to the cart.
But as we turn to continue our shopping, I notice a few people giving us dirty looks, their expressions ranging from disapproval to outright disgust. My stomach drops, and I can feel the familiar tightness in my chest, the panic rising like a tide.
“Miguel,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. “People are staring at us. God, what if my dad…”
Miguel follows my gaze, his expression softening as he takes in the scene. He turns back to me, his hands cupping my cheeks, his thumbs brushing gently over my skin. “Caleb, look at me. It’s okay. We’re adults, and we can do whatever the fuck we want. If your dad sees us, then so be it. We have nothing to be ashamed of.”
I take a deep breath, trying to calm the racing of my heart, but the anxiety gnaws at me, a persistent, insidious voice in the back of my mind. “But what if he doesn’t understand? What if he’s angry? I don’t want to lose him, Miguel. I don’t want to lose anyone.”
Miguel’s expression turns serious, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity that leaves me breathless. “Caleb, listen to me. Dad loves you, and he wants you to be happy. If he can’t accept us, that’s his loss, not ours. We have each other, and that’s all that matters. You hear me?”
I nod, his words grounding me, anchoring me to the present moment. “You’re right. I’m sorry, I just... I get anxious.”
He smiles, a soft, tender expression that makes my heart ache with love. “It’s okay, pretty boy. I’m here for you. Now, how about we finish up here and head home?”
I laugh, the tension easing from my body as I lean into his embrace. “That sounds good.”
EIGHT
