As he spoke he tightened his fingers around mine, like he was scared I’d vanish.
With him near, it was like I could see in color for the first time in days. I looked around, noticing all the kids who’d shown up for our launch. I saw Nurys and Camilo serving food, and they both waved at me when I lifted my hand to them. They were here for Nesto, but I knew they were here for me, too. Somewhere in the time we’d been together, he’d made me part of his whole life.
“Ernesto Vasquez. Ven aca,” I said, pulling him behind me until we were hidden in the tight space between the wall and the side of the truck. I was doing my best to look serious, but the smile tugging at my lips was going to be impossible to hide for long. Still he didn’t speak, his eyes so serious, completely focused on my face. It was my call; he was giving me all the power.
“So, are you just throwing money away this week or what?”
He shook his head; his eyes focused on my mouth.
“There is so much I have to say, but first, can I kiss you, baby? I’ve missed you so much.”
He licked his lips and I pushed up because with his mouth so close, mine needed to be touching his. He gasped as our mouths met, and it was like coming home. I belonged right here, in these arms.
After a moment we pulled back, our foreheads touching. Nesto did the thing where he touched the tip of his tongue to his upper lip and my knees gave a little.
“Are you really closing the truck for the week?
His face turned serious for a moment, and he nodded, “Yes, OuNYe follows you this week.”
I stared at him confused. “But you have like a million things going on right now. How can you possibly take a week off to do this?”
He shook his head then, as if trying to get his thoughts in order. “I’ll figure it out.”
“Why?” I wasn’t that dense, but I wanted to hear it.
Nesto pulled me to him, our bodies finally touching after so many days without his warmth. “Because what’s important to you is important to me.” He shook his head, looking for the words he wanted to say. “I’ve been going about it all wrong. I kept telling myself I needed to build something solid I could offer you. I couldn’t see that I didn’t have to do it alone, that all I needed was to ask and you’d do it with me.” He let out a long shaky breath and pushed our mouths together, our kiss salty from tears. “I’ve needed to put my priorities in order for a long time now.”
“And what priorities are those?” I asked, my chest swelling with hope.
He leaned in again and licked the seam of my lips. From a distance I could hear Milo yelling at us to “quit traumatizing the children.”
“Not what. Whom. And it’s you and me. My priority is us. I love you, Jude.”
I must have caved in, because his arms tightened around me as he went in for another kiss.
“Please tell me you’ll try again, baby. I miss you so much. OuNYe, the restaurant, none of it makes sense if I can’t share it with you. You’re what makes me happy.”
My heart was going to burst, just explode in my chest from absolute happiness.
“Te amo,Ernesto Vasquez. I can’t even believe you did all this.” I wrapped my arms around his neck reveling in having his body so close. “So is this it? Are we finally going to spread books and Caribbean food to the Finger Lakes youth like you wanted?”
Nesto beamed at my question, then answered in a strong sure voice, “Vamos, mi amor.”
epilogue
jude
At some point I would stop waking up with a grin on my face but today was not that day. “How are you this awake already?” I grumbled feigning annoyance. It was still dark out, which meant it was probably before five a.m., but Nesto seemed to be fully up. He was busy running his hands up my chest and neck while he licked my shoulders.
“Because I can’t keep my hands to myself when you’re in bed all warm and soft next to me.”
I shivered, letting the last bit of sleep melt away as my brain caught up with the effect Nesto’s touch was having on my body. I turned my head to the side, giving him more access and put my hands over his.
“Buenos Dias, mi cielo. How did you sleep?” I would never stop getting a small thrill when I heard the many endearments Nesto constantly used. “My sky” in Spanish was a new one.
I shook my head and answered, “Buenos Dias,” lifting his hand to my mouth.
I put his fingers in my mouth and sucked, getting them wet. I wasn’t sure if I was up for much more than kissing, but his nearness had me hot and bothered. His erection was grinding up against my ass, making things a lot more interesting than any Saturday morning at five a.m. had any right to be.
