Life Is Bliss
Robbie
One Month Later
The warm scent of fresh-brewed coffee hit my senses just as a different kind of warmth traced my jaw with kisses.
“Wake up, love.”
I’d never tire of his voice. So sexy and inviting. Without opening my eyes, I tilted my head toward his kiss, then grabbed his neck and pulled him closer. Fire burned within me as his lips trailed down my neck to my sternum. He flicked his tongue over my Adam’s apple, and I was done for.
Esteban laughed as I dragged him into the bed and straddled him.
“You don’t get to do things like that and leave me like this.” I put his hand under my boxers to show him exactly what he caused.
He closed his fist around me and stroked hard.
"Fuck," I panted.
He smiled. “Who said I planned to leave my future husband hanging?” He shifted below me, his bulge as magnificent as always. “The coffee can wait.”
“Here you go!” Stephany passed me my chicken wings. “Are the plans still on for tonight?”
I nodded and took a bite. “Yeah. Esteban gets off at six.”
She wiped the counter of her truck. “And you?”
“We get off at five,” Miguel said when I took my seat beside him.
“Cool.” Eva brought our sodas. “So we meet at eight. I’m ready for some drinks.”
I smiled. “We all are.”
Esteban and I had planned a night out with friends to celebrate our engagement.
Tonight I’d give him a ring—black with two rubies encrusted within an infinity symbol.
Miguel helped me pick it out, and it was my first debt, but I’d gladly pay it.
No one knew except for Miguel, who’d been sworn to secrecy.
I planned to give it to Esteban as soon as Miguel’s friend met me later tonight.
He was engraving our initials on the inside.
“Which places do you plan to hit?” Stephany asked.
I dipped a wing in the guava sauce. “I want to eat pizza at Di’Zucchero and some gelato at Terrazzo.” I took a bite. God, these wings.
“We might get some margaritas at Xolo Taco,” Miguel said, knowing I’d meet our friend there.
Stephany beamed at him. “Now, that’s what I’m talking about.”
Eva giggled. “Seems like we have a plan.”
“That meat lover’s pizza was amazing!” Raúl started across the street.
Eva grabbed Stephany’s hand as we followed him toward Terrazzo.
Esteban had his arm around my shoulders. “Same as usual?”
I nodded, eager for that Ferrero gelato.
“One Ferrero and one coffee, please.” Esteban smacked my butt once the employee turned away. “Get us a good seat outside, love.”
Steph grabbed my hand and pulled me onto the balcony that faced the busy street. “Come on. Let’s get that table. They’re just leaving.”
Miguel tapped his watch. In fifteen minutes, it would be time to meet our friend at the other side of the street.
I hoped Esteban wouldn’t insist on getting the margaritas himself, or else the surprise would be over.
Yes, it was a bit cringey, but the ring would be hanging from a thin skewer pierced through a fresh lime wedge. The bartender was in on the plan.
I ate the last of my ice cream and threw it in the trash, watching Esteban as he talked to a childhood friend down on the sidewalk. He’d seen her from the balcony and wanted to say hi. Steph, Eva, and Raúl went with him, while Miguel and I stayed behind.
We reached them and started talking, but it was almost time.
“Miguel, why don’t we order some margaritas?” I winked.
“Sure.” He turned to the girls. “Original or frozen?”
“Frozen!” Eva and Steph said in unison.
“Original,” Raúl said.
“Where are you going?” Esteban asked as I was about to cross the street.
“To Xolo Taco to grab some margaritas. Want one?” I crossed my mental fingers.
Esteban smiled. “Sure. I’ll go with you.” He started toward me.
I raised my hand. “Stay with your friend. It’ll just take a minute.”
Esteban raised an eyebrow, then nodded. “Okay. Be careful.”
I smiled. “Sure will. Miguel will help.”
Miguel and I crossed the street and made it to Xolo Taco. Our friend waited by the bar. The ring was beautiful, and our initials had turned out perfectly.
“Thank you!” I passed it to the bartender.
Miguel ordered the rest of the margaritas as I waited for Esteban’s.
The ring, safe around the skewer, rested on top of the lime. Its rubies glinted under the colored lights of the bar. The margarita was perfect, served inside a red cup I’d bought from a souvenir store and brought earlier so it would be different from the rest. Special.
“He’ll love it,” Miguel said as the bartender passed the drinks over.
“Let’s go.” I took the souvenir cup and my margarita and headed outside.
Miguel followed with a carton containing the other four margaritas.
Our group was still talking with Esteban’s friend, laughing at whatever joke she had told.
The music was loud, and the crowd along both sides of the street made it feel like a party had been thrown just for this moment.
Esteban looked at me from where he stood, and I started toward him, entranced by his beautiful smile.
Miguel called my name as I reached the edge of the street, but I was too excited to see Esteban’s reaction to pay attention.
I stepped off the curb.
A horn blasted.
Esteban’s eyes widened in horror.
I turned toward the sound. A car was coming straight at me, weaving past the others as if the road belonged to it.
“Robbie!” Esteban’s scream tore through the music a split second before the impact.
I clenched the cup as the world spun. My head hit first, pain bursting through me. My skin scraped across the asphalt. I squeezed my eyes shut as a white flash of pain erupted behind them.
When I forced them open, everything was off. Blood pooled around me in a dark puddle. The cup slipped from my fingers, the skewer with the ring rolling away.
I took a shuddering breath as I saw him, my love, running toward me.
Then everything went dark.