To Love Again
Esteban
The door swung open.
Robbie dried his feet on the coffee-bean carpet. A glance at Gaby was all it took for her to take over my order as I grabbed a towel and dashed toward my head-to-toe drenched boyfriend.
His cream shirt was soaked. He’d catch a cold in no time.
I always fought with him about this. He loved the rain and never carried an umbrella.
His immune system wasn’t as strong as mine, and he’d always get sick.
Sometimes I wondered if he did it so I’d turn into this obsessed caretaker. He loved to be pampered.
“God. You’re soaked.” My chest almost touched his as I pushed the small towel into his hands.
He chuckled. “Don’t worry. It’s nothing.”
“I’ll get you another towel.” I ran behind the counter and came right back. I pulled up the sleeves of my burgundy Henley shirt and gently patted his wet hair. “It is. You know you’re prone to getting sick.”
He widened his eyes. “Esteban? How do you know that?”
I froze, and my heart pounded like crazy.
Fuck. It slipped.
I cleared my throat. “Everyone’s prone to getting sick if they get sopping wet like you are.” I continued drying his hair, then took a step back. “Now, go to your table, and wait for me. I’m going to treat you to one of my specialty brews.”
His body responded immediately. Goosebumps rose on his arms, and it was clearly not from the cold. He got pleasure from my dominant side. It was one of the many things that drove me wild about him.
Robbie accepted me as I was and knew I’d take care of him no matter what.
When he sat, something feral stirred within me. Something I hadn’t felt in a long time. The compliance and the way he obeyed set my whole body on fire. He was made for me, and I for him. I missed it.
My hands ached with the need to touch him. My cock throbbed to be inside him. To claim back what was only mine. A shudder of desire ran through me as I remembered the way he came undone for me. His moans as I cuffed him to the bed and pleasured him with my mouth. The way he took all of me.
I rolled my shoulders back and composed myself before going back behind the counter. I’d prepare his favorite.
Gaby darted her eyes between us and bumped my shoulder playfully. “Behave. Your eyes speak for you, and this is no place for what you’re thinking of.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t hide my grin. She knew me well.
Drinks in hand, I made my way across the café.
Robbie’s khaki jeans wrapped his thighs snugly, and his tight ass fit the high chair in an oh-so-sexy way.
“Here. They’re mochas with oat milk.” I sat next to him.
“My favorite.” He sighed, lifting the cup to his mouth. “It smells heavenly.”
Robbie took a sip, then closed his eyes. He’d told me countless times how the creamy, sweet taste of chocolate mixed with the bold flavor of coffee fired his taste buds. How the silkiness of it as it slid down his throat made it feel almost like sin itself.
My chest lightened at his relaxed features. At the way his face softened when he took a sip. It was a pleasure to watch him drink coffee. You could feel how much he enjoyed it. How much happiness it gave him.
I recalled the countless times he’d sit right here, doing his sketches as I laughed over his silly jokes.
I swallowed dryly, my gaze set on his lips.
On his throat as he swallowed. Fuck. A sudden warmth spread throughout my body at the memories of him.
Of the way he could use that pretty mouth.
Of the ecstasy he could bring me. Oh, the things I’d do to him if I could.
The heights I could take him to. I parted my lips.
His honey eyes settled on me. Some foam was lodged on the corner of his mouth.
I touched my lips. “You’ve got some here.”
He brushed it with his thumb, then licked it clean.
My breath caught, and I cupped his cheek. “You missed a spot.” I wiped my finger over the same spot, softly caressing his skin before withdrawing my hand.
He shivered.
Not many would notice, but I’d memorized his reactions and lived for them. Pleasure swept through me at the knowledge of his body still recognizing my touch.
I let out a muted groan. “I see you liked it.” My voice was thicker than I wanted, but I couldn’t help it.
Robbie dipped his chin, averting his eyes.
I lifted it. “You’re cute.” I stroked his chin, fought the urge to tell him everything, and drank my coffee.
We finished our mochas in silence, then went for a walk.
“This is where I write,” I said.
We strolled by the same spot where we sat the day he left his parents. The park was empty.
He jerked his face toward me. “You’re an author?”
I shrugged. “A poet.”
Would he connect the dots? Would he know I was the one who wrote the book he always carried with him?
He walked ahead of me and blocked my way, gripping both my shoulders. “For real? Show me!”
A chuckle escaped me at his giddiness.
I lifted an eyebrow. “You like poetry?”
“I love it!” He widened his eyes and stepped back, as if suddenly realizing he’d been touching me. “Sorry. I mean, I don’t know if I’ve always liked it, but when I woke in the hospital from my coma, someone left this book for me. I hid it so I could take it home. It’s the one I bring to the café.”
Carmen told me she’d been the one to tell him about it so he’d find it.
He shifted in place. “You see, my parents. They…” He clenched his fists.
“They’re using the doctor’s orders of letting everything come naturally to me to the extreme.
I don’t have anything from my past or anything that could give me a hint as to who I was.
They told me to trust them, that I should use this opportunity to create a new life.
I asked about the accident and got nothing.
I asked for pictures, and they stayed silent.
That book is the only thing I have from my past. It’s been an anchor ever since I found it.
I’ve searched the title, but nothing comes up.
There’s no author name printed on it, just a note. ”
I’d expected as much, but it still hurt like hell. For them to force a new life on him. My blood boiled at what they did to hide me from him. My chest tightened, my heart sinking under the weight of it. Thank God I’d left the book behind.
I took his hand. “I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I’ll show you my poems someday. Promise.” I stroked the inside of his palm, trying to give him some kind of comfort. I couldn’t imagine the sense of loss he was experiencing. “Want to grab something to eat?”
His stomach rumbled, and he giggled. “I guess that’s a yes.”
I took him to the Miramar Food Truck Park. I called Stephany and Eva and told them about us coming today. It was part of my plan to bring him to the places we frequented and see where it took him.
“How can I help you?” Stephany’s throat bobbed as she waited for Robbie’s order.
“Chicken wings. They’re my favorite.” He glanced my way. “What do you want? It’s on me.”
I shook my head. “No way. I took you on this date. I’ll pay for it.”
Robbie’s eyes were about to fall out of their sockets. “A…date.”
I grinned. “Wings for me too.”
I caught Eva smiling from the back and suppressed another chuckle as Steph turned. She wasn’t much of an actress, and her eyes had started to glaze. She was happy.
We ate, then ordered some beer, a stout for him and an IPA for me.
We talked for a couple of hours.
Robbie told me he was looking for a place to sell his art so his parents would stop fussing over him.
He was confused. His parents had told him he threw all his art away, wanting to start a new life.
What he failed to understand was why he couldn’t think of anything other than painting when he woke.
He explained that once he got his art supplies, he started painting, letting his hands create whatever his mind wanted even if it didn’t make sense to him.
He was surprised because, last he remembered, his art was dark and sad, and now it had turned into something different.
A balance of night and light. Of melancholy and happiness.
I itched to see what he had created.
The salsa lessons started.
I lifted my chin toward the crowd that filled the space between the trucks. “Want to dance?” The rhythm had me dancing in place. My body tingled in anticipation.
Robbie paled, which made my insides melt. His soul was so beautiful. “I don’t know. I’ve never danced salsa before.”
I breathed deeply, swallowing back the pain of him forgetting all the nights we spent here, dancing. I offered him my hand. “Come on. I’m sure you’ll be a fast learner.”
He grabbed my hand and closed the space between us. His wide smile erased all my sorrow. We’d build back all we’d lost.
As we approached the space, Carmen danced with Gustavo.
Fuck. I forgot to call her.
I turned to Stephany, who rushed to them before Carmen and Gustavo started toward us.
“Hey, Robbie!” Carmen said when they met us. “Great to see you out of the hospital. This is Gustavo, my boyfriend.”
He stretched his hand toward Gustavo. “I’m Robbie. Carmen took care of me while I was at the hospital.”
“Nice to meet you.” Gustavo grasped his hand.
Carmen glanced my way. “And who’s this handsome fellow?”
Robbie’s face went red. He clutched my forearm, and I did my best to hide the shiver that ran through me at his touch. “Esteban, this is Carmen.” He looked at Carmen. “This is Esteban.”
I smiled. “His date. Nice to meet you both.” I winked.
Robbie widened his eyes, and I led him forward.
Our moves flowed the way they always had. Robbie was an amazing dance partner. After all the twists and turns, he always ended in my arms. We laughed all throughout the evening. I couldn’t remember the last time we had this much fun together.
The sun was setting when I decided to take him for a stroll in our neighborhood. Maybe it would bring forward his memories. We passed the café and continued a few blocks west.
I stopped at the corner in front of our building. “This is where I live. It’s a one-bedroom apartment. Not so big, but it’s home. Except lately…” My breath hitched.