CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
A loud clap of thunder wakes me up, cutting through the harsh pitter-patter of rain hitting the window in Toro’s room. Without missing a beat I reach for my boyfriend, only to find his side of the bed alarmingly empty. Okay. That’s fine. He’s probably just in the bathroom.
Except when I finally drag myself out of bed to go check, he’s not. But suspiciously enough his work boots have disappeared, dragging mud out to the door. Why did Toro go outside so late? What the hell could he possibly be doing?
I groan before sliding my shoes on, taking one of Toro’s big jackets to protect me from all the rain. I guess umbrellas aren’t a thing in the Tavera household because there just aren’t any, so I just pull the hood up and follow his footsteps out the back door and through the farm.
Mud sloshes underneath me with each step, getting my shoes all gross. It’s absolutely coming down out here, and I just need to figure out where Toro went and get him back inside. I’m a dripping mess when I reach the barn, and the way the door is slightly ajar tells me all I need to know.
Why is he in here?
That’s the only thing on my mind when I slip inside, the stale barn air not as bad as it had been earlier. I trace his wet footsteps to where the cows are. I can’t see him, but I can hear him now.
He’s knelt down facing away from me, something rustling in his arms that’s too hard to make out in the darkness. It’s too quiet, which only fuels the hundreds of bad thoughts I have. He was jealous of the calf, that’s true. I thought it was cute, but what if it wasn’t?
What if he did something to it? What if he thought I wouldn’t wake up? What would that even mean? Aside from the fact I was totally and completely wrong about him. I thought when he swore he’d stop eating human flesh it meant he was changing for the better.
But what if I was wrong? It wouldn’t be the first or last time my stupid naivety has gotten me in trouble. I’m shaking now, forcing myself to take a step forward.
“Toro?” My voice is a lot more scared than I’d like it to be, but the way he immediately stops dead in his tracks as if he’s been caught doesn’t help to alleviate what I’m feeling.
He only turns halfway, not enough for me to see what he’s doing. His eyes meet mine, expression shifting to something different. He can sense the fact that I’m doubting him, even without me saying it I know he can read my mind.
Toro turns properly, standing up with the calf in his arms. Toro Jr. lets out a happy little noise, wrapped up all snug in a dirty blue blanket.
He frowns at me, setting it down with the other cows.
There’s a lot more blankets scattered around, making sure they’re all nice and warm in this sudden weather shift.
“Cold,” he says gruffly. “Blanket…”
I am such a fucking idiot.
Babbling a worthless apology isn’t enough. My legs move on their own, bringing me to a run so I can jump into my boyfriend’s arms. He’s definitely caught off guard but reacts quick enough to catch me, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“You are so fucking sweet, Toro,” I exhale before peppering his face with kisses. “You really brought all the barn animals blankets?”
“Cuh… Cold…” he repeats in a tone that almost seems bashful. His attention goes everywhere but me, cheeks growing hot. He holds me as tight as he always does, lifting me up higher to nudge his nose against my cheek.
My heart explodes in my chest, and this only confirms what I already knew and never should’ve doubted in the first place: Toro is a good person. He’s my good person, and he needs to know that. So naturally the next words that come out of my mouth don’t express that at all.
“I’m so in love with you.” The words tumble out of my mouth, and it’s not as graceful as I would’ve liked. But he smiles genuinely, eyes full of adoration and love—both of which are for me. It makes me feel something I’ve never felt before when he looks at me that way
His lips quiver but the words don’t come out, so instead he just kisses me. Even when I’m gently pushing on his chest to try and recapture my breath he doesn’t let me pull away. He decides when the kiss is over, and luckily he stops it before I start suffocating.
But he’s not done, delicately pressing me up against the wall. Our foreheads touch, and he’s about to try and do it all over again before I jerk my head away. Of course he whines, but I think he expected it since he just huffs and presses his head against my shoulder.
“You’re soaking wet,” I frown, finally not distracted enough to notice how his clothes are saturated. “You’re gonna get sick, Tor.”
He ignores me, features warm and inviting. Like I never doubted him in the first place, like I never thought the worst of him. It just makes me love him even more. “Kiss…?”
“No. We need to get you back in bed or else you’re really gonna regret it.”
Toro butts his head against mine like a needy animal. “Kiss. Kiss, Nico. Kiss...”
Whenever my name leaves his lips I always break just a bit, and I know he’s caught on to that. With an irritated groan I give him a quick kiss, just enough to placate him.
“Let’s go back now, Toro.”
He squints at me, brow furrowed as if I just committed the ultimate betrayal.
Unfortunately for him he is absolutely adorable, so I just bring a hand up to stroke at his cheek.
Like a moth to a flame he immediately shuts his eyes and enjoys it for a moment, before they shoot open and find my face again.
The expression on his face is even cuter now, saying “that was a mean trick” without actually saying it. He pulls me closer to his chest and scurries back to the house. He’s quiet with the doors, only setting me down once we’re back in his room.
Now that I’ve got him in proper lighting I’m even more upset with him.
Rain puddles underneath him, and without thinking I start peeling off his clothes because I don’t want him to get sick.
He lets me, just staring down at me with a dopey smile.
I’m halfway through pulling down his overalls before I realize that I actually haven’t seen him naked yet, and I don’t think I’m ready for all that.
“Go. Change.” My voice is low, but not in a threatening way.
I expect an argument but instead he actually listens, disappearing into the bathroom with a fresh pair of pajamas and a towel in his hands. Sitting back on the bed, I wait until he comes out again. He’s dressed in red flannel pajama pants and no shirt.
Where the hell is his shirt?