CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
“Uh… uh…” Toro must have thought the date was over, because he’s looking at me like I just asked him something crazy. “Home?”
“We have to wait for Alma, remember?” I let my fingers intertwine with his. “Plus, there’s no way I’m letting that be the whole date. It’s fun. Come on! Aren’t you having fun?”
He just stares at me, clearly not amused at all.
“Not fun,” Toro grumbles before pushing me up against the wall. It’s not rough, though, he just whines and hugs me extra tight. “More fun at home.”
I almost feel bad for him. “But this is what normal couples do. They go on dates, and walk around, and—”
“Don’t want normal. Just want you.”
That nearly gets me. For a second calling Alma and asking her to drive us back early doesn’t seem so crazy at all, especially since he’s holding on to me so needily. But I’m not letting him win. Not today.
“You have me,” I remind him before sliding out from the wall and beginning to drag him down towards the park I saw earlier. “But sometimes we have to do things I like too, you know? It can’t always be cuddling in your bed.”
He whimpers, but the look in his eyes tells me he knows I’m right. “Okay…” The sigh he lets out is so defeated, as if I’m being so cruel by making him go on a real date with me. “Makes you… happy?”
“Very much so.”
That seems to kickstart a change in his attitude, since my legs get lifted off the ground before I process what’s happening. He’s carrying me bridal style, smiling at me. “Wife.”
“What?”
“Wife!” Toro says again, his touch so gentle. “Mine. My wife.”
Of course I’m blushing, even though I wish I wasn’t. “Why do I have to be the wife? Why can’t you be the wife?”
His head tilts to the side, before he just shrugs. “Don’t wanna be.”
Even though I wanna open my mouth and complain about how that’s not fair, he’s compromising and already in a better mood. So if I have to be his ‘wife’ to get a normal day out, so be it.
“Miss… radio,” he mumbles, boots thudding against the sidewalk. Despite how cute he looks in his outfit, he was absolutely a monster to dress. Not only is his wardrobe already small, but most of it is stained. I didn’t check to see how many of those stains are blood. “...Music.”
Toro sounds so sad, which makes me feel as though I have to fix it. “You broke it, remember? You were upset.”
“I know…” he says grimly. “Still miss it.”
The hand on my back pushes me upwards so he can easily plant a chaste kiss on my forehead, before pulling me closer to his broad chest. Even though I was just manhandled I did sort of like it.
“Maybe we can get you another one,” I offer despite the fact I have no clue how much money is left in my account. Between the countless subscriptions I can’t even use and rent for an apartment I’m never going to see again, a big fat zero could be waiting for me. “Should we go see?”
Toro must not have expected that since his eyes get all big and adorable. Makes me wanna pepper kisses all over his face, but I restrain myself. “Really? Mean it?”
“Of course I mean it, Tor. But you can’t break this one, okay?”
“Won’t.” He sets me down—which is good because people were starting to walk by—and puffs out his chest. “Promise.”
I just smile and nod, taking his hand and leading him towards the electronics store. It’s made of brick and has a sign so faded the colors are non-existent, but I’m sure there’s a cheap radio inside for him.
Glass doors slide open, an older man standing behind the counter. He’s tinkering away at something, but utters out a soft ‘welcome’ when we enter. Toro spots the cheap crappy radio section almost instantly, and begins speed walking towards them.
Unsteady wooden shelves carry a few boxes with CD radios in them.
Toro reaches for the bright red one, holding it close to his chest and looking down at me.
There’s a look of hesitance that flickers across his face, but then he brings one hand back down to mine and immediately eases up when I take it.
“...Thank you,” he mutters so quietly I almost don’t hear it.
I rest my head on his arm. “I haven’t even bought it yet. For all I know my account could have ten bucks in it. Let’s see, first.”
Approaching the counter is what makes the man finally acknowledge us properly, and even that is just him grunting before snatching the box out of Toro’s hands to scan it. It rings up as thirty dollars even, which is pretty good I think.
A weird sense of normalcy sucker punches me when I dig my wallet out of my pocket, finally getting to do something on my own accord.
Even if it’s just the simple act of paying for a gift for my boyfriend.
After briefly forgetting my pin I wait anxiously, while Toro stands just as anxious next to me.
It’s accepted, the receipt comes out, and we’re sent on our way. Toro is clinging to me now, nuzzling his cheek against mine. “Thank you. Thank you, thank you.”
“Ah… It’s just a radio, Toro.” I mumble, cheeks all hot. “It made you happy, so…”
“You make me happy.” His voice is so low it’s almost a growl. “Happiest.”
It’s too hot for me to wanna get all bothered, so I just kiss him on the cheek and laugh softly. The box is tucked under one of his arms, his attention solely on me. Even now when he looks at me that way my heart skips a beat.
“Let’s go wait for Alma in the park. We can get home and see how that thing works.”
Of course Toro isn’t about to argue with me, just holding my hand extra tight as we walk to the park. It’s actually really nice, with a fountain in the center and a ton of benches. A few trees provide shade to it all, children running around thanks to the playground.
We approach one of the wood benches, but before I can sit down Toro grabs me and pulls me into his lap. His arms are wrapped around my body, the box resting in my lap. It’s sort of embarrassing to be so lovey-dovey in public, but I’m proud of him for being so open.
I’m more than content to sit there, happily basking in the sun like two lazy cats. An older looking woman passes by, with wispy white hair, soft blue eyes, and the cutest little outfit on. But that’s not what catches Toro’s attention.
It’s the little dog at her side, who immediately springs to life when it catches sight of my boyfriend. The little golden-brown creature races over to us, pressing its head against Toro’s leg.
“Betsy!” The woman cries, chasing after her dog. “I’m so sorry. She must really like y’all.”
Toro shifts so only one arm is wrapped around me, the other moving to affectionately pet the dog’s head. “...Cute.”
The motion of his hand is so slow, so delicate. Like he’s aware of the strength he holds, and knows he needs to be careful with such a little thing. I’m not the only one who notices, clearly.
“You’re real gentle,” the woman coos. “What a sweetie pie you are. Come on Betsy, leave the nice man and his girlfriend alone.”
We both freeze as the woman begins walking off, all happy and clueless to the fact she literally just blew my mind. What the hell does she mean, ‘girlfriend?’