Chapter 35
KISSES THAT TASTE OF THE FUTURE
ELENA
Before we got married, Victoria and I always found a way to turn something simple into a sweet and quite romantic moment.
We had that kind of connection that let us know exactly what we wanted, and that helped us make the simplest things unforgettable.
When she suggested we go on a date and enjoy Ibiza like we used to years ago, I didn’t expect her to stick to it so faithfully.
Visiting our favorite restaurant, talking, sharing things we didn’t know about each other has made me feel comfortable, calm, at peace.
These past few days by her side, I haven’t stopped wondering if she’d changed much, if her life in Madrid had caused the Victoria of the past to fade into the shadow of a more obsessive and methodical one.
But no, she’s still the same person who leaves her coffee on the kitchen table because she’s running late, or who falls asleep on the couch because she’s so tired she doesn’t feel like doing anything.
A few hours ago, the sun gave way to the moon, and after a brief walk along the beach, the hotel has become our final stop. We’ve had such a wonderful time together that I don’t want to go home, and though I haven’t hinted at it, I hope that tonight she’ll pull me into her arms and never let me go.
It’s now the dead of night, and the darkness envelops us in a thick, dark blanket dotted with stars.
From the rooftop of Gardenias, you can see the lights of other hotels nestled in the rocks, and the island’s streetlights create lines of light wherever you look.
We’ve been sitting here for over an hour, enjoying each other’s company and the sound of the crashing waves.
We’ve had a lovely evening; dinner was delicious, and I’m glad to have discovered that our relationship is still going strong despite the time we’ve been apart.
To my right, our half-empty champagne glasses sit, and we’ve settled onto a blanket, embracing each other in silence, gazing at those twinkling points in the sky that invite us to daydream with our eyes open.
The conversation has been silent for quite a while now, and although I’ve always cherished these moments, part of me tenses as the seconds tick by.
I know it’s because I’m afraid—because I’m terrified that none of this will work out and that, at any moment, problems will start cropping up that make our relationship impossible.
“I was thinking…” I murmur before sitting up a little and looking her in the eyes. “I don’t want you to think I’m rushing you, but you could use these weeks to take a quick trip to Madrid.”
“Are you tired of me already?” she asks, letting out a little laugh, and then falling silent.
I know she’s weighing the idea, turning things over in her mind and thinking about what will happen once she returns to the capital.
“I guess I have no choice.” She sits up, wrapping her arms around her legs.
“Something tells me Joana expects me to do this, and that’s why she isn’t answering my calls, so… ”
“There are still weeks until the wedding. I don’t think Carolina will mind,” I explain, reaching for one of her hands as I sit down beside her.
“If you explain what’s going on, the only thing she’ll do is throw her hands up in the air and scream with excitement.
” I burst out laughing. “I think she’s the one who wants to see us together again the most.”
“Her and your brother. Don’t leave him out of the picture.”
“Jorge?” I shake my head. “I highly doubt my brother would be particularly thrilled about this. He’s been with me the whole time; he knows how hard it’s been for me, and the last thing he’d want is to see me with you again.”
“Well, he was the one who confessed to me that you were still in love with me.” Victoria gives me a knowing look, and I open my eyes wide in disbelief. “I know, I was surprised too when he told me. Carolina didn’t want him to, but he just blurted it out and…”
“I’m blown away…”
“Apparently, the only one who flat-out refuses to accept this is Ana,” she adds, a certain sadness clouding her eyes. “It’ll take me a little longer to get her to let go of her resentment toward me. But I don’t judge her—you’re her best friend, and it can’t have been easy for her.”
“She just wants me to be happy,” I say, and then I let myself slump against her shoulder.
“She knows I’m in love with you, that what I’ve wanted most is for you to show up on the island and tell me you’re staying,” I sigh, and our fingers begin to play with each other.
“She’s a little stubborn, but she’ll understand eventually. ”
“I wonder if they’ve noticed anything…”
“I haven’t seen them much since the club,” I confess, meeting her gaze. “Have you spent time with them?”
“With Inaki mostly. You know he and I are almost like siblings,” she tells me, biting her lip. “But there’s a chance they might have noticed the silly smile that comes over my face when we text.”
“Vicky!” I exclaim, straightening my back and slapping her arm.
“I’m sure they’re betting on how long it’ll take us to hook up,” she adds, and I shake my head in surprise. “No? Just wait and see.”
“It’s all happened in three days, can you believe it? If what you’re saying is true, none of them will have guessed right. It’s been a rush, like a really strong drug.”
“And to think I don’t even like that kind of thing,” she says, and we both laugh. “The truth is, it feels like a dream, and I have a feeling it’ll disappear at some point.”
Finding out that we both feel the same way, that we’re afraid it might not be real, makes me feel whole and supported.
I’d love to have my brother here right now, to let him know how I’m doing and get one of his great pieces of advice.
But I don’t want anyone else getting involved in what’s happening; I want it to be just the two of us deciding what to do or how far to go.
“Is there anything I can do to make it clear to you that you’re not dreaming?” I ask, looking into her eyes, and with my fingertips I stroke her hair, the skin of her cheeks, and also her neck.
“I think so…”
“What?” I murmur softly.
“First, kiss me…” she asks, and before she can finish her sentence, I press my lips to hers, giving way to a tender moment filled with love. “And second, by staying with me tonight. I promise to be very good to you.”
“As good as last time?” I ask with a mischievous smile and a raised eyebrow.
“One can always do better…” she confesses, and when she kisses me again, her hands on my face and her tongue seeking mine, I know I won’t be able to refuse anything she asks of me.