10. Antonio
Antonio
They never made it to lunch.
After picking up the third camera and hiking back to the Jeep, Lucky called off the date. It was clear the problem with the land surveyor had put the omega in a terrible mood.
“I’m really sorry, I just… I need to drop these cameras off at the university and I need to call my dad and—” Antonio held up a hand, cutting off Lucky’s rambling apology.
“The apologies are unnecessary.” When Lucky opened his mouth once more, Antonio shifted to slide his hand along the back of the omega’s neck.
He squeezed gently, rubbing thumb along the tense cord of muscle between his shoulder and neck.
Antonio pulled out of the parking lot before continuing, “I’ll inevitably have to ditch a date or a million other important events because someone broke a leg climbing a tree they never should have been near.
I’ll apologize every time, but explanations are gonna drive you mad. ”
“…That’s not the same.” Lucky huffed.
“Of course it is. You don’t need to explain why you’re cutting the date short. You have things to do.” Antonio moved his hand up, rubbing the base of Lucky’s skull. The reaction was immediate. A soft purr slipped free as pale lashes fluttered.
“You’re supposed to be irritated about plans changing suddenly.” Lucky mumbled but his head lolled forward and there was little heat behind the words.
Antonio drove one handed, navigating the familiar roads with ease. “Are you going to be angry if I have to back out of a date because of my job?”
It had happened before.
Dating was treacherous and led to numerous SAR members quitting or moving to part-time so they could satisfy their partner’s needs. Antonio didn’t have that luxury. It was his unit; he had to be available. More than one partner had grown frustrated with his schedule.
“Of course not! You’re saving people, that’s a little hard to be mad about.” Lucky’s brows pinched together, head turning to him. “Wait, did that happen?”
“Does it surprise you?” Antonio raised a brow. “You’re saving turtles and the environment and doing important work. That takes dedication. And sometimes, people feel like they are in competition with that dedication. Or that has been my experience, unfortunately.”
Lucky was quiet for a moment. The tension seeped out of his shoulders as he relaxed fully into Antonio’s touch. “If I ever act like that, remind me of this conversation.”
Antonio laughed, squeezing the back of Lucky’s neck. “Same to you. We’re busy people, if this is going to work I think we first have to agree not to launch into explanations every time we have to run off.”
“Ugh, Jackie said the same thing. About being busy and respecting schedules.” Lucky straightened up, prompting Antonio to release his neck. The omega was quick to catch his hand, holding it tight as he pressed a kiss to Antonio’s knuckles. The sweet gesture made him smile.
“Your brother sounds like a smart person; I look forward to meeting him.” The tension had passed.
“Might be sooner than you think with all of this…” Lucky waved his free hand, melting into the passenger seat. “I need to find the paperwork mom filed. And I need to file a complaint and an emergency request to review the protective status.”
“You have a lot on your mind, if there is anything I can do to help, let me know.” He squeezed Lucky’s hand tight.
“I will.” Lucky peered over at him. “Thank you. For coming out, for being so understanding, I really appreciate it.”
Antonio threaded their fingers together properly. “This was still one of the better dates I’ve been on. I’m already looking forward to the next one.”
“I’ll leave planning the next one to you.” Lucky huffed, “Since mine got blown up by bureaucrats. Speaking of… You didn’t seem too thrilled to be thanked for your help. Is that because something happened or…” There was a pause, and then a tiny shrug, “Sorry, I’m prying aren’t I?”
“I think we’re exploring dating, so if there is ever a time to pry, this is it.” Antonio hoped he didn’t sound too presumptuous.
“We are! Exploring dating, that is… We are. I want to see where this all goes.” Lucky’s cheeks were charmingly red when Antonio used the opportunity of a turn to really look at the omega.
His sweet scent was starting to fill the car properly.
Antonio wished the roads would grow a little longer, just to give him a few more minutes in Lucky’s presence…
“Good, because I’m eager to learn more about you too.” He was stalling the answer just a little, “As for bureaucrats… Well, besides giving us a hard time during when we started the SAR squad, let’s just say I’m not a huge fan of the Lyrica Beach crowd.”
Lucky winced, “Yeah, neither is dad… He calls it the ‘sore spot of a generation’ which I didn’t fully understand until now. If this land sale happens…”
Antonio squeezed Lucky’s hand. “It won’t.”
“When you say it, it sounds like the truth, Captain.” Lucky rewarded him with that little laugh that made his heart flip over in his chest.
Unfortunately, the road didn’t grow any longer. The university came up before he was ready. He helped Lucky with the bags, setting them on the curb. “Don’t hesitate to text me. For this or just to chat… I might not respond right away but I promise I won’t leave you hanging too long.”
“Same to you, I’m only ever a text away.” Lucky cocked his head to the side, smiling. Antonio wanted to kiss him. It must have shown on his face because Lucky closed the distance between them. “All things considered, I had a good morning, Antonio.”
“That’s a relief.” Antonio cupped Lucky’s face, rubbing his thumb along Lucky’s cheek.
“Are you going to claim your after-date kiss then or…?” Lucky’s teasing smile as he pushed his sunglasses up to flash those gorgeous blue eyes at him was enough to make Antonio melt.
“Don’t mind if I do…” He didn’t need to be told twice.
“Bienvenido, how can I— Tonio?” Antonio dropped onto the office couch as Mateo looked up from whatever paperwork he was processing, groaning dramatically. “Weren’t you on a date? What happened, please tell me you didn’t already fuck it up…”
“No, no, not me. The fucking government is conspiring against me.” He sighed, staring up at the ceiling.
He almost drove home. It was his day off; he had errands to run and laundry to do…
But the idea of sitting home alone with his thoughts turned his stomach.
As much as he scolded Mateo for overworking, SAR was more than just a job.
It was more his home than the one he inherited.
“You’re gonna need to explain before I assume we’re staging the first coup in like three hundred years.” Mateo stood from the desk, dragging a chair near the couch. His friend was clearly eager.
“We went out looking for turtles, collected his camera, had a great conversation going… And then Evan from the Surveyors Office showed up. Turns out, someone wants to buy the beach Lucky’s turtles are supposed to hatch on.
Something about the protective status not being filed.
I don’t know, but it sounds like a mess.
” He pinched the bridge of his nose. There was a headache building behind his eyes.
“Oh… Oh.” That second sound had Antonio tilting his head to look at his friend.
Mateo’s brow was creased, lips pulling a frown that tugged at the jagged scar cutting through his cheek and down his jaw.
“Misha said the Melody Resort execs were in a fluff over some new competition. I wonder if it’s related. ”
“Yeah… yeah that sounds about right. If he happens to say anything else…” He didn’t like prying into their relationship. Misha hated him enough for Mateo’s hectic work-life.
“We’ll see.” Mateo shrugged. “So, the date ended sour?”
“A bit. We had a nice chat in the car but… A land sale, Mateo. It’s Lyrica Beach all over again.” Antonio threw his hands up just to let them flop back to the couch. He felt useless. Worse than useless… He felt guilty.
“You need to let go of Lyrica Beach.” Mateo held a hand up before Antonio could launch into tired arguments, “You’re not your father. You’re not responsible for that sale, you were four.”
His father. The drunken official who approved several pieces of pristine beach to be sold off to private international interests.
By the time the investigation happened, construction had started.
The corruption was clear, but to stop construction would cost more money than Paradise could handle at the time.
Lyrica Beach got its own representative for those corporate interests.
None of which were more personally offensive than the sprawling Melody Resort.
“Thirty years is apparently enough time to forget the strife that all caused.” Antonio sighed, “And somehow, despite the odds, I’m involved.”
“I mean, you don’t have to be.” Mateo kicked the couch, “You could call it off with the beautiful and fascinating omega and continue on as our Captain while avoiding any and all political ventures.”
“Or?” Antonio prompted because that absolutely wasn’t an option.
“Or you face the future head on.” It sounded so simple when Mateo said it. “You’ve grown into an incredible man, Tonio. Don’t let ghosts drag you down. For all you know, you might be staring down your future.”
“My future…” Antonio huffed, “You’re quite the optimist today.”
“You caught me on a good day.” Mateo smiled wide, “But am I really wrong? If things go smoothly…”
“Except things aren’t going smoothly right now.” Antonio reminded him.
“Consider it an opportunity! You’re normally the optimist, Antonio. If you weren’t, we wouldn’t have this place, this team… Where’s our fearsome leader?” Mateo’s teasing made him laugh.
“Alright, alright… Keep my head up, yeah?” He could do that.
Hopefully.