41 Julian
Julian
Marcela and Theo’s engagement party is at the central library downtown, the space inside lit up with lanterns and battery-operated candles.
The circulation desk has been converted to a bar for the night and tables fill the room as small crowds linger and talk among themselves as we wait for the happy couple to arrive.
“Wow.” Leti glances around in awe. “Theo really pulled out all the stops, huh?”
“Apparently, he planned something similar for their first official date, complete with an entire box full of her favorite books signed by the authors,” I tell her. “It all sounded incredibly romantic up until the part where she nearly ran off on him.”
Her mouth drops open.
“Clearly, Marcela has had several epiphanies since then.”
“As she should have.” She chuckles as she spots the bar. “Ooh, you want to get a drink?”
“Lead the way.” I follow in her wake as she grabs my wrist and pulls me to the circulation desk, where Krystal greets us from her post.
“Hey, Julian. And you must be Leti. What can I get you two?” Krystal asks.
“What’s on the menu for tonight?” I ask.
She hands us each a laminated list of offerings.
I learned from Theo that Krystal has been spending the last few months working on a drink menu for the bar they plan on opening.
Tonight is half pop-up, half trial and error.
“Oh wow. These look great. Are these the drinks you’ve been working on for your bar? ”
“Yup.” She nods proudly. “These two have been a hit so far.” She points to the drinks, and when Leti hums in approval, it settles the matter. “Two belladonna elixirs, please.”
Drinks in hand, I settle a hand on the small of Leti’s back and lead her to a table.
“I can’t get over how romantic this is,” she says after a sip. “How do you think Marcela will react when she sees?”
“I hope she doesn’t run out on him again.”
She nudges my ribs with an elbow.
“Marcela’s going to love it. You should see the way those two look at each other. It’s sickening.”
“Oh, I have.” She smirks. “She’s visited the school a few times. Gah, why is love so nauseating to witness when you don’t have it?”
An awkward silence settles over us. Or maybe it’s only uncomfortable for me, holding in my feelings for her like I am.
Her expression doesn’t give away any discomfort, not even when her eyes rise to meet mine.
Just me, then. At lunch when she jokingly asked how we didn’t recognize each other, I couldn’t hold back the truth anymore.
I hadn’t meant to tell her everything then and there, but it came out so easily.
This is different. I remembered you fine was a far easier truth to admit to than I love you, even if it is one word less.
It’s hurting me to hold back even more than the fact that I remembered her all this time, but I don’t want to lose her by giving her more than she can handle all at once.
Not if she’s still terrified we won’t work out in the long run.
“What are you thinking?” she asks, giving me the perfect opening.
I should take it. Tell her how I feel now, worry how she’ll react later.
But I can’t. The moment isn’t right—which is further emphasized when Theo finally walks in with Marcela on his arm.
Her face lights up in surprise as she takes in the crowd, pulling away to hug Angela, who’s the first to greet her.
“Come on,” I tell her, offering my arm. “Let’s go say congrats to the couple of the hour.”
We exchange hugs and pleasantries, and soon the tables are carted off to form a makeshift dance floor and soft music plays as Marcela and Theo slow dance to a song I’ve never heard before.
My chest hurts, watching how right they look together.
That ache in my chest only grows as more couples join around them, the need to have Leti in my arms like an itch under my fingers.
I’m about to ask her to dance when she holds out her hand. A grin I can’t contain takes over my entire face even as I raise a brow at her.
“You dance, Leticia?” I take her hand, squeezing hard in case she changes her mind. “This is certainly a surprise.”
“Don’t get used to it, sunshine boy.” Still, she’s smiling as wide as I am. Her hands wrap behind my neck as mine settle on her waist. “And watch out for your toes. It’s been over a decade since I was forced into a slow dance.”
“You’ll get the hang of it,” I say as she immediately jams my foot with her heel. We stumble backward into another couple, but luckily I’m able to steer us away before the collision gets too ugly. “Guess I spoke too soon.”
“I’m so sorry.” Her cheeks turn pink with embarrassment. “I knew asking you to dance was a bad idea.”
“It’s fine.” I try not to laugh, but she’s too adorable not to. “Here, let me lead, okay?”
“Is that not what I’m doing?”
“When I step forward, you step back.” I demonstrate, and she follows my path. When we manage to do this successfully a few times, I say, “That’s it. You’re doing it.”
“I am?” Her face lights up as we smoothly get through the entire song without any more stumbles. “Hey, this isn’t so bad after all.”
“See? You’re a natural.”
“You’re not funny.” Now that she’s gotten the hang of the steps, she relaxes into me, resting her head against my shoulder. “I’m really glad we did this.”
“So am I.” I let out a sigh. “So, what do you think? The night isn’t over yet, but have I made up for my first two first date flops yet?”
“Oh yeah,” she says. “You made up for those a long time ago, Julian. Trust me.”