Chapter 12
Turns out the perfect place is a hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant that boasts lively music, friendly employees, and minimal customers.
After we parted ways at the church, I went home and debated my decision-making capabilities.
Ultimately, I decided I wanted to meet him, but didn’t delve too deep on why.
“You ever been here?” he asks as the waitress drops off our drinks.
“No.”
He nods, lifting the glass to his lips. His gaze stays trained on me the whole time, causing me to break eye contact first as I pretend to find interest elsewhere in the colorful room.
“So, what have you got yourself into?” he questions.
“Me?” I say, brows going up. “I haven’t gotten into anything.”
“Yet you’re asking about certain families and saying you need help.”
“Let’s not pretend that you’re not—” I cut myself off when someone walks by. “You know…”
His lips curl up into an amused but dangerous smirk. He doesn’t let me off the hook by finishing the sentence or even nodding like he knows what I mean. “I’m what?”
I tilt my head and give him a look. “Don’t act like you haven’t confessed to me.”
His grin widens just a bit. “You still haven’t forgiven me, Father.”
“It’s not me that…never mind. You clearly have a different life than I do. A dangerous one. I assume you have connections that I don’t. And even knowledge that I don’t.”
He shrugs. “Maybe.”
I shake my head, frustrated with his games. “Anyway, I told you, it has nothing to do with me.” Before I can say anything else, the waitress is back with our food.
“?Necesitas algo más?” she says.
“No. Gracias,” he replies with a smile.
“What brought you into the church the first time?” I ask.
He watches me for a few seconds before turning his attention to his food. “I don’t know. Existential crisis?”
“Is that true?”
“We all go through that, don’t we?”
“Sure we do. For different reasons. What were yours?”
“Ah, you know. Questioning the meaning of life…or my place in it.”
I can’t tell if he’s being honest or sarcastic. “Hmm.”
“Are you trying to be my counselor?”
“Just curious is all.”
“You said your father forced you to be a priest,” he says, changing subjects quickly. “Did he know you were gay and that’s why?”
My head pops up, my brows knitting as I quickly scan the room. I’m not wearing anything that would give away the fact that I’m a priest, but it’s still not something I want overheard.
“What?” I ask simply.
“I saw you that night. At the bar with naked women you didn’t even glance at.”
“I’m—”
“A priest. Yeah, I know,” he finishes. “But you’re also a man. And I’m not blind. I see the way you look at me. I remember the way you reacted when I got really close to you.”
His voice is low and his expression intriguing. Under the table I feel his leg brush the inside of mine.
“Are you gay?” I blurt, moving my leg so we’re no longer touching.
He stares at me for several very long seconds. “I consider myself an equal opportunist. Guys, girls. I like what I like.” My eyes widen at his reply. “Didn’t expect that?”
After a while, I say, “I never know what to expect with you.”
His lips twitch briefly before he swallows down a gulp of his soda. “So, moment of truth. Are you gonna answer my question?”
“I need something from you first,” I say.
His lips curl into that flirty, smug smile. “I don’t doubt you do.”
“What do you do?”
“A little bit of everything.”
“Who do you work for?”
“Why do you assume it’s one person?”
I let loose a sigh. “You’re not really giving me anything.”
“And you’re still keeping things from me.”
“What’s your name? Can I at least know that?”
He hesitates before answering. “Javier.”
I nod. The name suits him. Strong. Sexy.
“Yes,” I state simply.
It takes him a few seconds before he realizes I’m answering his question. He leans back in his chair and smiles, his eyes swallowing me up. He’s looking at me like I’m a challenge that he’s already accepted.
Dear God, give me strength.