Chapter 35
M y parents have officially gone mad. The celebration of their thirtieth year of marriage is far, far bigger than they led us to think. It took us yesterday afternoon and all of today to get everything ready for tonight. We had to move furniture around, assemble a massive party tent in the backyard, and cook for almost two hundred people. I’ve been so busy that I’ve barely had time to work on Lex’s riddle, which frustrates me a little. Especially since he won’t give me the solution, no matter how much I beg.
But he helped us the whole time, which made up for it. His genius brain came in very handy with the tent. Whenever I apologized for roping him into this madness, he dismissed it. Apparently, he enjoyed seeing us do all of this ourselves rather than paying people to take care of it—as his family would. We gave him a glimpse into regular people’s lives, and he loved it. Though he disappeared for a couple of hours both afternoons doing God knows what. Maybe he needed breaks from the insanity, after all.
When my mom told me they essentially invited everyone they knew, I was surprised at first by how many of them were coming despite the peak of the holiday season. But when the evening started and guests rolled in, I was suddenly reminded of how legendary my mom’s parties are. No matter the day, no one wants to miss this.
The living room has been turned into a dancing area since the hardwood floors are perfect for it. A sound system blasts Latino classics, which seep through the walls all the way to the neighbors’ houses—but it’s okay because they’re all here. There’s a massive buffet in the dining room, finger food and appetizers covering the table that is pushed against a wall. Chairs are scattered in the space for those who need to sit. Adding to everything we cooked, many people came with food and drinks, so there will be leftovers for weeks.
As I look for my boyfriend among the many guests, I notice everyone seems to be having a great time, glasses in hand as they talk, hips swinging with the catchy beats. Only a few couples are dancing, but the living room will be crammed with dancers before the night ends.
Lex was very clear about his inability to dance, and as much as I’d love to make it happen, I’ve pulled him out of his comfort zone far enough. I might get to dance with my dad or a cousin, though.
Lex is still out of sight when I stumble on my mom, who seems overwhelmed with things to do—a downside to her famous parties. “Andrea! Could you go get more sodas from the basement? I sent Rafael ten minutes ago, but he disappeared.”
“That lazy asswipe,” I mutter under my breath.
Abandoning my search for Lex, I head to the basement door instead. When I open it, I jump back a little upon finding someone behind it. Well, two people, actually.
Kate is coming up, holding three bottles of soda, and Rafa’s right behind her, six more bottles tucked under his arms. I move aside to let them out into the hallway, and my brain picks up on a few details I’d rather it didn’t. She’s clearly disheveled, so is he. That, plus the redness of their cheeks and the glimmering in their eyes, explains why it’s been ten minutes since Mom asked.
“Did you guys just—” I start before deciding to put my mental health first. “Actually, no. Don’t tell me. I’d rather not have the confirmation that you two had a quickie.”
Kate blushes a little while Rafael smiles like a pompous idiot. Dear Lord, I need so much more time to get used to this.
“Y’all better never get anywhere near my bed. Or the couch. Or any table where we eat. Actually, only do the deed in your respective places,” I demand.
“Fine,” Rafael signs the best he can with his bottles. “But just so you know, you probably won’t want to touch the washing machine downstairs from now on.”
“Rafa!” Kate scolds him, shoving her elbow into his ribs.
“Ew, gross,” I grimace disapprovingly.
His cocky smirk doesn’t fade as Kate drags him toward the kitchen. Now that the sodas are handled, I can get back to finding my man in this mess.
My dad’s the next one to get in the way of my mission. He’s talking with an old colleague from when he worked in IT—before his teaching days. Waving his hand, he calls for me to join them. Ugh…
“I was telling George about Alexander. How good would you say he is at coding?”
I only have to think about it for long before I answer, “I’d say he’s the best coder there’s ever been. I’ve seen him work, and the only thing that could make him better is another set of hands so he can type faster.”
Dad laughs. So does George, but condescendingly. “You’re still adorable, kiddo. No offense to Alexander, but we all know there’s far better than him out there.”
“Oh, really?” I ask, frowning.
“Your boyfriend might be good at those little apps you guys make, but there’s no comparing that to a keyboard maestro like Nammota.”
It takes a lot not to smile victoriously at his answer. A lot . But I keep my composure, pretend to think about it for a second, and offer him a nod. “You think Nammota is the greatest coder there’s ever been?”
“That I know of, yes.”
“Then, I guess you’re right, George,” I say, patting his shoulder.
I don’t stay for more of this debate, back on my search for the greatest coder who ever lived. He might actually be hiding somewhere because where the fuck is he?!
Maybe he went upstairs for a quiet moment. There’s a string at the bottom of the stairs to prevent guests from wandering upstairs, so it’s possible he went there to wind down for a moment.
To my dismay, Susan Temple, our neighbor from across the street, and her obnoxious daughter, Claudia, are right by the stairs. Even though I try to sneak my way by them, she spots me.
“Oh, Andrea!” Mrs. Temple calls with her high-pitched voice. Shit.
My family has been putting up with her shit since we moved into this house, and I’m so over it. Susan Temple has turned life into a competition, and her priorities are all wrong. There’s nothing she loves more than showing everyone she’s better than them—and she passed it on to her daughter. Claudia was a spoiled and bratty teen, and she’s now a spoiled and bratty adult.
Reluctantly, I spin around and plaster a smile on my face. “Hi, Mrs. Temple. Hi, Claudia.” There’s a man with them, but he doesn’t ring a bell, so I nod my greeting to him. He’s tall and lanky, with a pair of thick glasses on his nose and what I guess is an attempt at a mustache.
“So, how has life in Seattle been?” Mrs. Temple asks.
“Um, great. Thank you for asking. I love my new job.”
“That’s adorable. Did you know Claudia got promoted at the mall? She’s now an assistant manager there.”
“Oh, that’s nice. Congrats,” I reply, unsure what else I can say .
Claudia proudly shows me the obnoxiously big diamond on her ring finger and adds, “Also, Nate and I got engaged.”
“Congratulations again. I imagine you’re Nate?” I ask the lanky guy.
“Yes, pleased to meet you, Andrea,” he shakes my hand, and I wonder if he knows he’s the third guy trying to marry Claudia. She and her mother consider it something to be proud of, which I don’t really get. Maybe that’s why my failure to have a single man propose to me is an embarrassment in their eyes.
“And you, poor girl, still no one in sight?” Mrs. Temple asks with false sweetness.
“Actually, I have an amazing boyfriend whom I lost somewhere in the crowd. I’ll return to looking for him if you’ll excuse me.”
“Oh, he’s here?” Claudia skeptically asks.
“Yeah, if you see a tall, dark, and handsome man wandering around looking a little lost, send him my way,” I joke. Okay, that probably made Lex sound even more made up.
As if on cue, a familiar hand snakes its way on my hip, the comforting scent of Lex filling my nostrils before I even see him. “Tall, dark, and handsome… Are we talking about me?” he asks, stepping beside me.
“Actually, yes. Lex, that’s Susan Temple. She lives across the street. That’s her daughter, Claudia, and her fiancé, Nate. Everyone, this is Alexander.”
Mrs. Temple and Claudia stare at him like he’s a mythical creature. I don’t even try to hide my pride. I don’t like to play their games, but I’m clearly winning—no offense to Nate.
“Nice to meet you,” Lex says cordially.
“Likewise. Isabella told me her daughter is seeing someone, but I wasn’t sure if it was true,” Mrs. Temple explains. Oh, that bitch…
“I’m very much real.”
She lets out a weird cackling sound, a fake laugh I’m used to. “What do you do, Alexander?”
“My best friend and I created a start-up eight years ago,” Lex humbly replies. No! Now’s the time to brag, baby. Dazzle them with your wealth and success!
“I watched a bit about that the other day. Such an ungrateful field of work. I hope your little start-up will work out,” Mrs. Temple continues.
“Between our contracts with the private and public sectors, government funding for research, and hardware integration, we’ve made well over three hundred million this year. So, I’d say our ‘little start-up’ worked out, Mrs. Temple.” That shuts her up real fast, and her eyes widen at the number. I’ve endured two decades of their passive-aggressive insults, and all this feels like the biggest clapback. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, I need a moment with Andrea.” With his usual bluntness, Lex gives them a nod and pulls me away from them and back into the living room.
“Ugh, thank you for saving me,” I tell him once we’re safe.
“You’re welcome. Maria Carmen told me those two enjoyed tormenting you and your mom. I thought I’d give you a hand.”
“You thought brilliantly, as usual.”
Pushing myself on my tiptoes, I thank him with a quick peck on the lips. “Were you with MC the whole time I’ve been looking for you?”
“We were packing our bags. We’re eloping and never looking back.” I giggle at his joke, pinching his arm. Lex’s smile warms me up everywhere, and something in the intensity of his gaze makes me stop laughing. He tenderly pushes a stranded curl behind my ear, his gesture so loving my chest hurts.
“She was teaching me how to dance,” he confesses.
“What?”
“Yeah, we worked on it for a couple of hours yesterday and then this afternoon. And just now, she gave me a quick reminder of how it all works.”
“You were learning how to dance?” I insist, still stunned.
“So I could invite you.” I’m tongue-tied, unsure of what to say. It’s so cute that he’d do that for me. He extends his hand, an inviting smile pulling his lips up. “My love, will you dance with me?”
Dazzled by the thoughtful gesture, I slip my hand into his and let him lead me to the dancing area. My palpitating heart pulses heavily in my throat. When he turns to me, I perceive his uneasiness. Before I can tell him we don’t have to if he isn’t comfortable, he takes his position before me, placing his hand on my hip. It’s a salsa, so I correct his posture, pulling his hand higher and resting mine on his shoulder.
His mind runs at full speed, probably repeating everything he learned about the steps and rhythm. He’s so adorable and considerate, it makes me grow emotional.
“Just relax and let me guide you,” I offer with a sweet smile. He nods and braces himself with a deep breath.
Slowly, I lead him into the dance, following the suave tunes blasting from the speakers. Lex is too stiff and rigid for this, but we make it work. More or less. His feet game isn’t bad, but he’s too focused on the steps rather than enjoying the moment.
We bump into each other when he doesn’t move how he’s supposed to, and his clumsiness is so endearing that I giggle. The frustration makes him groan, so I offer a reassuring smile.
“You’re doing great, baby. You just need to relax,” I whisper.
“I’m trying. ”
It lasts for a few seconds with no incident until he stomps on my toes. “Ouch,” I whimper.
“Shit, I’m so sorry, freckles. I really thought I could do it. Fuck, I’m an idiot.”
“No, it’s okay. This is too much, too fast. Give me a second.”
Leaving him in the middle of the dance floor, I quickly go to my cousin—who’s in charge of the music—and ask him for a more suited song. El Cuarto De Tula is too advanced for Lex.
I excitedly return to him, his curious gaze on me. As I reach him, the music fades into a new track, slower, smoother, and better suited to a beginner. The suave rhythm of Bésame Mucho by Los Panchos resonates in the room. It’s one of my favorite songs, one I heard my entire life. It’s deep and profound, the lyrics particularly poignant. The atmosphere changes instantly, and the dancers embrace each other closer.
“We can dance like a salsa, but slower,” I explain.
Immediately, he takes my hand and rests his other one right under my arm. This is much easier for him, and within thirty seconds, he relaxes, letting me lead us through the twirling couples. There are quite a few people here with us, so after a few bumps with them, we adjust. We stay mostly in place, flush together, with his chin resting on top of my head and the regular beats of his heart in my ear.
Oblivious to the other couples around us, we swing gently in this intimate embrace for a while. It’s only Lex, me, and the beautiful music. The lyrics never struck me so hard before. It’s all about longing, intense desire, and the fear of losing a loved one. It hits too close to home. So close that silent tears slowly fill up my eyes.
Kiss me. Kiss me hard, as if tonight were the last time.
Encouraged by the lyrics, I look up, craving his lips on mine. I want to kiss him, not as if it’s our last night together, but as if it’s the first of endless more to come.
When he sees my teary eyes, Lex instantly worries. “Are you alright?”
I nod. “Kiss me. Kiss me like it’s the first time all over again.”
After a brief hesitation, he lowers to take my lips. The music continues, but our dancing stops. His kiss is extraordinary, profound, loving, tender… It’s everything I’ve ever needed, and everything I’ll ever want. It’s as intense as our love for one another, and I forget we’re surrounded by strangers, friends, and family.
I find myself conflicted between wanting to live in the present and wanting to skip to the future. He’s always been good at making me greedy, but this is a whole new craving. This is visceral, like a core need, something every single cell in my body demands. I yearn for the life we’ll build together as much as I long for the journey that’ll lead us there .
We kiss until the song merges into another one, something upbeat, and a couple bumps into us, breaking the trance. With palpable earnestness, Lex kisses my forehead and wraps his arms around me, hugging me so tightly it becomes hard to breathe.
“I love you, Andrea. So fucking much.”
“And I love you, baby.”
He gives me one last peck before releasing me. “I need a drink. Can I get you anything?”
“No, I already have my tall glass of water.” He doesn’t get my meaning, his brows twitching. I giggle at his perplexity and explain, “It’s you. A tall glass of water is a hot guy.”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “Alright. I’ll get myself an actual glass of water, and when I come back, I guess you can… drink me?”
It’s my turn to laugh before I take his hand. “I’m not letting you disappear on me again, so I’m coming along.”
We walk away from the dancing couples and into the dining room. Once there, Lex pours himself a glass of sparkling water, and I change my mind, grabbing another mojito. MC is sitting on a chair in a corner, her feet up on another one. We join her with our drinks, and I give her a scolding look.
“ Las sillas son para sentarse, no para que pongas los pies ,” I remind her, as she told me dozens of times as a child.
“I’m an old woman who spent two days standing up to cook. Give me that and fetch yourself another one,” she demands, pointing at my mojito.
She’s used to going to bed way earlier than this, so I don’t test her patience and hand her my glass. When I return, I smile upon finding Lex sitting next to her in the same position, his feet next to hers on the chair. These two are getting inseparable, aren’t they?
My amused endearment turns into something else when I notice letters written under Lex’s shoe. He sees me, sees I’m staring at it, and swiftly brings his feet down.
But it’s too late. I saw it.
Holy shit, that’s the answer to his riddle.
He wrote AИDY under his shoe. My two favorite toys are him and Toy Story. From head to foot, he’s mine, and everyone can know it with one look. This is his brilliant and adorable way of showing he belongs to me.
I take the few steps that separate us and clasp his forearm to get him up. “If you’ll excuse us a minute,” I tell MC. I down half of my glass before setting it down by Lex’s.
Intransigent, I pull him away from everyone, seeking a quiet room. The first one I find is my father’s home office, and I shove Lex in there, eager to be alone with him .
“Andrea, what—”
I shut him up by plastering my mouth on his, roughly pulling him down to have access. Our earlier kiss was tender and sweet, but this one is carnivorous and passionate. My tongue aggressively tries to devour him, our teeth clashing, his hands pressing me onto him.
Fuck waiting. I want eighty-four children with him, to get married, and to have it all with him right now . I want to consume him, to rip his skin open and crawl underneath it so we’re one. I want him, everything about him, all of him. He’s so fucking perfect. It makes no sense that I’m the one he chose, but I’m done questioning my blessings.
For fuck’s sake, he can bring me more joy with four letters on his shoe than anyone else ever could. Ripping myself away from him, I look down at his white sneakers.
“Show me,” I demand.
Standing on one foot, he lifts his right one to show me its underside. I stare at the black letters in awe, wondering how he even thought of this.
“Did you watch the movie?” I ask once his foot is back down.
“At some point during those weeks we were apart, I visited Lucy. Her kids asked to watch it, so I settled with them, curious about your favorite movie. I thought about you the entire time, and it was excruciating. But it felt like having a slice of you, so I endured it.”
Fuck, why does he have to be so absurdly romantic when we can’t have sex?
“And I’d like to make clear that this will be the only time I’ll refer to you as ‘Andy,’” he stubbornly explains.
“Do you realize this means you’re my Woody?” I ask with a naughty smirk.
“Is that another double-meaning thing I don’t understand?”
“It means a hard-on.”
“Ah, then yeah, I’m your Woody.”
His lopsided grin has me craving him. Well, if Kate and Rafa can do it, we sure as hell can, too. Impulsively, I reach for his belt. I’m too tipsy and horny to even think about why we shouldn’t be doing this.
“Andrea, this isn’t reasonable,” he mutters, tugging my hands away.
“The idea of you inside of me sounds very reasonable to me.”
“On that, I agree. But I meant we’ve got your room, music covering everything, and no one upstairs.”
“Oh, right. Damn, I love it when big brain Lex comes out to play.”
“That was a no-brainer, but I’ll take it.”
We exit the room and head toward the stairs. My foot lands on the first step when my mom interrupts our sneaky attempt.
“Ah, Andrea! Josefina has been drinking a little too much, and she needs a ride home. ”
“But, I’ve been drinking too,” I argue.
“I’m sober,” Lex kindly offers. I turn to him with a frown. Is he serious right now?
“Oh, wouldn’t you mind?” my mom insists. “She lives twenty minutes away. I know it’s a bit much to ask, but she’s too drunk to be sent away with a stranger in a taxi.”
He really is adamant about being the perfect son-in-law because he agrees with a nod. “Ugh, I’ll come with you,” I mumble before turning to my mom. “For someone who really wants grandchildren, you’re being an awful cockblocker.”
Oh shit.
Okay, the three-and-a-half mojitos were definitely not a good idea. Thankfully, Mom is as inebriated as I am, so she laughs it off, arguing we’ll work on her grandkids after we’ve dropped off Josefina.
I’m still cringing when we get to Lex’s car, and he’s still grinning like an idiot. But despite the embarrassment, I remain hellbent on getting his dick inside me. And I think I know exactly how I’ll make it happen.