Chapter 29 #2
“So, your boyfriend is here with his crew, serving free food and refreshments for all the kids who come to the launch.” She did a little shimmy with her shoulders and her grin was so big I could barely see her cheeks.
“He also had bags made so the kids could carry any books they checked out. I don’t even know how he managed that so fast!
Oh, and the face painting was my idea. He’s paying for it, though. ”
I was breathless, and the urge to leap out of my car and sprint to Nesto was so intense I was sure I’d snap the steering wheel off if I didn’t let go.
“Nesto is here serving free food at our launch. How exactly did that happen?”
“Well Nurys called me Friday night, you know after you mobilized the district attorney’s office to ensure Misty didn’t disrupt his event?
” Another shoulder shimmy. I was going to throttle her.
“Right, so Nurys said Nesto wanted to help with the launch by providing food and drinks. I may have mentioned we didn’t have a budget for it.
I told him we’d love for him to help out, so he was in. ”
As she talked, I glanced up and saw that Nesto was still standing in the same spot.
There were kids swarming all around him, carrying bags full of books and the food his truck was serving.
He didn’t look at anyone though; his eyes trained on the cars coming into the lot.
Remaining calm with Nesto this close was becoming more of a challenge with every passing second.
“He’s been working on this all weekend?”
Carmen actually clapped before she answered.
“Yup! He also got a hold of some of the other vendors at the market he knew. The ‘Lick your Lassi’ ladies donated a bunch of popsicles.” Her face looked more serious now.
“The truck won’t serve in town for the rest of the week.
He’ll be with us at the schools for the next three days. ”
Wait, what?
“He’s closing down the truck all week and giving away free food? What kind of fucked-up business decision is that?”
Carmen was howling with laughter at this point. “You better go ask him yourself,” she said, pointing in his direction. “Z said he’s been standing there for an hour looking out for your car.”
I didn’t even respond. I jumped out of the car and did a sprint-walk straight for him.
As soon as he spotted me he started moving, too.
We both came to a dead stop when we were only a couple of feet away, both short of breath like we’d run for miles.
The need to touch him was so intense my hands shook as I went to grab his.
“Mi amor.”
As he spoke he tightened his fingers around mine, like he was scared I’d vanish.
With him near, it was like I could see in color for the first time in days.
I looked around, noticing all the kids who’d shown up for our launch.
I saw Nurys and Camilo serving food, and they both waved at me when I lifted my hand to them.
They were here for Nesto, but I knew they were here for me, too.
Somewhere in the time we’d been together, he’d made me part of his whole life.
“Ernesto Vasquez. Ven aca,” I said, pulling him behind me until we were hidden in the tight space between the wall and the side of the truck.
I was doing my best to look serious, but the smile tugging at my lips was going to be impossible to hide for long.
Still he didn’t speak, his eyes so serious, completely focused on my face.
It was my call; he was giving me all the power.
“So, are you just throwing money away this week or what?”
He shook his head; his eyes focused on my mouth.
“There is so much I have to say, but first, can I kiss you, baby? I’ve missed you so much.”
He licked his lips and I pushed up because with his mouth so close, mine needed to be touching his. He gasped as our mouths met, and it was like coming home. I belonged right here, in these arms.
After a moment we pulled back, our foreheads touching. Nesto did the thing where he touched the tip of his tongue to his upper lip and my knees gave a little.
“Are you really closing the truck for the week?
His face turned serious for a moment, and he nodded, “Yes, OuNYe follows you this week.”
I stared at him confused. “But you have like a million things going on right now. How can you possibly take a week off to do this?”
He shook his head then, as if trying to get his thoughts in order. “I’ll figure it out.”
“Why?” I wasn’t that dense, but I wanted to hear it.
Nesto pulled me to him, our bodies finally touching after so many days without his warmth.
“Because what’s important to you is important to me.
” He shook his head, looking for the words he wanted to say.
“I’ve been going about it all wrong. I kept telling myself I needed to build something solid I could offer you.
I couldn’t see that I didn’t have to do it alone, that all I needed was to ask and you’d do it with me.
” He let out a long shaky breath and pushed our mouths together, our kiss salty from tears.
“I’ve needed to put my priorities in order for a long time now. ”
“And what priorities are those?” I asked, my chest swelling with hope.
He leaned in again and licked the seam of my lips. From a distance I could hear Milo yelling at us to “quit traumatizing the children.”
“Not what. Whom. And it’s you and me. My priority is us. I love you, Jude.”
I must have caved in, because his arms tightened around me as he went in for another kiss.
“Please tell me you’ll try again, baby. I miss you so much. OuNYe, the restaurant, none of it makes sense if I can’t share it with you. You’re what makes me happy.”
My heart was going to burst, just explode in my chest from absolute happiness.
“Te amo, Ernesto Vasquez. I can’t even believe you did all this.” I wrapped my arms around his neck reveling in having his body so close. “So is this it? Are we finally going to spread books and Caribbean food to the Finger Lakes youth like you wanted?”
Nesto beamed at my question, then answered in a strong sure voice, “Vamos, mi amor.”