Gunner
I smiled the whole way back to the car. Every emotion I had ran through my body like an electrical current when we kissed. It was everything I’d ever dreamed of, and I found myself falling for him.
We ate at a small restaurant across the street from the hotel. We smiled and laughed like we didn’t just go through something traumatic.
After dinner, he insisted on driving me to the hotel. I told him I could walk, but he wasn’t having it.
After he parked, he walked around and opened my door. He held his hand out, and I took it.
We stood face-to-face for a minute, staring into each other’s eyes. He broke the silence.
“Gunner, I… I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
I waved his hand in dismissal. “I’m sure you would have figured something out.”
“No, I mean it, “And you deserve to know the truth about what happened.”
I looked at him curiously.
“Okay,” I nodded, “What is it?”
He took a deep breath, and I saw his eyes become misty.
“You know how I’ve been having to take care of my Mom and Papi?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, most normal jobs don’t pay enough here, so I resorted to… pleasing visitors to earn enough for medicine and food.”
I froze in shock. I wasn’t sure what I expected to hear, but it wasn’t that.
His face was tinged with nervousness as he waited for me to say something.
“Oh, Desiderio…”
He began to cry.
“I know… I’m disgusting. I was taken advantage of once, and after the guy finished, he threw a hundred dollars at me. I figured what the hell, I could make enough for the medicine and food, so I kept allowing it to happen. I know I shouldn’t have, but…”
I pulled him into me and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“You’re not disgusting,” I reassured, “You did what you thought was best to help them, but I need you to promise me that you won’t do it again. I couldn’t bear something happening to you.”
We parted, and he wiped his eyes.
“I promise, Gunner.”
“Good. I’ll hold you to it.”
He laughed. “Deal.”
There was an awkward silence before I spoke up again.
“Will I see you tomorrow?”
He smiled. “Of course. I have something planned.”
“I thought you said not to plan, but let the heart guide you?”
“I did, but this is what it’s leading to.”
“Okay, see you tomorrow.”
He leaned in, and our lips met once again. It was slower this time. I savored his taste for a while before we parted.
“I hope we’ll do more of that tomorrow.”
“You can bet on it.” I said with a wink.
“Well, good night, Gunner.”
“Good night, Desiderio.”
He returned to the car and drove down the street. Once his headlights disappeared, I walked to the elevator.
Dad was sleeping when I walked in, and I quietly walked to my room.
I jumped a few times and picked my pillow up, screaming into it—all the weight I had been carrying finally lifted from my shoulders. I was in the clouds, and I wasn’t coming back down.
I replayed the kiss in my mind, over and over. It felt like the heavens opened up and smiled upon us.
I… I think I love him.