Chapter 8 #2
“You’d love my sisters, one night you have to come to family dinner.
All of them are so typical of their age order, too.
Lucia is the oldest, she teaches first grade.
She always took it upon herself to keep the rest of us in line, no one gets away with anything in front of her, and she’s carried that into the classroom.
She and her wife Daniella have been married for 4 years and are madly in love.
Rosa is 18 months older than me, and we basically grew up like twins.
I’m the closest with her. She’s quiet and bookish, likes to be in the background observing rather than participating, and runs the library near her.
Of all of us though, she easily has the most wicked sense of humor and is the best dancer.
Anita is our perfect pampered princess, she refuses to go anywhere unless she’s impeccably dressed with flawless makeup.
She works at a local boutique and is almost ready to launch her first fashion line with her coworker there.
Her designs are incredible. She and I both share that love for art in our own ways, I guess. ”
“And your parents?”
“You saw my mom. She’s one of the best women in existence.
When she was working she was a brilliant actuary, but retired a few years ago when Lucia got married.
Now she busies herself cooking a ton and wanting nothing more than to hold some grandbabies.
My dad is an incredible dad, he’s been a real estate attorney forever.
He can be tough because he’s a very proud, hardworking man and set in his ways.
We bump heads sometimes. They both came over from El Salvador when they were young and found each other at undergrad.
They’ve been head over heels for about 40 years now. ”
“I love that for them. Where does that leave you in the family dynamic?” I sigh against her hair, wondering how to verbalize my feelings about my place in the family.
“I’m the black sheep, sweetheart.” My mouth twists up into a sad smile.
“I’m the devil may care only son who goes on adventure trips, doesn’t take anything too seriously, gets tattoos and piercings.
My family and I are super close, but I could not be more different from my sisters.
They all have never strayed from the straight and narrow or been in trouble, I was the problem child who talked too much and got into mischief.
I think part of it is being the only boy, there are always different expectations.
It irks my dad that I’m not more like him, as much as I know he loves me.
He really wanted me to become a lawyer to carry on his legacy, but that would make me miserable.
It’s not that delivering packages is my passion, but I really like it and it pays the bills.
Maybe you’re right about studying art, making it more than a hobby.
I might apply to some art programs. It could be good for me to pursue something I’m really passionate about, and you inspired that.
” She squeezes me, and I feel her nodding against my chest.
“You should absolutely study art. That was not me exaggerating, you’re really talented.
I also think you’re not being fair to yourself.
You like to have fun and go on adventures, but you take your job seriously.
You cherish your family and your friends.
You let me come stay here with virtually no notice so that me and those furballs wouldn’t be homeless.
” Gomez, still on the bed with us, lets out a timely chirp of agreement at her assessment.
“You’re a wonderful man, Carlo Hernandez, and your family is lucky to have you,” she says emphatically, giving my forearm a squeeze to drive the point home.
Warmth and affection for her crashes over me in a startling tidal wave.
To have her see talent in me, take me seriously, but still enjoy the fun and adventurous parts of me, is not something I’ve experienced that much in my life.
A lot of people, especially the women who have been interested in me, see the tattoos and my jokester persona and write me off as nothing more than a good time.
I’ve always leaned into it, but I don’t want that with Tania.
I want her to see and like all of me. I also want to kiss this woman so badly that the aching want is almost unbearable.
Instead, I drop a chaste kiss to her temple, my arms curling around her somehow even tighter.
“Thank you for saying that. It means a lot,” I whisper into her hair. “They all mean well. I think my dad just wants me to find my purpose, he thinks hauling boxes is beneath my intelligence and abilities.”
“The hard work you do is not beneath anyone, no matter how intelligent or capable. You are so intelligent and capable, Carlo, more than you give yourself credit for,” she declares firmly.
She turns her face up to me, eyes shining brightly with a million different emotions, and our lips are so close together.
It would only take me moving mere inches to finally taste her plush mouth.
Her forehead comes to rest against mine as we stare at each other, our breaths mingling as they pick up the pace. Tania breaks the silence first.
“I’m glad you came in to check on me. I’m glad we talked like this,” she whispers, like talking at a normal volume would break this little bubble we’re in. I run my hand through her silky hair.
“I am too. Feeling better now? We should probably get some sleep,” I whisper back. I don’t want to leave her, but I am really trying to do the right thing here and go before I do something stupid that will ruin everything.
“Yeah, we probably should.” Her head starts bobbing, eyes averting, like she’s trying to convince herself of what she just said but isn’t buying it. Then she brings her eyes back to mine with a new vulnerability in them.
“Would you, um…” She clears her throat, then tries again.
“Would you stay with me? Please? I’d really like to be held by you tonight.
” I loose a shuddering breath as I bring her into me tightly.
The fact that I’m able to comfort her after her nightmare, and that she even wants me to stay has my chest expanding painfully to accommodate the extra four sizes my heart just grew.
She has no idea the spell she has me under, and that holding her through the night is something I’m already wishing I could do forever.
“I’ll hold you whenever you need, Tania,” I whisper into her ear.
She wordlessly nods her thanks, burrowing her head into my neck.
Gomez, seeing that I’ll take care of his mom, leaves to probably go in search of Morticia.
Then she moves over to make more room for me, and I slide in under the covers next to her.
I tuck her closely into my side, and she drapes her arm across my midsection, pillowing her head on my bicep.
The feel of her warm body draped over mine is a high I never want to come down from as she idly and sleepily traces patterns on my chest. She sighs contentedly, and her breaths quickly even out.
I smile and kiss her forehead when she makes a little snuffling sound that’s dangerously close to a snore before I pass out too, holding my dream woman.