“Good night, Teo,” I whisper.
“Good night, dream girl.” I close my eyes and let today replay in my head. How do I keep him like this forever?
11
Intimacy That Only Lovers Know
DELICATE BY DAMIEN RICE
Daisy
The distant memory of Mateo telling me he was going on a run and grab coffee wakes me from my sleep. The bed is empty, so it tracks, but fuck, I wish he was still here. The clock on the bedside table reads eleven, and I’m— ELEVEN O’CLOCK? I slept all morning? Didhesleep all morning? I know they’re all early risers, but this is late, even for me. I sit up, groaning at the pain in every part of my body—perfect, delicious pain that reminds me of last night.
The kiss, the other kiss, the licking sesh, the absolute wild sex, the—oh my God, the cum play and Mateo’s dirty talk. That man and his mouth. That man and his lips. That man and his words.
“Ugh.” The groan slips past my lips effortlessly, a mix of thankfulness for yesterday and absolute terror at what might happen next. We said we loved each other while his tongue was between my legs, his mouth cleaning his cumfrom my pussy. What were we thinking? Was that the reality of our relationship? We’ve been in love with each other for years, afraid to say anything for fear of what? Falling? Ruining our relationship? Absolutely fucking everything up? Yup, sounds about right.
In reality, maybe I should’ve always known. Maybe I should’ve seen it. If I wasn’t stupidly blinded by my own fears and thoughts, if I’d talked to him like an adult… Still, there’s so much I want to know, so many questions, but I guess it’ll have to wait.
I throw some clothes on—loose shorts and Mateo’s shirt. I steal his shirts all the time, so it’s not like it’s new now. I always wondered if his ex-girlfriends cared when I would walk around wearing them, but he never seemed to, so I didn’t bring it up. Now…what? Now I get to wear them as what? His possible girlfriend?
The never-ending questions won’t leave me alone. I need fresh air, so I step out of the room in search of Mateo. If he hasn’t come to me, maybe I’ll go to him. The minute I step into the main hallway, I’m surprised by a group of people singing in Spanish, walking around with sleighbells, that instrument I love—a güira or something like that—tambourines, and drums in their hands.
I step away to let them pass, but one of the resort employees pulls me into the group and hands me a musical triangle, encouraging me to follow along. Well fuck, okay. Are they…caroling? Is this caroling? They keep walking, singing and dancing, so I follow along, trying to find the rhythm they all seem to share effortlessly.
We walk up the corridor to the main building. Every patron who shows up gets bamboozled into joining, so I don’t feel nearly as bad. People who join seem to know the cheerful tunes, so I’m going to assume we’re caroling. Dominican caroling, apparently. It’s fun—or it would be, ifnot for the fact that I’m too worried about finding Mateo to really sing or hum or something.
I look to my right, and I think I see him, so I hand the triangle to one of the employees, shout a quick adios, and speed-walk to the narrow alley where I spotted Mateo. He’s wearing his running clothes, so he definitely did say he was going for a run and getting coffee, but why did it take him so long? I guess I’m just assuming it’s been long, since I actually don’t know when he said that.
His body language is tense. Even though I can only see half of him, I can tell whoever he’s talking to has him on edge. There’s a wall between me and this person, Mateo’s giant body covering them too.
“Please don’t,” Violeta says loud and clear as Mateo’s finger runs down her cheek. The fuck? “I can’t do this,” she says on a small sob. I know I’m invading a moment of privacy, but what on Earth is she talking about?
“You sure can,” Mateo whispers. He holds her with an intimacy only lovers know, the exact same way she seems to smile at him. What is going on here?
Violeta opens her mouth to say something, and I step closer, and—fucking hell, really? The damn carolers are right behind me, and I can’t hear. I step closer, but so do the carolers, and oh no. That means… My words trail off at the same time Mateo turns, and Violeta’s eyes snap wide when she sees me.
Mateo looks puzzled at first, and then he smiles. My gaze drops to their hands, and then his face turns as shocked as Violeta’s. I knew it. I fucking knew it.
That’s when I turn and run.
“Daze, wait!” Mateo shouts, but I don’t stop to hear him out. I run, leaving the cheerful Christmas songs and my dignity behind. Of course he didn’t want to come watch her get married. He still has feelings for her. Ofcourse she was an absolute terror to me. She still has feelings for him. What a disaster. Me and my stupid feelings. I was convenient; he just needed to let some steam out with on the eve of his ex-girlfriend, almost fianceé, getting married.
I was so naive.
I enter the room, not daring to look back and see if Mateo followed me, and step in the shower. If he comes to find me, at least he won’t see the tears. At least he’ll think it’s only water. I can play this off. I’m sure I can.
12
Wrong House, Wrong Person
IT WAS ALWAYS YOU BY MAROON 5 & BIRDS OF A FEATHER BY BILLIE EILISH
Mateo
Soft snores caress my throat, and it takes me a second to realize where I am and what’s happening. It takes me longer to realize I’m awake and this is not a dream. Daisy in my arms is not a dream but a reality. A naked Daisy, at that. A sound asleep and completely spent Daisy.Ihad the night of my life. I can just hope she did too.
It’s time for me to get up. My body will hurt forever if I don’t, but I can’t seem to move. How am I supposed to when I finally havethegirl in my arms? As if she can hear my thoughts, she turns over, mumbling indecipherable words and hugging the pillow instead of me. I get up, get changed, and kiss her forehead.
