For a moment I can’t tell if Lorena is really being naive or she’s waiting for me to say something incriminating.
Either way, I’m not engaging with it. All I care about is timing my exit perfectly, so that when I see Tino and her leave, I can try to convince Sarina to not let our time together end just yet. After all, we technically have a lot to go over. Last I saw her —earlier today in the office— we left on the cliffhanger of me attending her sister’s wedding. We were supposed to go over the details. Sure, that could wait until tomorrow or another day, but after we quite literally danced the night away, I’m not ready to call it quits, just yet.
I let out a yawn, and Tino must be reading my mind, because he mimics one himself, suggesting him and Lo call an Uber.
Thankfully she agrees and they say goodbye to us.
The sigh Sarina lets out matches how I feel. Both of us relieved that we’re alone once more.
Sarina looks over my shoulder. I turn around to see what she’s looking at and see Dante by the bar, glaring at us in between talking to some of his staff.
“Tino’s brother?” Sarina asks.
I can’t help but chuckle as I wave to him, and the grump that he is, barely cracks a smile while returning the gesture. “Correct.”
“He looks…protective,” she observes.
“I think suspicious is more like it.”
“Does he have reason to be?”
I can’t tell if she’s being playful or if she’s trying to find out if I told him about us. Either way, I go over it.
“What do you say we get out of here?”
She looks around, pointing to the almost cleared crowd. “Given that this place is closing, I think that’s a good idea.”
Not sure what overcomes me, I reach for her hand. “Then lets go.”
Her eyes light up, and without a word she follows my lead.
It’s been a while since I’ve stayed out this late, but luckily for us, we are in the city that never sleeps and I know a place we can go that will give us some more time together.
When I try to order us a ride and see how long the wait times are, I figure our best bet is walking. That is, until I see how visibly uncomfortable, she looks in her heels as she leans from side to side wincing. Not surprising, given how long we were dancing for.
“Feet hurt?”
“What gave it away?”
Her sarcasm brings a smile to my lips.
“Hop on,” I say, patting my back.
“To your back?”
“Sí, unless you can think of another way we can get there.”
“Fine,” she huffs out, snapping her fingers. “Well, you need to kneel so I can get on.”
“Of course.” I lower myself to my knees, but instead of facing away from her, I’m on both of them looking directly at her as I take off my suit jacket. “Here. Wrap this around your waist.”
She takes it, twisting the sleeves into a double knot.
“There we go.” I maneuver myself on the uncomfortable sidewalk, lifting myself slightly, still low enough that she can get on my back while making it easy for me to stand straight and walk us to our destination.
Her arms wrap around my neck, sending a shiver down my spine from the contact especially as her mouth lowers to my cheek. Pressing a soft, barely there kiss to my skin, she murmurs, “You’re always looking out for me, aren’t you?”
“Maybe.”
