Page 29 of Tides of Love

The room was dimly lit, only a few dying golden rays streaking through the gaps in drawn curtains. Lucky was indeed a lump. He was curled, watching, with puffy eyes cracked open.

“You’re not here.” Lucky croaked, voice rough with a sorrow Antonio longed to share.

“I am.” He knelt beside the bed. The room was full of the combined scent of Jack and Lucky. Saltwater taffy and cinnamon, mixed in a way that reminded him of carnivals and horchata and joy even when Lucky looked so sad.

“You look tired.” Lucky whispered, sniffling.

“So do you.” Antonio cupped Lucky’s cheek, “Come home with me?”

“…I haven’t showered.” It wasn’t a no.

“I have a shower. And a large bed. And some hot chocolate. We can hide for a bit… and if you can’t sleep then we can watch the stars until things feel alright.” Antonio leaned in to press a kiss to Lucky’s forehead. “Let me kidnap you, mi amor.”

He managed to find the right words because Lucky offered him a fragile smile and nodded. “Okay…”

Antonio picked Lucky up, blanket and all. Jack was nowhere to be seen when he carried the omega down the stairs and out to his car, though he had a feeling the other was watching them.

“You’re like a caterpillar.” Antonio teased softly, buckling Lucky into the passenger seat.

“Not nearly as cute as one.” Lucky huffed, wriggling. Antonio climbed into the driver’s side, pulling away from the house. “I’m sorry I didn’t answer your texts…”

“Texts aren’t important.” Antonio peered over his shoulder to back out of the drive. Once they were out on the road, he tucked his hand behind Lucky’s neck. “You’re important, though, and if I can do anything to help…”

“…This is helping.” Lucky spoke softly, tilting his head forward. Antonio rubbed the back of Lucky’s neck, coaxing a soft purr from the omega.

“Do you want to talk about it?” He asked softly. Twilight turned the sky purple and soft.

“Not yet.” Lucky sighed, “Maybe after that shower…”

“Okay.” He wanted to kiss Lucky’s forehead, to pull the omega into his lap and promise to make it all better. That’s what he was supposed to do. He was supposed to fix things. Antonio Saavedra fixed problems. But this wasn’t a puzzle to solve or some heroic moment. This was Lucky’s feelings. This was hurt and sorrow and grief, wounds he couldn’t just stick a bandage on.

If he couldn’t fix the big things, it was time to employ his mother’s tactics. Aim small.

Small started with carrying Lucky into the house, to the bathroom, and running him a warm bath. It was kissing his forehead as he helped Lucky out of pajamas and folded the beautiful knit blanket carefully. And it was turning lavender scented body wash into fragrant bubbles.

“You’re really good at this. At caring for people.” Lucky hummed as he slipped into the hot water, cupping some of the bubbles between his palms.

“You make me want to be good at it.” He stuck some of the foam onto Lucky’s nose. The smile he earned was honest and soft. It wasn’t big or beaming, but it was real and it made his heart ache with affection. “I’ll go get that hot cocoa ready. Take all the time you need.”

Not want. The amount of time he needed. Antonio would wait, no matter how long it took.

“Actually, could you make it wine instead? I think I could just use something a bit stronger than chocolate.” Lucky, tipped his head backwards over the edge of the tub.

“Wine.” Antonio nodded, drying his hands with a towel.

He took the blanket and Lucky’s laundry with him, leaving a robe behind for the omega to change into once he was done. Antonio padded downstairs, dropping Lucky’s pajamas in the laundry room on his way to the kitchen.

There were several good bottles of red wine on his rack. Ones his mother gifted him from Spain. He picked two, opening them to let the alcohol breathe. Outside, the sky had shifted from twilight to true dark.

Just like that, he had an idea.

Instead of more time spent curled in bed, maybe what they both needed was a night under the stars… And he knew just the place.

17

Lucky

Lucky sank into the hot water as soon as Antonio left the room. He slid down the curved edge, taking a deep breath before letting himself slip beneath the bubbles. Water filled his ears, burning the thinner skin of his face and stinging against his tightly shut eyes. In his head, he counted the beats of his own heart. He got to forty-six before surfacing.