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“Yeah, you.” I nipped her cheek, her jaw. “At first, I wanted to rip you apart for being treated that well by my own father who had hurt me so much. Then…” I pecked her lips, once, twice, hoping the taste of her would stick onto mine. “I discovered you’re like sugared treats.”
“Sounds sticky,” she kissed me back. “Hm.”
“Damn right. The magnetic pull, remember? It’s always been there. You stuck on me.”
She backed up, cupping my chin to prevent me from kissing her again. With interrogating eyes, she asked, “Do you mind? Being stuck?”
I grabbed her wrist and made her understand. “I guess that isn’t the right word.” I mulled it over for a second, before I could say anything stupid again. “This night was meant to make a promise to you that I’ll be by your side instead of standing on the opposite of you. I’ve struggled…” I huffed, a flashback of the last months running through my mind. “Man, did I struggle with my feelings.”
“You wouldn’t say,” she drily commented, a soft smile teasing the corners of her lips before she let her delicate fingers roam over my shoulders.
Our feet shuffled us slowly into circles, Cary’s words impenetrating as I looked deeply into Dita’s eyes. The dude meant well, but now was not the time to fuck around on a guitar. He could’ve sung about French bread, and I wouldn’t have cared.
“But Sweetness, I do promise”—I wiped a strand of hair behind her ear—"that I won’t leave that side. Not anymore. I love you. And I—I think I have from the moment I saw you carry those heavy suitcases into our home.”
“You love me?” Her eyes pulled wide.
I swallowed, afraid of rejection. What guy wouldn’t be after tainting this beautiful girl with memories of threats and insults?
But there was no doubt in my mind I’d regret ever expressing myself this way, so I told her the bone-deep truth, “A whole fucking lot.”
Her surprise turned into a big smile. “I’ve wanted to hear that for a very long time.” She went to stand on her tippy toes and embraced me with a searing kiss. “Get your dad out of here.”
“Oh yeah? You wanna get railed in the pool?” I joked against her warm lips.
“You bet.”
We laughed. Though she was going to have bruises on her back tomorrow.
“Fuck.” I cradled her head in my hands. “I love you, Dita.”
She covered my hands with hers. “I love you, too, Ares.”
EPILOGUE
DITA
“Looks great, José!” I clapped my hands, happy with how things had come around. Golden, glittery boas hung everywhere, a playful reference to the snakes. While Ares favored pythons, I couldn’t find anything that creatively resembled the species.
Real ones weren’t allowed in Salsation. Which bummed. Most people were frightened of them. I didn’t think it would help to fatten the funds much.
“I know, I know.” José’s over-confidence stayed way up there while he stepped down the ladder, having hung the last stuffed snake. Mine was safely at home, in my boyfriend’s bed, where I slept every night.
I checked my phone.
Seven forty-six.
People were about to arrive. Nervousness settled in. The entire day had been about avoiding Ares and his interrogating questions.
Where are you going? What’s so important to leave our bed? Take a shower with me before you leave?
Okay, that last one had not been a question, nor had it been easy to deny. So, I hadn’t. But eventually, I had to put on some clothes and get this charity party started.
I’d put a lot of effort into this. Calls, emails, asking Cary to address some important people. Which he had, of course. My stepfather was one big pile of goo when it came to his sons. They were his actual weakness.
José wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Look at all this. It’s scary and cute at the same time.”
“It is. Thanks for helping me out!” I hugged him tightly, becoming fonder of him every day. He was a good friend. One who ogled my boyfriend’s tight butt obnoxiously and far too much. But tonight, his long arms covered hanging up all the basic décor, and his charm would hopefully open people’s wallets.
