AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Carmen." Tanner sounded tired. "I said I'm sorry."
"It's not enough. I've been in hell thinking of us, wondering why the fuck I'm so hesitant about setting a date and you're thinking the worst of me?" Her lower lip trembled. "You don't trust me."
"That's not true."
"No, you don't."
"I trust you. I swear to god."
"You're an atheist. Don't fuck me, Tanner."
He sighed. "The second I thought it was, it was gone, alright? I know it was wrong. I'm sorry. I don't know how to make that any more clear."
Carmen stared woodenly back at Ramiro, who was still scratching his stomach. Then he started beating his chest and started yodeling.
"What the fuck is that?"
"We'll talk when you get home."
"Carmen - "
She pressed the button to end the call. Ramiro finished beating at his chest and now did what looked like toe touches. The threadbare fabric of the track pants he wore stretched tautly across his firm buttocks, and she rolled her eyes. She stormed back to the bedroom, tossed her phone on the bed, and went to the kitchen.
Trust Tanner to think so low of her because they've been arguing for a while. Carmen's throat was tight as she pulled out food from the cupboard and the fridge without seeing them. It hurt that he had so little faith in her. It probably wouldn't sting so much if this was the first time it happened. Still, he had questioned her commitment and accused her of not taking their relationship seriously for too long already. And now this. Carmen choked back a sob as she got a skillet and fired up the stove. Her breath shook as she swallowed the sobs threatening to rise from her throat.
She was cursing all men when another of their ilk showed up. As infuriating as ever, Ramiro wore an ear-to-ear grin as he drummed his fingers on the counter. He looked well-rested and alert, better despite his tousled hair and beard. He sat down and beamed at her.
"Good morning, minx."
Without another word, she stared at him and put slices of bacon in the skillet. His behavior had been annoying, but that was Ramiro being Ramiro. He would perish if unable to mock or make somebody into a joke. She was used to it. Tanner thinking so awful of her was a knife twisting slowly in her heart.
"So I'm handsy during mornings," Ramiro said, shrugging. "It's a thing. Just ask Robin."
"Ramiro, I really don't have time for your jokes or any of your signature mockery. My head has finally stopped hurting although god only know how much coffee I'll need to survive today because you fucking woke me up every hour last night when it should have been two."
"Two hours felt too long."
"Next time, do as the doctor said."
"That makes sense. They're paid to tell us how to delay death a little longer. And it works."
Carmen snorted and watched the bacon cook. She felt Ramiro approach her before she scented the slight, faded note of soap from his shower last night. With a hand at the small of her back, he put his lips to her ear and said surprisingly gently, "Let me take care of this."
She was still frowning as his fingers pried hers off the spatula, making her shiver and sweat simultaneously at the no-nonsense touch. His eyes looked at her kindly for the first time since last night. Carmen was a sucker for the smallest gestures of such and knew it. Biting her lip, she turned away and busied herself with making coffee.
No word passed between them, except when she asked Ramiro if he wanted to try cinnamon in his coffee. He nodded, then cracked eggs over the pan, where the bacon was sizzling to a beautiful, golden crisp. As coffee streamed down the pot, Carmen poured water and watched with blank eyes. The kitchen was warm and homey with the aroma of bacon, cinnamon, and coffee. They saw through their tasks as if this was another morning of doing them.
She didn't know what Ramiro overheard and was grateful he didn't bring it up. But whatever he picked up on told him she needed comforting right now. At least, that's what she thought when he pressed a hand at the back of her waist as she put plates on the table. His touch was fleeting but warm, and she felt it more profound than her skin. She glanced at him and lowered her eyes when he tucked a tendril of her hair behind her ear. When she looked at him, she saw a little frown forming, and he kissed her on the cheek. Then he was off to finish cooking before her mind registered what had happened.
Ramiro served her first, piling eggs and bacon on her plate before putting the rest on his. He sat down next to her as quickly as if it was something he had always been doing. Carmen picked up a strip of the meat and took a bite. Ramiro watched her chew as he held the coffee poised to his lips.
"How is it?"
She grinned and got another, dipping it in the egg yolk. "You have a bright future as a line cook."
He chuckled and sipped his coffee. "I'll make note of it."
Quieter fell between them. Ramiro watched the flutter in Carmen's lashes as her thoughts returned to the early phone call. He tried to keep his glance casual, but when her cheeks bloomed a lovely pink color, he couldn't look away. Carmen put her cup down, her furrowed eyebrows indicating tension. Realizing she was lost in her thoughts, she snapped out of it and turned to Ramiro. He was swirling his eggs and bacon around the plate with a fork.
