Page 92 of Through My Window
“First time.”
He separates his face a little from me to look at me.
“What?”
“It’s the first time you’ve kissed me, and it’s not sexual.”
He shows me his teeth in that ridiculous smile of his. “Who said it’s not sexual?”
I give him a murderous look, and he stops smiling, as a grim expression appears on his face.
“I have no idea what I’m doing, but I just know I want to be with you. Do you want to be with me?” He watches my face, scared of my answer. And that somehow makes me feel powerful. He came here and exposed himself to me. I can make him happy or destroy him. I open my mouth to respond, but the doorbell interrupts me.
I don’t know how I know, but I know it’s Yoshi.Shit!
“Are you expecting someone?” Ares asks.
“Shhh!” I cover his mouth with my hand and force him to back away from the door.
The doorbell rings again, followed by Yoshi’s voice. “Raquel!” Iknewit.
Shit, shit, shit, shit!
“You have to hide,” I whisper, releasing his mouth, and dragging him toward the stairs.
“Why? Who is he?” His accusatory tone does not go unnoticed.
“This is no time for jealousy. Come on, walk.”
Have you ever tried to move someone taller and stronger than you? It’s like pushing a huge rock.
“Ares, please,” I beg him. He has to move before Yoshi calls my mom, and she calls me, and the mess starts. “I’ll explain later, please go upstairs, and don’t make any noise.”
“I feel like a lover when the husband arrives,” he jokes, but he starts to move and it’s a relief. Once he’s disappeared up the stairs, I don’t know why, but I fix my hair and head to open the door. I pray everything goes well, but Yoshi knows me too well, and he knows when I’m lying or nervous. Too late I realize that Ares’s cell phone is on the small table in front of the couch. I cross my fingers that Yoshi doesn’t see it.
Virgin of Abdominals, please help me!
THIRTY-THREE
The Testosterone
Things don’t have to be perfect.
Perfection can be so subjective. Ares’s confession might seem unromantic to others, but to me? It was perfect. To me, he’s amazing, moodiness and all.
Maybe I’m blinded by love, maybe I can’t see beyond my feelings, but if there’s even a slim chance of being happy with him, I want to try. I want to be happy. I deserve to be happy. Who wouldn’t like that decision?
Yoshi, that’s who. My sweet best friend is shaking with rage. He’s holding Ares’s cell phone.
“He’s here, isn’t he?”
I open my mouth to deny it, but no sound comes out. Yoshi presses his lips and diverts his gaze, as if facing me was fueling his anger.
“You just don’t learn, Raquel.”
I clench my fists at my sides. “And what are you going to do about it? Tell my mother? You’ve been very good at that lately.”
Before he can say anything, I continue. “Tell me, Joshua.” He winces hearing me use his full name. “What else can I expect from you? Will you tell her about the first time I got drunk? Or the time I skipped class to sneak out with Dani to go bowling? Tell me, so I can be prepared.”
