Page 94 of A Lot Like Adiós
He didn’t care that her mom was in the kitchen or that her dad might walk in at any moment. The presentation had brought up so many conflicting feelings inside him, feelings that had nowhere to go. He needed this connection with Michelle to ground him, to give some of his emotions a home. Love. Appreciation. Hope. He didn’t even know what else. All he knew was that she made him stronger.
Michelle didn’t question him or make a joke. She just leaned in, meeting his mouth with hers and opening for his tongue. Gabe kissed her slowly and thoroughly, trying to show her without words how much she meant to him.
Her hand fisted in his T-shirt and she tugged him closer. Gabe slid his fingers into her hair, angling her head so he couldtangle his tongue more fully with hers. The kiss deepened and heated. Their mouths fused together until they were both gasping for air whenever their lips parted.
Gabe was on the verge of dragging Michelle onto his lap and grinding against her through their clothes, but her mom was in the next room, just an open doorway away. Instead, he eased back with a reluctant groan.
Michelle’s honey-colored eyes were dazed and dreamy. She blinked slowly and licked her lower lip. “What was that for?”
What could he say to that?
For being incredible.
For seeing me and my vision clearly.
For caring about my gym.
For caring aboutme.
Before he could settle on a reply, Valentina called to them from the kitchen. “Oye, nenes. ¿Quieres comer?”
Gabe jolted at the sound of Valentina’s voice, and the moment was lost. Michelle shifted away from him and Gabe didn’t say any of the things that were on the tip of his tongue.
“Do you ever think they’ll stop calling us children?” Michelle muttered, folding up the presentation board.
“Never.”
Gabe was glad for the interruption, which had kept him from revealing too much. And in a weird way, he liked the reminder that there were people older and wiser looking out for him. It was something he hadn’t experienced in nearly ten years.
As he followed the scent of tostones to the kitchen, he realized that it wasn’t just his feelings for Michelle that were delayinghis purchase of a return flight. The sense of home, of family, of being cared for, was nearly intoxicating. He couldn’t let himself get used to it, but he could enjoy it while it lasted.
And a small part of him was even looking forward to seeing his own parents again that night. He wasn’t sure why or how it had happened, but for once, he decided not to fight it.
Chapter 21
The doorbell rang for the umpteenth time and Michelle went to open it with Gabe on her heels.
“This is not a small family dinner,” Gabe hissed.
Michelle snorted. “According to my mother, it is.”
“There are already more than thirty people here!”
“Exactly. A small family dinner.” Michelle laughed at the look of distress on his face and pulled him down for a kiss. “Relax. They’re just here to eat.”
The doorbell rang again, more insistently this time.
“Somebody get the damn door!” Valentina yelled from the kitchen.
“I got it,” Michelle yelled back.
“I forgot how loud our families can be,” Gabe muttered.
“This is nothing.” Michelle opened the door and rolled her eyes when she saw her cousin Sammy standing on the other side with his wife and kids. Sammy was Ronnie’s brother and the oldest of the Rodriguez cousins. He was also a giant pain in the ass.
Michelle stepped aside to let them in and kissed each of them hello. “Sammy, what are you doing here? Looking for free food?”
“I heard it was an engagement party, so I brought a present,” Sammy joked, and at Michelle’s withering glare, he laughed. “Relax,Mitch. Your mom asked me to pick up a box of cannoli from Arthur Avenue.” He handed over a large white box tied with red-and-white string. Michelle could smell the sweet aroma of Italian bakery wafting from the edges.
