I don’t even know how to do this, but when I climb out of the car and Gabe wraps me in his arms, I know it’s the only decision I can make. He leans down and kisses my lips, and I kiss him back as Axl stands at the gate and says, “You two need to get a room.”
My mouth gapes. “Axl Laurier. How do you even know what that means?”
He shrugs and says, “Daddy says it whenever you kiss ’Turo.”
I laugh and glare up at Gabe. He does a great imitation of his seven-year-old and shrugs his shoulders. Picture-perfect nonchalance.
“So, how do you want to handle this?” Gabe says.
“I need to go see him.”
“Yeah, I figured you would. I’ll take the kid for a few hours.”
“Thanks. It’ll be easier to talk to him without Axl shoving dinosaurs in his face.”
“Okay. Call me if you need me.” He leans down and kisses me again and I get swept up in his lips on mine.
“Lo?”
Oh God. I pull away from Gabe and turn to face the music. Arturo stands a few feet away, a bunch of flowers in his hands and a horror stricken look on his face.
“’Turo!” Axl shouts and barrels into Arturo’s legs.
“Hola, chiquito.”
“Come on, Axman. Let’s let Mama talk to Arturo alone,” Gabe says, squeezing my hand. “I’m sorry,” he whispers, and as much as Gabe loathes Arturo, he really is sorry. That much I know. Gabe walks hand in hand with Axl to his apartment, and I give Arturo my undivided attention.
“I guess the trip away was just what you all needed, huh?” Art says as he steps closer. “Too bad for me that it’s just what I expected.”
“Art, I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I didn’t go away with him because I thought we’d get back together.”
“But you love him.” It isn’t a question. He knows as well as I do that what I feel for Gabe is real. I suppose he’s always known.
I nod and fight back tears. “I never intended to hurt you. You’ve been so good to me, for years and I—”
“Stop. Please, mi amor.” He takes a measured breath and hands me the flowers. “You’re making this more complicated than it needs to be. I came from a broken home. I worked and worked until I could afford to move here, to give la familia a better life. If being with the father of your child does that for you and your son, then you must do what you have to, what makes you breathe in the morning. My heart is broken, but it will mend. Yours will not if you continue to deprive yourself of tu alma gemela. I will not stand in the way of soul mates.”
He takes my face in his hands and kisses me, first on the nose and then the forehead and one final slant across my lips. It isn’t sexual, it’s goodbye, and my heart breaks all over again.
“Art. I can help you find another waitress.”
His smile is sad as he turns back to me. “You are irreplaceable, mi corazón.”
Ilean against Gabe’s Charger for a beat to catch my breath and dry my tears. Guilt roils in my stomach. This all could have been avoided if only I had been brave enough to admit I’d never love anyone as much as I love Dash. I compose myself a moment longer, and then I walk a few doors down to Gabe’s apartment.
He and Axl are playing dinosaurs on the floor and he kisses our son’s temple and says, “If you give Mommy and me a few minutes to talk, I’ll see if I can convince her to make us her famous cocoa later.”
“Cocoa now!” Axl jumps to his feet and starts dancing around the living room.
“Cocoa later, but only if you go into your room and play quietly for a little bit while I talk to Mommy.”
Axl nods and zooms into his room.
Gabe rises and wraps me in his arms. “You okay?”
I lean into him as I sob into his Henley.
“Aw, shit, Freckles.” He tucks my head in against him and rests his chin on my crown. “I’d like to tell you that he’ll be fine, and that he’ll get over you, but I never did.”