Page 12 of A Coffee Away

Elbows on thighs, I raked my hair back, then grabbed the back of my neck. “Like you’re sorry for me.”

Our shoulders touched for a second, and his warmth ran through me, stronger than the heat of the sun.

“You’re wrong. I just…”

I eyed him.

His jaw was clenched, fists at his sides. His neck tensed, and this close, I could appreciate part of his dragon tattoo. Its head peeked from his olive-green shirt beneath his cream apron. Rage flared from it, almost like he was fighting against this fucked-up world, guarding life itself. It was exquisite, like him.

Esteban’s blue eyes caught mine, and after a second, his hard stare softened. He put his hand on my shoulder, brushing it softly. “I’m sorry you had to go through this.”

His caring touch calmed my inner turmoil, easing the tension that had taken hold of me.

I watched the horizon. “I’m tired of living a lie. Last night, something inside me broke free. I just blurted it out.”

Esteban caressed my back, and everything pent up inside me flowed out.

“My parents are…” Tears rolled down my face. “They are very conservative and religious. But I hoped… Fuck.” I dried my tears. “I hoped they’d understand. That maybe it would take time but not this. Not them throwing me out of their lives.”

I sobbed hard, and Esteban drew me to him. I cried on his shoulder, his strong arms gentle as he wrapped them around me.

He pulled me by the nape and pressed me against his chest, cradling me below his chin. “I’m sorry. Whatever you need, I’m here. You’re not alone.”

I breathed easier at his touch. At his words. Then I let myself be taken care of for once in my life. I shared my pain through our embrace.

Time slowed, and I stayed there, safely cocooned in his arms.

Esteban wiped away one last tear with his thumb, then caressed my cheek. “Do you want to go somewhere and talk? Or we can stay. I texted my boss and took the day off. Family emergency.”

My breath hitched at his words. Family emergency? A day off for me?

I shook my head. “I’m not family.”

He shrugged. “You needed me. I’m here.”

My heart somersaulted. He chose to be here. With me. He could have stayed on the phone. Told me to calm down until he was off. Maybe even asked if I had someone else I could talk to, but he didn’t. He came.

I frowned. “But we just met.”

He brushed my frown away. “Does it matter that we just met?”

My nerves fired all at once at his intimate touch, and when he drew it away, my chest grew heavy.

He tilted his head. “So tell me, what do you want to do?”

Okay. Focus, Robbie.

I widened my eyes. “You mentioned a food-truck park yesterday.”

Esteban rubbed the back of his neck. “We can go there, but it opens in an hour. There’s a park close to it. We can stop there, breathe a little, and then have lunch.”

My pulse hitched. “Can we do that?”

I needed a break from everything. A fresh start. A new experience.

Esteban’s eyes beamed for a moment before he nodded. “Sure.” He stood, then offered me his hand. “Come on.”

I grabbed it, calloused and strong as that first time.