Page 14 of A Coffee Away

My chest deflated. “No.”

His gaze flitted to me for a second before he focused back on the road. “Then stay with me. At least until you can get yourself settled.”

My neck and ears went impossibly hot.

Fuck, Robbie. How can you be thinking of staying with a man you just met?

Then again, where else could I go? Sylas would go back to the States, where he studied law. Most of my friends lived with their families, and their parents frequented the same circle as mine. It was impossible.

I glanced sideways, taking in Esteban’s profile. His sculpted nose. His perfect jawline. The dragon tattoo I itched to touch. To stay with him would be rebellious in itself. Dangerous. Daring. Maybe just what I needed to step away from my old self.

Nevertheless, to enter his life like this after we just met was simply wrong.

I shook my head. “Don’t worry. I’ll deal with it. I don’t want to impose.”

He pulled over and parked the car. “Stop that.”

For a moment, I forgot to breathe. His tone was strong. Demanding.

He sighed. “I don’t know how people have been treating you, but you need to think better of yourself.” He raked his hair back. “Fuck, Robbie. I like you. You’re like fresh air. Your soul is so bright, and you don’t even see it.” He unbuckled his seat belt and turned sideways to look at me. “No matter what they said, you are enough. You are not a burden. I wouldn’t have come if you bothered me. I came because I know what you’re going through, not from personal experience but from my friends.”

My hands shook. No one had ever spoken to me this way. None had ever touched me so deeply with their words.

Esteban took my hands in his. “I don’t know if you figured it out yet, but I’m also gay. My family accepted it. They’re the best, but I do have friends who went through the same shit you’re going through right now.” He squeezed my hands. “I’m here for you, and you can stay with me as long as you need. In this community, we support each other. You’ll never feel alone again. I promise.”

I held on to him as tears pricked my eyes. My heart was full. He hit the spot, destroying that place deep within me that told me I wasn’t enough.

To be accepted. To be part of something. To be understood. It was all I ever wanted.

He skimmed his thumbs over my knuckles. “Robbie, you’re way better than they’ll ever be.”

I nodded, then took a deep, cleansing breath. His words washed away my insecurities and sadness, filling me with a sense of being that I hadn’t felt before.

He started the car. “You mind if we stop by my place first?”

I shook my head.

“Words.”

“No. I don’t mind.” My voice was small.

We parked in the basement garage of his apartment building and took the elevator to the tenth floor. The apartment was modern, and the glass windows faced the Condado Lagoon. It was minimalist, no decorations, just a black sofa, a TV, and a desk full of notebooks and a laptop. The kitchen was dreamy, with an espresso machine and modern stainless-steel appliances.

He put my things inside a room to the left. “You’ll sleep in my room. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

I stepped toward him, hands out. “No. Please. I’ll use the couch.”

He grunted. His features tightened for a moment. “Robbie…” His tone was terse.

In two long strides, he closed the space between us. His lips pressed together.

Was he mad?

A wave of heat hit me at his closeness. I stepped back and stared down at my empty hands, his presence overwhelming. “Sorry.”

He pulled my chin up. His eyes were gentle. “Know your worth. Stop apologizing. I offered my room. Take it.”

My whole body blazed with fire at his touch. At his rough but caring voice.