Page 20 of A Coffee Away

I tasted my mocha and closed my eyes at the creaminess and rich taste. “Fuck. This is good.”

Esteban put his mug down. “I like seeing you smile.”

I froze, the cup touching my lips. He was such a direct, no-bullshit guy. I’d never met anyone like this. I overthought everything and never talked without considering what others would think. But Esteban…he was different.

I laughed quietly. “Do you say everything that comes to your mind?”

He shrugged. “I do. Life is only a passing moment. I might as well take advantage of every opportunity to grab at what I know will bring me happiness. Losing a chance—that’s not my thing. You gotta grab life by the horns, right?”

My chest lightened at his words. It was true. I was a great example of what a half-lived life looked like.

“Hey…” He touched my hand, and a sense of calm rushed through me. “You okay?”

I waved dismissively. “It’s nothing. I might need to take your advice.”

Esteban’s face sobered as he took his hand back. “It wasn’t my intention to…”

I patted his hand. “It’s the truth. I…I’ve been hiding for too long. Sometimes I don’t understand who I am anymore.”

He reached over, and when I thought he was about to touch my hair, he stopped. “Will you let me help you find out who you truly are?”

My whole body awoke. It was as if a light radiated from him. Like I was given this chance to take that step—with him. “You’d do that?”

“I want to.” He pulled my glasses up to my forehead. His eyes were mere inches from mine. “You have the most beautiful eyes.”

I held on to the table for dear life, his intensity keeping me captive. I didn’t dare look away. I didn’t want to miss a moment.

I cleared my throat, begging my heart to settle down. My lungs needed to remember how to breathe. “Thank you. I…don’t even know where to start.”

Esteban drew his hand back, then smiled mischievously. “I know exactly where.”

Chapter 5: Letting Go

Robbie

Bodies writhed against each other, laser lights marking their dancing silhouettes. My heart pounded with the beat of house music, a curtain of smoke filling the space between Esteban and me. I wiped my sweaty palms on my ripped blue jeans and fixed my black short-sleeved shirt.

“You okay, Robbie?” Raúl, one of Esteban’s friends, asked. The red-and-black snake tattoo that ran across his arm and up his neck contrasted dangerously with his black skin. He was a man. A fucking strong and huge man.

Esteban threw his arm over me, his smile showing off his irresistible dimples. “Don’t bother him. It’s his first time at a gay bar.” He ruffled my hair, then stood by his friend.

I had seen him without a shirt, but tonight his thin white Henley marked his abs and his arms. Fuck. Those biceps were finger-licking good.

I shook my head. “I’m okay. And it’s not my first time.”

Esteban widened his eyes. “It’s not?”

My father’s hard gaze hit me, but I pushed the memory away. “No. I tried once a couple of years back.”

He brushed my arm softly. “But I thought—”

I jerked away from him reflexively, not because I didn’t want his touch—because, hell, it was all I could think of—but because I hated that he felt sorry for me.

Esteban frowned.

I was about to answer when two hands covered my hips from behind and warm air traveled down my nape. I jumped and turned halfway to find a very handsome man behind me. He was of medium build with tanned skin. His blond, wavy hair reached his mid-back.

“Will you dance with me?” His thick, husky voice sent shivers down my spine.