Page 55 of A Coffee Away

“Where are you going?” Esteban asked as I was about to cross the street.

“To Xolo Taco to grab some margaritas. Want one?” I crossed my mental fingers.

Esteban smiled. “Sure. I’ll go with you.” He started toward me.

I raised my hand. “Stay with your friend. It’ll just take a minute.”

Esteban raised an eyebrow, then nodded. “Okay. Be careful.”

I smiled. “Sure will. Miguel will help.”

Miguel and I crossed the street and made it to Xolo Taco. Our friend waited by the bar. The ring was beautiful, and our initials had turned out perfectly.

“Thank you!” I passed it to the bartender.

Miguel ordered the rest of the margaritas as I waited for Esteban’s.

The ring, safe around the skewer, rested on top of the lime. Its rubies glinted under the colored lights of the bar. The margarita was perfect, served inside a red cup I’d bought from a souvenir store and brought earlier so it would be different from the rest. Special.

“He’ll love it,” Miguel said as the bartender passed the drinks over.

“Let’s go.” I took the souvenir cup and my margarita and headed outside.

Miguel followed with a carton containing the other four margaritas.

Our group was still talking with Esteban’s friend, laughing at whatever joke she had told.

The music was loud, and the crowd along both sides of the street made it feel like a party had been thrown just for this moment.

Esteban looked at me from where he stood, and I started toward him, entranced by his beautiful smile.

Miguel called my name as I reached the edge of the street, but I was too excited to see Esteban’s reaction to pay attention.

I stepped off the curb.

A horn blasted.

Esteban’s eyes widened in horror.

I turned toward the sound. A car was coming straight at me, weaving past the others as if the road belonged to it.

“Robbie!” Esteban’s scream tore through the music a split second before the impact.

I clenched the cup as the world spun. My head hit first, pain bursting through me. My skin scraped across the asphalt. I squeezed my eyes shut as a white flash of pain erupted behind them.

When I forced them open, everything was off. Blood pooled around me in a dark puddle. The cup slipped from my fingers, the skewer with the ring rolling away.

I took a shuddering breath as I saw him, my love, running toward me.

Then everything went dark.

Chapter 14: When Time Stopped

Esteban

“Robbie!” My heart stopped when the car hit him.

His body was suspended for a couple of seconds, then slammed into the street headfirst.