Page 60 of A Coffee Away

I nodded. “I’ll go home, but I’ll be back in a few hours.”

Raúl’s shoulders sank. “Okay. I guess that will do for now.”

The world was smaller without Robbie by my side. The rainbow painting at our door seemed dull. The apartment was dark and void, as if something had swallowed all our memories. The canvas of our night at Maunabo’s lighthouse stood on its tripod by our window. A testament of what was lost. Most of Robbie’s paintings were here. I’d asked Miguel to bring them. They were my Robbie, what he’d left for me, and I held on to them like a lifeline.

After two months of waiting for Robbie to wake up, I was at the point of losing it. These past weeks, Mr. Fernández had been relentless in his comments, and my patience was growing thin. It was almost like he was trying to test my control.

Dad and I had been battling him in terms of the proxy letter, but we were losing ground fast. He used the fact that we weren’t married and that we didn’t go to a lawyer to question it. With his power within the hospital board, it was only a matter of time.

After a quick shower, I buttoned my black shirt. Robbie’s medical bills were accumulating by the minute, and his parents were slowly taking control. This was the main reason why I was losing this fight. They had money. I had to balance my barista job, being there for Robbie, and working a night shift at a local club as a bartender.

“See you tomorrow, love.” I kissed my fingers and touched our proposal picture set above our sofa, one Raúl had taken during that sunset when we decided to spend our lives together.

There was always that punch. That weight that fell on my stomach every time I thought of him. Of the never-ending clash with his father. Of the possibility of losing everything we’d built. I pocketed my hands and made my way down the block.

“Emile.” I shook the bouncer’s hand.

“Windy night, huh?”

I nodded, looking back at our apartment at the end of the street. “It feels colder than usual.”

Emile gave me a slow smile and opened the door. “Hang in there, buddy.”

“Thanks, man.” I took a deep breath and entered.

The place was packed already. Bodies swayed to the music. Laser lights and smoke filled the neon-colored dance floor. I took off my shirt and fixed my leather pants so they’d fall below my V-line, as was the rule at the bar—show all the skin you can. Customers want sexy bartenders.

“Esteban!” Andres rushed to me and clasped my hand.

His long, blond hair was as beautiful as ever, and his green eyes gleamed with that sheer sexiness he always carried. He’d been the one to take Robbie’s virginity, but I’d put that aside when he, after finding out about Robbie and the battle I was trying to win, talked to his boss and got me this job.

“Fuck, man. This place is packed. Thank Bacchus you came in. These people are wild and thirsty.” He fixed his black leather corset as a man called for a Jameson. His black hot pants were so short you could glimpse part of his asscheeks, something he was well-endowed with. “How’s Robbie?”

I poured the Jameson into the glass. “Same. Still waiting.” I swallowed the lump in my throat.

Andres patted my shoulder. “Hang in there. I’m sure he’ll be back with us in no time.”

Everyone said the same thing—that he would wake soon. That I had to keep my hopes up. I nodded and passed the drink to the client.

I was a spectator in a dream, one in which my body kept moving and living its life but my soul stayed anchored to that bed. That lonely room where two breathed but one soul was trapped inside its cage, and I couldn’t get it out.

The fatigue was taking over my day-to-day life. I was hollowed out and almost at the edge of losing whatever hope I had. I raked my hair back as another customer approached the bar, dancing and laughing with his partner.

Before I knew it, the night was over, and I was at our apartment.

I closed my eyes, standing by the window and waiting for the sun to come out.

Robbie wrapped his arms around me from behind, then covered my pecs with his warm hands. We were both naked, taking in the miracle of a day that had just begun.

“Wait for it. You’re about to witness the proof that light can overcome darkness. Every single time I watch the sun, I tell myself I made it out once again.” Robbie kissed my neck. “I was never able to see it till I met you.”

My skin was on fire, and blood rushed to my cock as he nipped my earlobe. With a velvety stroke of his tongue, I was done for.

“Fuck me.” Robbie took hold of my hard shaft. “Right here.”

I spun around and grabbed his neck, choking him just how he liked it.

He gasped, pure ecstasy in his honey-brown eyes.