Page 94 of A Coffee Away

I frowned at her. “Hey! What are you laughing about?”

She elbowed me playfully. “Your face just told me exactly why he wants your hair down. You two are so intense.”

My face warmed.

Eva smiled. “My wife is a hopeless romantic.” She came close to my ear. “And a big softy for you guys, especially for how hot you are together.”

“You are the hottest gay couple I’ve met. Well, after us.” Steph snaked an arm around Eva’s waist and kissed her tenderly.

They headed for the bar Raúl had set up and got some wine from Andres, who waved at me.

I smiled back. He’d helped Esteban when he needed money, and we’d grown as friends ever since. Esteban quit his job at the club and went back to being a barista and a poet. These last weeks, my art had been selling at Quique’s gallery, especially the pieces I’d made after the coma.

At last, I’d found what I truly loved painting. It fell somewhere between light and darkness and enveloped all the shades of what life was. Sometimes it was full of color, and other times it was swallowed in gloom. But somewhere in between was where you’d find joy. True and unequivocal. Lying right there in the midst of it all.

Quique and Miguel arrived, and I sighed. They were always late.

Miguel reached me. “Where’s the ring?”

I patted my burgundy waistcoat, and my blood froze. Where was it? I checked again and exhaled, then passed it to him.

Steph had helped Esteban plan his engagement event at the beach that first time and Miguel mine, so choosing them to stand beside us today had been an easy decision.

“Here he comes,” Steph yelled from the bar.

I curled my toes in the sand, letting its warmth settle my racing heart.

All the chatter quieted, and the quartet Eva secured for the music started playing “Never Stop” by SafetySuit, sung specially for us. We chose the song for today because, well, what song could be better for us?

My breath caught at the sight. Esteban matched me in his white shirt and burgundy waistcoat. His sand-colored linen pants hugged him tight, folded at the ankles like mine.

He walked down the aisle marked with seashells, barefoot like me, with his mother on one side and his father on the other.

Gina wore a sandy-colored short dress, and Javi sported a white shirt and pants that matched ours.

But Esteban. I shifted my feet, then rolled my shoulders back.

My God. He looked radiant. How could I be so lucky?

For an instant, I glanced toward the guests. Mom and Dad weren’t here. Mom said she’d try to convince my father, but I guess she hadn’t. I closed my eyes for a second, then Esteban’s warm hands took mine.

“They’ll come. Just breathe, and look at me.” Esteban’s voice always grounded me.

He touched his brow to mine and gave me a peck on the lips. He sung the last verses of the song, rendering me speechless.

“I will never stop losing my breath.

Every time I see you looking back at me.

I’ll never stop holding your hand.

I’ll never stop opening your door.

I’ll never stop choosing you, babe.

I’ll never get used to you.”

Tears flowed down our faces as we held each other. We’d gone through so much to get here today.