Page 32 of Every Chance to Stay

Please. That’s what it took to soften the chip on his shoulder. Just a gentle request from an omega who smelled like saltwater taffy and made him think all the joy in the world was housed in Lucky’s ocean eyes. Mateo was going to tease him again. He was so far gone on Lucky, it wasn’t funny anymore. He wasn’t sure it ever was… Maybe just pitiful.

“My mother is from Spain, I’ve mentioned that. Her name is Andrea Saavedra. She came here for a vacation, fell in love, divorced, and returned home after I was old enough to fend for myself.” He sighed, tipping his head back to look up at the stars. “My family was not a happy one.”

“Even if it’s unhappy, I want to know.” Lucky pressed a kiss to his chest like it was that simple.

“I’m not used to people staying for the hard parts. Mateo did but… well, he’s part of the story.” Antonio shook his head.

“You pulled me out of my bed to cheer me up because you’re someone who stays when it’s hard. I’m sorry you haven’t had many people do the same for you, but I’d like to be one.” Whether Lucky knew what those words meant to him didn’t matter. He pulled Lucky close, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.

“You already are.” But the hardest part was still to come, and Antonio couldn’t help the ball of ice sitting in his stomach. He’d have to just treat it like a bandaid. Rip it off and hope the pain was short lived. “My father was the official responsible for the land sale. He was the one who took the money, who created the reason for selling off the land, and who eventually was ousted for his corruption.”

Lucky stiffened but Antonio wasn’t ready to hear what the omega might say. He forged ahead with a desperate need to smooth the situation over, to defend himself in the face of a legacy he tried so hard to hide from.

“He was a terrible person. Whatever my mother saw in him, I never did… He resented her family, resented that she came from what he wanted—money. I was four when the sale went through and six when his corruption was discovered. I saw him drink himself into rages that shook the foundations of this very house…” Antonio shook his head, “He died in a wreck when I was ten. People called it a tragedy but I…”

“Whatever you felt was valid. Grief or not, complicated sorrow, or even joy. No one gets to tell us how to handle something like that.” Lucky’s fierce words were a balm to old scars.

He swallowed thickly. “Yeah.” A ragged breath helped ease the tightness of his throat before he continued, “At eleven, I met Mateo. We were put in the same class, and on the first day of the new school year, we got in a fight. I said something obnoxious… He called me a rich boy. I shoved him. He punched me in the face.” Antonio pointed at his nose, “Permanently disfigured my face but… he became my best friend in the entire world.”

“I really can’t wait to meet him.” Lucky cupped his cheek, “And for what it’s worth, you are not your father.”

It took him a moment to realize he was crying. “…Since we found out about Playa del Tesoro, I’ve been trying to figure out how to confess. I didn’t know how to tell you that it was my father who paved the road to this…”

“I’m starting to think you have a bad habit of blaming yourself for things you didn’t do.” Lucky rubbed his thumb under Antonio’s eye, brushing away the tears.

“It still feels like something I need to apologize for.” Antonio whispered.

“My mom had cancer. She fought hard… really, really hard. But that wasn’t enough. And towards the end, when she was filing the paperwork and writing her hypothesis… She got defensive of her independence. She knew she needed help but god she fought not to let us see it. I’m not saying she did anything wrong but… The final document she signed was for ten years, not the fifteen she would have wanted. And it was caused by what looked like smudged ink.” Lucky smiled sadly.

“None of that is your fault, Lucky. You couldn’t have known.” Antonio stood by his feelings on the matter.

“Logically, I know that. And with your every reassurance, I’m trying to believe it. But the point is that… that’s how blame works. It’s not your fault that your father sucked. It’s not my fault the paperwork is wrong. It’s all just… sad.” There was exhaustion in Lucky’s voice but for the first time it felt like the omega believed this was something out of his control.

“It’s not our fault.” He agreed, “…but it does feel like we’re the ones left picking up the pieces.” Or picking at old wounds and stitching scars that keep reopening…

“We have each other though.” Lucky raised his glass, turning away to take a sip.

Lucky was beautiful. With messy hair, with dark bags under his eyes, with a bone deep tiredness lining his face, he was still beautiful.

“I love you.” The words slipped out. It wasn’t the grand confession he planned in his head. It wasn’t some big moment. But under the stars, with everything spilled out between them, with strong wine blooming courage in his veins, it was the best moment.

Lucky choked on his wine, coughing into his elbow as he sat up suddenly. Antonio patted his back, laughing just a little at how startled Lucky looked.

“Say it again.” Lucky demanded, breathless as he cleared his throat.

“I love you.” Antonio repeated, “I know it’s fast, I understand if it’s too much…”

He didn’t get to finish. Lucky climbed into his lap, kissing him soundly before the confession could be soured by insecurity. Their wine glasses fell, forgotten, onto the cushions. It would stain and Antonio couldn’t have cared less about it. Not when he wrapped his arms around Lucky. His fingers sank into Lucky’s hair as he kissed the omega hungrily, trying to pour every ounce of his feelings into him.

“I love you too.” Lucky breathed against his lips, the words almost lost as Antonio devoured him.

“From the moment I met you.” Antonio whispered in the space between kisses.

“Fast. That’s just us.” Lucky added before another deep kiss licked the sound from his mouth.

This is who they were.

A rush of feelings, a rush of desire, a rush of affection, and suddenly he was tipping Lucky backwards into the haphazard nest he carved out for them beneath the stars. Lucky’s arms looped loosely around his neck as Antonio stared into blue eyes reflecting millions of stars overhead.