55. Te Quiero

I burst through the door and there he is. He stands tall beside the window. He looks so handsome.

"Sky—"

Before he's able to continue on I've pressed my lips to his with an urgency I haven't felt before. Like he's a dream and he could go up in smoke any minute. I'm on my tippy-toes to reach him and I'm pushing him back.

He's confused but he doesn't stop me.

I kiss him and push him down on the bed. I get on top of him and continue to kiss him passionately.

"What the fuck is going on?" Aron asks as I kiss his neck.

"Are you complaining?" I pull away.

"No!" Aron says quickly.

"Good." I chuckle. "Strip."

He doesn't waste a second and takes off his clothes. I do the same and by the time we kiss again we're hungry for each other and it's like we spent years apart.

Everything feel like ecstasy. Every kiss, every touch. It's magic. I'm proud of myself for not doing anything with Jimmy. This was so worth it. I love Aron and that shows in everything we do together.

When we're finished I'm laying on his chest and we watch the sunrise from the bed.

I stare at Aron's eyes as they glow in the sun. And I want to go again.

"I love you." I blurt out before realizing it.

Aron turns to me, looking just as shocked as I am.

"What?" He mumbles.

"I.. I love you, Aron." I feel so vulnerable saying this. But it's just the truth.

Aron smiles and kisses me.

"Well, aren't you gonna say it back?" I chuckle.

"Of course I love you, stupid. I told you a million times." He caresses my cheek.

"I think you could definitely say it a bit more."

Aron chuckles and kisses my nose. "I love you."

Then he kisses my cheek. "I love you."

I laugh.

He kisses my ear and whispers: "I love you."

I feel chills on my arm.

I stare into his eyes as my heart beats out of my chest. I can't believe he loves me. I'm so lucky.

"I can't take it when you stare at me like that." He leans in and kisses me again.

"I can't take it when you look like that." I answer.

He chuckles.

I go back to laying on his chest.

"Your mom never married your dad, right?" Aron asks, catching me off guard.

I shake my head. "Nope. I'm a bastard." I laugh.

He chuckles too.

"How do you feel about marriage?" Aron asks.

"Um.." Kind of taken aback by this question. "I don't know.. I guess I don't really believe in it. I mean most married people that I know have gotten a divorce after like.. less than two years. And.. I don't know. It's just kind of stupid to me to get a piece of paper to prove you love someone. I think it's bullshit."

Aron nods, staring at the ceiling.

"Sure, but what about the people that do make it?  What about the married people that live on together till they die? Don't you want that?"

I sigh. "Honestly, I don't really care about any of that. Just because you have a paper and a ring doesn't mean that you'll be together forever."

"Sure, but it's about the commitment. If you wanted to you or I could just disappear right now without saying anything. When you're married that's a lot harder."

"So it's about tying yourself to someone else." I scoff.

"Sure. But in a good way."

"Sounds terrible to me—"

The door to Aron's room suddenly opens and his dad walks in.

I instantly tense up. I just know Aron's rolling his eyes. I pull away.

"Sky's back, I see." His dad smirks. His eyes mocking.

I pull away from Aron and pull up the blankets.

"We're dating." Aron says all of a sudden. I watch him surprised.

I look at his dad who just watches him blankly.

"I'm gay." Aron says like it's nothing.

Him and his dad share a long glance.

"I figured as much." Mr. Santiago shuffles his feet. "Obviously I don't agree with this."

I scoff. He's one to talk.

"Obviously I don't care." Aron says coldly.

"Well. It's not like I expected you to. You never have." Mr. Santiago says as he turns to leave.

"I'm moving out, dad." Aron says through clenched teeth.

"Aron," I grab his arm.

"No, I mean it. I've thought about it for a long time and this is what I want." I look at Aron's dad.

He doesn't respond. He just keeps walking.

***

I'm all dressed and ready as I watch Aron pack his bags from the bed.

"I always wanted to move out. I'm nineteen now.. I don't know why I waited so long. I guess I just.."

"What is it?" I ask gently.

"I guess I just always hoped he'd change. That he'd suddenly love me.. It's stupid."

"It's not. I get it. So did I.. about my mom. And she did change."

"And how long did that take? I just can't wait around for it anymore." He sighs and turns to me.

"You think I'm making a big mistake, right? You think I should give him a chance."

I remember last year. How his dad started touching me.. I never told Aron. I don't know if I should.

"Sky?"

I wake up from my thoughts.

"What's wrong?" He asks.

"Nothing." I say quickly.

"Please don't shut me out. Can we just be honest with each other?"

I sigh and stare at the sheets.

"Sky.. Tell me. Please."

I feel the pressure in my body. How do I tell Aron this? What is he gonna do? How could I possibly..?

I cover my face. "Shit.."

Aron rushes to my side.

"Sky.." His voice sounds worried.

"It was nothing, nothing happened." I'm doing it again. Minimizing my problems. But I'm doing it for Aron so he won't hate his dad because of me.

"Please tell me.." He whispers.

He knows me too well.

I take a deep breath. He sits down next to me.

"Remember that day.. last year, when we told each other everything?"

"Yeah. You had a panic attack before."

I nod.

"You went to get us breakfast.. and I was alone with your dad.." I look into his eyes.

"What did he do?" He almost looks scared.

"Nothing. He just.. He touched my neck and he said some things."

Aron's eyes are on fire.

"What did he say?" His voice trembles with anger.

"He talked about how he knew my mom and that he used to come to the stripclub.." I sigh.

"He asked about me. About.. How much I cost." I say quickly.

Aron gets up from the bed with force.

He walks up to the door, towards his dad, I'm sure.

"Aron!" I stop him.

"Don't." I look into his eyes.

He pulls away and slams his hand into the wall.

I stand there, not knowing what to do.

"Let's go." He growls. He walks to the other side of the room to grab his bags.

"Are you sure?" I ask.

Aron grabs my arm and pulls me to the door. He's squeezing me really tight but I don't say anything.

He drags me into his dad's study.

"What are you doing?" I whisper.

Mr. Santiago is sitting behind his desk, he looks up when he notices us.

"Sky told me about what happened."

His dad looks confused, he puts down his reading glasses.

"What?"

"Don't play dumb. He told me about how disgusting you really are."

Recognition washes over Mr. Santiago's face. He realizes what Aron's talking about.

"I don't know how mom ever married such a scumbag like you, but maybe it was better for her to have died than to spend another minute with you." Aron says this coldly, the only emotion coming from his eyes.

Mr Santiago gets up. "Now, you listen—"

"NO, YOU LISTEN TO ME!" Aron screams.

Aron's dad takes a step back.

"I never want to see you again. You're dead to me. And if you ever come near Sky.." Aron shakes his head.

"You're dead." He says this without looking away from his dad for even a second.

Mr. Santiago just stares at him. He looks angry and sad. And ashamed.

Aron turns around and I follow him out of the room.

He slams the door behind him and when we're in the car he grabs my hand again.

"I'm so sorry, Sky." He sounds like he's close to breaking.

"I never thought my dad would—" His eyes fill with tears.

"It's not your fault." I caress his hand.

"If you want to go to the cops I'll back you up. I'll say I was there, I don't care what I have to do—"

"I don't. And you don't have to hate him for me."

"I don't hate him for you. I hate him because he's a monster." Aron sniffs and wipes away his tears.

"Don't you?" He looks at me.

I shake my head. "He's your dad. I couldn't hate him." I smile a little at how sappy that sounds.

"I love that about you. You have a big heart." He smiles.

I squeeze his hand.

"Damn, I want a fucking cigarette." He chuckles.

"You don't need it. If you're strong enough to stand up to your dad, you're definitely strong enough not to give in to your cravings."

He nods determinedly.

"Te quiero." He kisses the back of my hand.

I lean on his shoulder. "Te quiero."