Oral Care

Chapter 17: Take a Hint

*** Evelyn's POV ***

What a fucking day. I was all kinds of excited to get my car delivered this morning. It felt like a good start to the day, especially when my little flex-fuel sedan finally felt at home on the road. In Texas, every other vehicle is a truck or wants to be. Tricked out, modified behemoths that try to bully smaller cars. I am a good driver that doesn't intimidate easy, but on those roads it was hard not to be.

I am so happy with myself and I want to share it with someone. Meagan comes to mind first, but I pivot last minute and text Rafael. It is because of him and his brothers that I am even in my place and driving my car. And I am craving him.

He made the right call in leaving last night. I barely made it through my shower before collapsing into bed. But I spent time this morning remembering what a treat it is to wake up with him and let's just say I dug through some boxes to find my toys.

My joy is dampened when I end up getting lost trying to find a grocery store. I am even using GPS, but I realize quite quickly that in a place with lots of elevation changes and roads built over other roads that the GPS is also easily confused. As embarrassing as it is, I end up sharing that with Rafael too.

What I don't expect is to come home, arms loaded with groceries because I refuse to take two trips, and find Miguel snoozing in front of my doorstep. I drop a bag containing canned goods, making a big clatter and rousing him from his slumber. His big brown eyes crinkle at the corner when he sees me.

"Amante." He purrs, standing and taking the grocery bags from me as I focus on gathering my canned goods from the floor.

I don't say a word as I unlock my door and he follows me inside. He unceremoniously deposits my bags on the counter and reaches for me. I plant my hands firmly into the center of his chest to stop his progress as he leans in to greet me like lovers do.

"I didn't expect a warm welcome, but I needed to see you, Evelyn. I miss you." Miguel admits. He presses his nose to my cheek in an effort to express his need for intimacy.

"Miguel, I told you that things were over between us. I want a clean slate here." I protest, pushing out of his grasp.

He sighs heavily. "I know you're running from me because you think you'll turn out like your sister and brother. But we aren't them, Amante. We have too much passion to become them."

"You've said all this before, Miguel. My mind is set on the matter." I restate my position.

"Look, I'll give you space if that's what you need. I am here to look at apartments." He drops that bombshell at my feet.

"What?!" I gasp and groan, gripping my head in exasperation. "How did you even find me?"

"I tried with Meagan, but she told me to take a hint. Sarah was way more into the romance of our story and wanted to play her part." He tells me.

"Did you tell her you left your wife and kids for a romance that I never welcomed?" I combat his attempt to paint our affair as anything but what it was. No one knows, not even Meagan, about why I was extra hard on Miguel.

"Evelyn, don't be like that. We had good times together." He reminds me.

"Yes, when we were temporary and non-committal. And when I thought you were single." I add for good measure.