In the end, its Him & I

15. Ours

"I love you." those words replay in my head as I lay here against his chest. He loves me and I love him. His eyes are closed as I stare at him, rubbing his cheek with my thumb. He's beautiful. "Xile's graduation is coming up, what are we going to do to celebrate?" he asks.

"I'm not even sure, I just want Camilo and Evelyn gone so I can get on with my life." I sigh.

"I know, and I'll make sure they are." He says rubbing my back.

"I don't want to hide anymore; I feel like that weak little girl again. and before you say, 'it's for your safety, I can take care of myself."

"Anaís, no," he says getting off the bed and going into the shower. "Why not, you'll protect us, won't you? I'm not asking to go back to work or home, I just don't want to be here all day every day. I want to be at the warehouse with you, helping you find them." I say as I enter the bathroom and stand at the shower door.

"Anaís, I will always protect you, but I can't risk it. The answer is no, & that's final." He says, turning to the other showerhead farthest from me. With his back facing me, we shower and get dressed without another word.

I sit on his bed as he sits at his desk on his laptop. I want to argue, but deep down, I know it's what's best. "Please don't be mad at me, you know I only want to protect you." he turns to me. I nod and make my way to the door. "Anaís," he calls out following me as I walk to the living room.

"What?" I turn to him displeased.

"Cariño!" a voice says as the front doors fly open. Whom I'm guessing to be Carmen runs in after Emilio.

"Slow down, you'll get hurt," Grey says, but she doesn't. she hugs him tightly, "How are you, mijo?"

"I'm good, how was the flight?"

"Long." She laughs, "Is this Anaís?" she asks, looking back at me. "It is," Grey says, taking me by the hand. She hugs me and I hug back, "Nice to meet you, Carmen."

"Okay, don't hug her too long or Grey will have a fit," Emilio says, walking past us. She pulls back and takes both of our hands, "As he should." She smiles. Grey introduces her to the others and then she goes out to one of the guest houses to get settled.

The twins and Xile join me on the couch as Grey, Emilio and Mariano go into his office. We scroll through our phones for a bit until they all walk out of his office.

Grey leans over the sofa from behind me. "I have to go to the warehouse. I'll be back soon. I love you." he says before leaning closer and whispering, "I'm going to fuck that little attitude out of you later." He whispers in my ear before kissing my head and leaving.

"'I love you' when did he finally grow the balls? Kaia laughs. "Yea, all we can ever hear from him is how much he does." Zayn says, rolling his eyes. "stop being bitter old ladies." Xile defends and I laugh.

The sliding doors open and Carmen steps in, Are you guys hungry?" she asks. "Starved." Zayn answers.

"I'll make lunch, is arroz con pollo okay?"

"It is, I'll make arepas con queso while you're at it," I say, following her into the kitchen. We get to know each other and talk about Grey's childhood as we cook. The others join us, and the twins make fruit punch as Xile helps Carmen.

We go out to the patio to have lunch. When we're done, Carmen and I clean the kitchen as the others eat ice cream by the pool. "You don't have to help me Mija, go join the others in the pool. No buts, I'll clean the house in the meantime." I nod and change into my swimwear to join the others.

The sunny afternoon weather was perfect for a pool day. I lay on the patio bed, a book in my hand and a martini to the side of me as the others swim in the pool. After reading two chapters, I join them, and we play games and listen to music until the sun goes down.