My neighbour Rúben

Chapter 11

When I woke up, it took me a while to realize where I was. That I wasn't on my bed, that it was Rúben's, and that he should be sleeping next to me, his big arm around me. But he wasn't. If he had left for the hospital without telling me...

As I left the room, ready to go looking for him, I heard noise in the kitchen, so I went there.

"Good morning" I said.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty" he replied. He wasn't wearing the small pajamas anymore, just a plain white t-shirt and some grey joggers that made his bum look perfect, just like the peach emoji. And he was smiling.

"Did the hospital call?"

"They did. The surgery was a success, and even though now Ivan will have to work really hard, he'll recover."

"Oh, that's wonderful!" I said, running towards him and throwing my arms around his neck, hugging him. "I told you everything would be alright."

"You did" he said, hugging me back. "Thank you."

We stayed like that for a while, neither of us saying a word until the toaster startled us both.

"I hope you like toasts for breakfast" Rúben chuckled.

"That actually is what I have for breakfast. And some fruit."

"Then you've come to the right house. C'mon, when they are cold they don't taste the same" he said with a quick kiss before letting me go. "And oh, Lucy texted. She asked if you were with me."

"What did you tell her?"

"That you had spent the night here and that you would explain everything later."

"If she lets me" I sighed, sitting down.

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"I want all the details. Now." Lucy said the moment I walked into our apartment. "Was it good? How many times? How long? Is it big? It has to be big."

"Lucy!"

"What? Those are very important questions! Though to be honest, if he knows how to use it, it doesn't matter if..."

"Lucy, nothing happened."

"Yeah, sure" she snorted, following me into my room. "Are you telling me that you disappeared with Rúben, slept in his house, and nothing happened?"

"Yes, exactly that."

"Liar."

"We went to the hospital."

"What?"

"His brother was in a car accident, that's why we left."

"Oh dear. Is he ok?"

"His leg is broken in a few places, but they called this morning and said that the surgery was a success and he will recover."

"Thank God" she said, sitting down on my bed. "Wait, are you leaving again?"

"You don't mind, do you? Rúben is going back to the hospital and I don't want him to be alone."

"No, of course not. Go. Julia and I will be fine, she's still sleeping."

"Thank you" I said, disappearing into my bathroom to get changed.

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"You didn't have to come."

"I know. But I wanted to."

"Thank you" Rúben said, kissing my hand. Once again, he hadn't let go of it since we had left the car.