In The Morning| 18+

THREE

T E R E S A

The clink of glass filled the air as I take another sip of my espresso martini. The warmth of the alcohol and the smooth bitterness of the drink was starting to settle in my chest, making me feel pleasantly at ease. 

I glanced over at Alejandro, who was sitting at the bar, lighting up a cigarette. My eyes followed the smooth motion of his fingers as he brought the lighter to the tip, the glow of the flame briefly illuminating his sharp features.

"Do you have another one?" I asked, a playful tone in my voice as I approached him, feeling a little bold after the drinks.

He glanced at me with that signature, effortless coolness before reaching into his jacket. He pulled out his cigarette pack, and though I hadn't directly asked for one, he pulled one out for me anyway. I couldn't help but notice how easily he gave in to my request.

"I smoke here and there," I said nonchalantly, though the truth was, it was the one secret I kept from Jasper. He didn't know I still smoked occasionally, and it wasn't something I planned on telling him. It was just a habit that felt too personal to share, something I could keep for myself.

Alejandro clicked the lighter, and the flame flared brightly as he lit the cigarette for me. "Thank you," I murmured, inhaling deeply, the smoke filling my lungs before I slowly pulled it from my mouth.

"Anytime," he replied, his voice smooth, almost velvety. He took a long drag from his own cigarette, the smoke curling from his lips in slow, deliberate streams. He watched me closely, his eyes never leaving mine.

"You can hold your alcohol really well," he remarked, breaking the silence between us, and I smirked at the compliment.

"I have to drink a ridiculous amount of alcohol to even get tipsy. I'm actually one hundred percent sober right now," I confessed with a playful glint in my eye, taking another hit of the cigarette.

"Interesting piece of information, Teresa," Alejandro mused, his voice lowering, almost teasing. His gaze stayed steady, studying me with an intensity I felt in the pit of my stomach.

I didn't know what it was, but something about the way he looked at me made it feel like the world around us had faded away. I found myself drawn to him, the air between us charged with an unspoken tension.

"Do you like the bar?" I asked, trying to bring some normalcy to the conversation as I nodded at the bartender, who had just placed my drink in front of me.

Alejandro took a drag of his cigarette, exhaling slowly before answering, his lips curving into a faint smile. "Well, as someone who's a very deep jazz listener, this is probably the most terrible bar I've ever been to."

My jaw dropped in mock outrage. "As someone who is also a very deep jazz listener, I think this is a great bar!" I said, raising an eyebrow as I took a sip of my martini.

Alejandro shook his head in amusement, the corners of his mouth pulling up slightly. "Okay, Ms. Jazz, do you actually go to jazz bars?"

I narrowed my eyes, placing my drink down and crossing my arms. "Oh, gosh, Teresa," he said, shaking his head with exaggerated disbelief. "A jazz listener who doesn't go to bars and it's your first time at a bar? This is just terrible."

I couldn't help but laugh, throwing my head back, the sound coming from deep within me. His dry sense of humor was... contagious.

"Who are your favorite jazz artists?" he asked, his voice a little more serious now, though there was still a teasing edge to it.

I straightened up, my posture more thoughtful as I started to list off my favorites. "Well, obviously the classics. Louis, Duke, Miles. Then Sonny, Gene, Anita..." I trailed off as I continued thinking, but I caught him watching me intently, his eyes never leaving my face.