The Driving Force to Love (MXM) ✔

Chapter 39

Antonio Angel Hernandez Sanchez

I looked over the sales number from the previous day on my computer. Sales were slowing down since Autumn was almost here. Jose had asked me the day before if I was going to do the same thing as last year and buy used motorcycles over the winter. The idea had been successful, but I wasn't sure it could be sustainable. Besides, I mainly did it to get close to Dean. It was strange. I had known him for almost a year now. We obviously hadn't been dating that entire time, but it was still strange. It didn't seem like that long ago that he walked into my store for the first time to buy that leather jacket.

When I finished looking at the sales numbers, I pulled up the repair numbers. I had been such a dunce when I tried to steal potential customer's from Dean. I had gone on automatic mode when Chet said his parents were thinking of getting a motorcycle. Dean had seemed like it didn't bother him and maybe it didn't, but it bothered me a lot that I had slipped into that mode. I didn't want to be in competition with my boyfriend. And our shops were so far away from each other we weren't really until I was stupid and brought it up. I shook my head disappointed with myself as I focused on the numbers.

There was a knock on my office door and then Mac stuck his head in. "Hey, boss," he said. "Do you have a minute?"

"Yeah," I said. I indicated for him to come in and take a seat on the other side of my desk.

He sat and said, "It isn't work related, but do you mind if I ask something?"

"Go ahead."

"My wife came into the store earlier and she commented about how much weight you've lost and how good you look. You know she was a gymnast when she was younger and she still stays in shape. And I haven't. I didn't think it bothered her that I've put on some extra weight and maybe it doesn't, but since she pointed out about how good you look it got me thinking that maybe she wants me to lose weight too. So how did you do it?"

"Diet and exercise," I said. "Sorry, it's not a magic formula. I will say it helped me personally to have a motivation, a goal. I would have given up long ago without one." I still didn't have a six pack or anything and didn't think I ever would, but I was definitely more comfortable with myself than I had been a year ago.

"What was your motivation?" he asked.

"The person I love," I said.

He nodded. "Elizabeth," he said. I let him think it was my wife. "I'll think about what my motivation is. Do you go to the gym or just exercise in your house?"

"A gym," I said. My office phone rang.

"I'll leave you to your work then," Mac said as he stood and headed towards the door. "Thanks."

I picked up the phone. "Hernandez's Motorcycles," I said without looking who was calling. "This is Antonio."

"Your friend is here again," Millie said.

"Would you please have him come to my office and point out where it is to him?" I asked. This was becoming more and more of a regular thing and I didn't want him to have to keep waiting outside for me.

"Okay," she said, "but maybe in the future you could have him text you to let you know he is here and you can tell him to go back into your office yourself. I'm not your receptionist. I can't just leave the till unattended." She hung up. She was right. I probably should just tell Dean to text me when he arrives in the future.

It didn't take long until there was a knock on the door and then it opened without waiting for an answer.

I couldn't help but smile when I saw Dean. "Come in," I said. "I'm almost finished."

His eyes roamed my office as he stepped in and closed the door behind him. He sat in one of the chairs across the desk. He didn't say anything as I continued to look at the numbers.

"Text me that you are here next time," I said, "and I'll probably just tell you to come inside my office."

"Okay," he said.

"Liz and Sarah said they would meet us at the movie theater." It had been awhile since I had been to a movie. When I asked Dean if he liked movies, he hadn't been to a movie theater in years. When he did watch movies, it was usually just at home. But there was a new movie that just came out that Liz really wanted to see and she thought it looked weird when she went out too much with Sarah and not at all with her husband so she invited us to go along too so it wouldn't look as suspicious. I didn't really think we were going to run into anyone we knew, but I wasn't going to turn down the chance to be in a dark movie theater with Dean. Even if I did have to pretend I was going with my wife and Dean was just a friend tagging along. "Should we stop and get something to eat first? We have time." I shut off my computer.

"I could eat," he said. He stood up when I stood up. As we walked out I said goodbye to my employees that were getting ready to close the store and then we headed out.

It hadn't turned cold yet so we both rode our motorcycles. I lead the way to a diner near the theater. It wasn't too crowded yet so we were able to get a table right away.

After we ordered, I said, "I am glad I got to know your son a little bit. He and his boyfriend seem like good kids."

A small smile came to the corner of his lips and my heart thumped in my chest as his attractiveness sky rocketed. "Yes," he said. "I'm still getting to know him too. I sometimes think it's strange that I feel proud of him when I had no hand in raising him, but I do. He is a good kid."

"I don't think that's strange. He still has your genes so he is still a part of you and you of him. His second year of college has started now right?" I asked. He nodded. We talked a little more about his son and then we were interrupted when our food arrived. I had never seriously thought about what it would be like to have a child of my own. Sometimes the thought would cross my mind, but then it would pass. I wasn't in any position to have children.

We grew silent as we ate. The food was simple, but good. "How is your brother?" I asked him after we had several bites in silence.

"Good," he said. "He is holding down his job and he still keeps in contact with me. I'm trying to be more positive with him and mention the future instead of the past. It's difficult sometimes. I want to believe he will succeed this time, but he has always fallen back to the drugs."

"I can't imagine," I said. Jose wasn't perfect by any means, but at least I never had to worry about him betraying me or stealing from me or anything like that.

After we ate, we went to the movie theater. Liz and Sarah were already there and waiting for us in the lobby. "There they are," Liz said happily when she saw us. She immediately came to my side and linked her arm with mine. "The movie is going to start soon. We should go in."

Sarah and Dean greeted each other as Liz led us to the theater. We went in and found our seats. I sat next to Liz so we could pretend we were the good married couple to anyone who was watching. Sarah sat on the other side of Liz and Dean sat on my other side. When the lights dimmed, Dean discreetly entwined his fingers with mine. I noticed Sarah discreetly holding Liz's hand as well. No one was paying attention to us. I relaxed a little and focused on the movie. I squeezed Dean's hand in the dark and wondered when we could get away again so we could hold hands in public.