Page 39 of Hate That Blooms
But I also love you.
Tell me you love me too.
“I gotta go,” the timer on my watch goes off. I rise to my feet, shoving my trash in the can next to the bench. Crouching down to get eye to eye with Mireya, I tickle under her chin. “See you later,Princesa.”
“Hug.” Mireya holds her arms outstretched to me. Call me a sucker, but I can’t resist. I open my arms up and she flings her little body into them. Her little fingers find the curls at my nape and pull on them.
“Quín el rey. (Quín the king.)” She whispers in my ear and pulls back with a smile.
That’s right, princess. I’m the king, and your sister is my queen.
I say goodbye to Gabriela, and I walk back towards my dad. I feel an unsettling wave of emotions. Anger, longing, but also so much want.
I want her so fucking much.
* * *
We’re loading up the truck to head back to the yard when I catch Gabriela out of the corner of my eye. A dad from the group is talking with her, getting too close for my liking, looking at her like she is something to eat.
She’s my something to eat, Pendejo.
She looks extremely uncomfortable, and Mireya is having a hard time staying put. The guy calls for his kid, and Gabriela looks around, finding me staring at her. “You okay?” I mouth to her.
“No,” she mouths back, shaking her head. The guy turns back around and starts talking to her again. He takes out his phone, and I’m almost positive he is asking for her number.
Nope. Not happening.
“I’ll be right back, dad.” I toss my safety sunglasses into the cab and head back toward the playground. My dad turns to look out the back window, gives me a look, then smirks.
This guy is about to get his ass handed to him if he touches her. I cross the grassy area like I'm in a rush.
“You need help getting to the car,amor? I can carry Reya if you need me to.” Gabriela stands frozen, and the guy stares at me with a look of annoyance and confusion.
“¿Amor?(My love)” I ask again, loving the way her chest rises and falls with each draw of breath she takes.
“Ye-yes, please.” She looks at the guy and gives him a fake and very strained smile. “We’ll see you at the next meetup, Andres. Nice talking with you.” She walks off to grab her bag from the bench, and I stare at the guy.
“Don’t even think about it.” I warn him, narrowing my gaze, bending down to pick up Mireya. “Gabriela is mine.”
“I didn’t know she was seeing anyone. I can see that now with how comfortable Reya is with you.” He lets out a nervous chuckle. “I’m going to be leaving.” I watch as the guy collects his son and leaves.
“No nos gusta, ¿verdad, princesa? (We don’t like him, do we princess?)” I whisper to her.
“No.” The furrow of her brow makes me laugh as she stares at them menacingly as they leave the park.
I kiss her forehead, and she snuggles into my shoulder and lets out a tired sigh. Gabriela comes back, and I walk with them to the parking lot where she’s parked. I buckle a now-asleep Mireya into her car seat and close the door. Gabriela stands there, hands on her hips, waiting for me to say something.
“¿Qué?(What?)”
“Don’t fuckingquéme, Joaquín!” I hold my finger to my lips, looking back into the backseat where Mireya is still sound asleep.
“She’s sleeping.” I whisper-yell in amusement at her anger.
“Amor? What the fuck was that shit?” I take a step toward her, closing the distance between us.
“Don’t act like it didn’t do something for you. I saw how you started breathing all heavy and shit.” I reach out and grab her wrist and pull her into me, running my hands up her back. “You liked it. And don’t worry,amor, he won’t be bothering you again.”
“Why?” she whimpers as my hands find the curve of her ass squeezing hard. I can’t get enough of this body of hers.
