JUNE'S POV
"Goodnight, Monty, catch you next week," I called out to Monty after a grueling day's grind. The struggle was real indeed!
"Sweet dreams and stay safe, Lily," he chimed, playfully pinching her cheeks, coaxing out a soft giggle from her that painted a small smile on my face.
Lily had been my little shadow at work, tagging along daily since her school's break, as Stacy's babysitting service was beyond my reach to consult daily with my meager income. Monty had taken a liking to her, and she truly was a ray of sunshine.
"Bye!" Lily waved eagerly as we left the building, drawing a tired sigh from me. I held her hand as we trudged along to the car.
I stifled a yawn as I settled Lily in the back seat, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling in. It had been a whirlwind two weeks since Bryan's last visit- and it had been the busiest weeks of my life, no exaggeration. Sleep was a luxury, and my eyes bore the evidence- displaying the eye bags and dark circles as a sign.
"Mom, I need a new pencil case with complete writing materials," Lily declared as soon as we hit the road, prompting a weary groan from me.
"Honey, Mommy's beat. Can we grab it tomorrow, on Saturday?" I pleaded.
"No! I need it now. I have to get ready for school," she insisted. As we halted at a red light, I rested my head on the wheel, pondering my options.
My thoughts drifted to Miguel. He'd gone silent, respecting my wishes to not contact me, and my pride held me back from reaching out. Bryan's words lingered in my mind, the worry gnawing at me. I yearned to check on Miguel, yet my ego stood in the way, a battle within.
"You don't even resume until next week, so why the rush?" I queried as we still waited by the traffic light.
"I want to get it now!" She whined, not budging in her request.
"I'm beat and really need some shut-eye. Let's snag it tomorrow," I asserted with a weary tone, feeling the fatigue creeping in. As I longed for rest, Lily's sudden outburst caught me off guard, her tears flowing all the way home, my brows furrowing in concern.
Forgetting, albeit momentarily, that she was just a kid entitled to her emotions, I grappled with her emotional storm, her sobs echoing in the car. "Crying won't change a thing, kiddo," I sighed, coaxing her out of the car. Her resistance made the journey inside the house a struggle, her tantrum unfurling on the floor as I attempted to prepare dinner. Having lost appetite, I decided to prepare Lily something simple.
Presenting her with a simple cereal, she defiantly tossed it aside, sparking an uncharacteristic outburst from me, “Why the hell did you do that?!” My raised voice hung in the air, surprising us both, the weight of my words sinking in. Softening, I tried to reach out to Lily, but she fled to her room, leaving me to grapple with guilt.
Inhaling deeply, I closed my eyes briefly, the onset of a headache signaling the day's toll. Lily's distress mirrored my own inner turmoil, a storm brewing within me for weeks, all tied to one person - Miguel Lyon.
Dialing Bryan, a wave of determination washed over me; I needed to confront Miguel, to quell the tempest of emotions churning within me.
Fuck my ego!
"Hey Bryan!" I greeted as soon as he picked up his phone, a sense of urgency in my voice.
"Mind doing me a favor, please?" I asked, the request hanging in the air as I awaited his response.
"Could you text me Miguel's address?" I inquired softly, my heart racing in anticipation of his reply.
Listening intently, I was taken aback when he mentioned he had already sent it without hesitation, a wave of relief washing over me, causing a smile to form on my lips.
"Another thing, please keep it between us," I added quickly before ending the call. My plan to see Miguel Lyon was set in motion- I was actually doing this, but first, I needed to ensure Lily was alright.
Approaching her room, I knocked tentatively on her door, the weight of the situation heavy on my shoulders.
"Lily, mommy is sorry," I apologized, the silence on the other side echoing in the hallway.
"We can get your writing materials and even some ice cream tomorrow, sweetheart," I coaxed, hoping for a response that didn't come.
"Stacy is on her way and will take care of you, okay?" I reassured, retreating to the living room as Lily remained silent. The exhaustion of the day finally caught up with me as I settled on the couch, drifting off into a light slumber as I waited for Stacy.
Startled by the doorbell, I awoke groggily to Stacy's arrival.
"Hello June!" Stacy greeted warmly as I opened the door, my weariness evident as I nodded in acknowledgment.
"Good to see you, Stacy. Lily might be a bit upset and fussy, so please look after her and make sure she eats something. If you need anything, feel free to reach out," I instructed before letting Stacy in to care for Lily.
“Of course, do take care of yourself,” she said bidding me farewell, her voice echoed in the quiet night. I settled into the driver's seat, exhaling slowly before the engine roared to life, propelling me into the darkness. My mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, unsure of what awaited me at Miguel's doorstep.
Despite my earlier resolve to distance myself from Miguel's family drama, my heart tugged me towards him that night, overpowering my reservations. The depth of my feelings for him overshadowed any concerns about his mother. His respect for my space only deepened my love for him, even if it meant sacrificing his desires.
A single tear escaped my eye, a silent messenger of my inner turmoil. Confusion clouded my mind as I grappled with unexpected emotions. Uncertainty filled me as I pondered my intentions upon reaching his house; I simply yearned to see him, willing to face whatever awaited us, my resolve unshakable.
Pulling up outside his darkened home, a sense of eeriness crept over me. The absence of light from within raised doubts about the address Bryan had provided. Stepping out into the eerie silence, a shiver ran down my spine, a silent warning of the unknown. Knocking on the door yielded no response, the echoes of my calls fading into the night.
"Miguel?" I called out, met only by silence. With a mix of trepidation and determination, I pushed the door open, revealing an empty interior devoid of life. Doubts lingered in my mind as I flicked on the lights, revealing enchanting decorations that adorned the walls. A picture of Miguel on a tranquil beach captivated me, drawing me closer as I traced the image with gentle fingers, lost in a moment of contemplation.
Another picture of him and an older man, presumably his dad, sat on the table. I picked it up, stroking it gently, struck by their striking resemblance.
Suddenly, Miguel's voice rang out, "What are you doing here, June?" Startled, I gasped, turning to see him standing there. Clutching the frame to my chest, I whispered his name, still in shock at his unexpected presence.
"Why are you here, June?" he reiterated, stepping closer, his casual attire of a plain short and an open flannel shirt added to his allure. I caught a glimpse of his bare chest as he tucked his hands into his pockets. His proximity made my pulse quicken, his disheveled appearance only adding to the intensity of the moment.
“Miguel, I…”
“June…” Miguel interjected and looked at me, emotions swirling in his eyes.
“I am sincerely and deeply sorry for my mother’s behavior towards you. I am even more sorry for my inaction and nonchalance toward it,” he apologized, our gaze locked in each other. Tears welled in my eyes as I struggled to respond, feeling the weight of his words and the depth of our shared history. I looked away, unable to contain the weight of my emotions.
"All these while, I thought you were putting up with this charade for the money, a notion I was deeply wrong about. I didn't know you loved me and I guess I should have told you, I love you June," he confessed leaving me stunned.
"Miguel please don't say what you don't mean," I begged and felt the tears streaming down my face. I could perceive the faint smell of alcohol reeking off him and the possibility that he might be a bit tipsy crossed my mind.
"These past month without you has been like walking on hot coal but if that is what I had to endure to confess my love to you then I don't mind. I am deeply in love with you June, a love that consumes my entire being and constricts my air flow. A love that makes my head swoon when I think about you and makes me feel giddy on the inside. June Ryan, I am encapsulated by your beauty and kind heart and each time I'm with you, I can't help but feel as though I am falling more in love with you,"
He paused to catch his breath and I took his hands in mine, holding it close. I couldn't stop the tears from falling, I didn't know why they were falling. He caressed my cheeks lovingly, causing me to close my eyes and savor his every touch. He placed a strand of my hair behind my ear and cupped my chin softly. I opened my eyes again and we were merely inches apart.
"I stayed away this long because you asked me to and I wanted to respect your wishes but please do not ask that of me again because I am precarious of how I would react. Please don't leave me again June, you are the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires. Night and Day, I dream of you. Please don't make me stay away," he pleaded and I laughed softly.
"Did you just quote a line from a movie?" I inquired in between my little chuckles.
"Yes, yes I did. I thought it'd work. Did it work?" He asked and leaned his head on mine. I nodded slowly as we looked into each other's eyes. I gazed into his eyes, reflecting the love and longing that mirrored my own. His profession of his love resonated in my soul, a melody of love and longing that echoed in the chambers of my heart. I felt the weight of his words, heavy with unspoken truths and unbridled passion.
"I love you Miguel, with every fiber of my being," I whispered out breathlessly.
"Do you have plans to go back home tonight?" He asked.
"Yes, Stacy came to babysit and has to leave tonight,” I replied with an inquisitive stare. I was confused as to why he'd ask me that.
"Then, you better call her to stay the night," he asserted, drawing small circles with his thumb around my chin
"Why?" I asked in a low whisper. I wondered for a moment what he could have up his sleeves in that moment.
"Because, I am about to make love to you in so many different ways just to show you how much I love you," he responded softly with a mischievous smirk, closing the distance between us and crashing his lips on mine. Our breaths mixed with each other and our bodies danced to the rhythm of our beating hearts. That night, two bodies became one soul with three words that held more meaning than one could ever imagine.