JUNE'S POV
The sun's rays poured through the window, a blinding spotlight on my face, making me squint against its brilliance. Turning over, I groaned, ready to drift back into sleep's embrace.
A peculiar sensation nagged at me, a whisper of difference in the air. Struggling to open my heavy eyelids, I surveyed the unfamiliar room. Suddenly, I jolted upright, realization dawning that I was not in my own familiar space!
"Lily!" I gasped in a hushed tone, my eyes widening as I noticed my state of nakedness. Confusion swirled in my mind as I tried to piece together the events of the previous night.
The vivid recollection of shared moments with Miguel flooded my mind, the intensity of our connection painting a blush on my cheeks. Relishing the memories, I glanced at the clock, only to be shocked by the lateness of the hour. It was past noon and I could not decipher how long I had slept for.
"Damn it, Lily!" I exclaimed, a sense of urgency propelling me to find my clothes. Questions and doubts clouded my mind, wondering about Miguel's sudden absence and the true nature of our night together.
Dressed and anxious, I left the room in search of Miguel. I called out Miguel's name into the empty space. His absence left a hollow ache, stirring feelings of being used and abandoned.
"Miguel?" I called out again as I emerged into the living room, met only by the cheerful chirping of birds. His departure felt like a betrayal, his sudden disappearance contrasting sharply with the intimacy we had shared just hours before. He had probably gone to work and left me to cater for myself, I thought but it was a Saturday so that was untrue.
I sighed heavily in despair as I stepped out of the house, the weight of the world seeming to press down on my shoulders. Suddenly, a car glided into the driveway, its arrival jolting me from my thoughts as I stood on the front porch. Squinting against the scorching sun, I strained to discern the approaching vehicle.
As the car came to a halt, relief flooded through me at the sight of Miguel's familiar vehicle. Stepping out, he was accompanied by Lily, their presence bringing a wave of warmth to my heart.
“Mommy!” Lily's joyful cry pierced the air as she raced towards me, her tiny arms wrapping around me in a tight hug. I lifted her off the ground, twirling her in a joyous circle before planting a soft kiss on her cheek, grateful that she was not upset with me any longer.
“Hey, my darling,” Miguel's voice rang out, his presence calming my racing heart. A quick kiss on my lips left me momentarily stunned, a silent question lingering in the air- had we gotten to this level now?
“You’re finally awake,” Miguel remarked as we made our way back inside, Lily darting off ahead.
“Be careful!” I called after her as she ran off.
As we entered the kitchen, the aroma of fresh groceries filled the air, a silent testament to Miguel's caring nature. Seated on a high stool, I couldn't help but feel a blush creep up my cheeks at his thoughtfulness.
“Where were you?” I inquired softly, my hands folded across my chest, curiosity lacing my words. I didn’t want to seem like I was clingy.
“Well, you were asleep, and I knew you were going to be hungry and probably sore when you woke up, so I thought to get some groceries and pick up Lily so Stacy could go home,” Miguel explained casually, his actions speaking volumes of his consideration. My heart swelled with affection, grateful for his understanding.
“Are you okay?” Miguel's concerned question broke through my thoughts as he retrieved a frying pan from the cupboard.
“Yeah, I just thought... you know what, never mind,” I replied, a hint of a smile playing on my lips, appreciating his care and attentiveness. But it had already got his interest piqued as he stopped what he was doing and walked towards me.
"Don’t shut me out June, please," he pleaded, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. I swallowed hard, feeling a rush of emotions welling up inside me, wondering what I had done to deserve such devotion.
"I thought you had left me and just didn’t care," I confessed, his hands gently cupping my face as our eyes met in a silent exchange of understanding. He shook his head, his expression firm yet gentle.
"Do not ever think like that again June. What we had last night was magical and I meant everything I said," he reassured, his gaze unwavering, ensuring that his sincerity reached me.
"You did?" I questioned, still unsure, my heart feeling both fragile and elated at his words.
"I love you with every breath I take and with every beat my heart makes. I love you more every day, June," he whispered, his declaration wrapping around me like a warm embrace, leaving me breathless with emotion.
As I met his gaze, filled with unwavering intensity, I whispered back, "I love you too." And in that moment, he drew me close, his lips capturing mine in a sensual, electrifying kiss. The burst of sensations that followed made my head spin as I melted into his touch, the mingling scents of mint and vanilla enveloping us in a cocoon of bliss. I encircled my arms around his neck and wrapped my legs around his waist, locking him in. He pulled me closer as the kiss got intense and I arched my neck to get a better feel. His arms tightened around my thighs and they began to slid up my dress. A soft moan escaped from my lips, causing Miguel to groan in satisfaction as I arched my back a little closer to him.
"Mommy?" Lily's voice echoed through the living room, catching us off guard, forcing a rapid separation as we hastily composed ourselves, adjusting our disheveled appearance.
"Yes, Lily," I responded groggily, feeling Miguel's playful wink, causing me to bite my lip and shyly glance away. Lily entered the kitchen, and Miguel resumed his task.
I attempted to tame my disheveled hair as Lily approached, her face lit up with excitement. "Look what I found," she exclaimed, her joy infectious. I knelt down to inspect her discovery and was met with the sight of a turtle in her hands.
"Oh, a turtle," I remarked, raising an eyebrow and turning to Miguel for an explanation.
Miguel nonchalantly explained, "I found him in the pool out back and decided to keep him." He continued with his work as I processed this new information.
"You have a pool? I had no idea," I expressed, observing Lily as she interacted with the turtle.
"Well, you arrived at a hectic time, and we got caught up right after," Miguel remarked casually, shooting a wink my way.
"Lily, please put the turtle back," I instructed firmly, and she complied without protest.
Miguel surprised me with his concern, suggesting, "Shouldn't you ensure Lily's safety around the water?"
"Your consideration is appreciated, Miguel," I acknowledged warmly, though I remained rooted in place.
"Why are you still here?" he inquired, stirring the food as its tantalizing aroma filled the kitchen.
"Lily is a proficient swimmer; she's been taking swimming lessons," I disclosed with a mischievous grin, to which Miguel nodded in approval, a smile playing on his lips.
"That's brilliant," he remarked, but I rose to my feet, feeling a sense of duty to keep a watchful eye on her nevertheless.
"Mommy!" Lily's voice rang out as she approached me, taking my hand as we settled by the pool, enveloped in the gentle sound of the water's rhythmic caress against the rim.
"Can I take a dip, Mom?" she inquired, to which I shook my head gently. "Not today, my dear. You didn't bring a swimsuit or spare clothes," I explained, running my fingers through her hair affectionately.
"She actually has them, I packed some in the car," Miguel interjected, strolling over with a laden tray of food. The enticing aroma made my stomach protest its emptiness, a realization that dawned upon me at that moment- I was famished. He placed the tray carefully on the nearby table.
"Can I go now, Mom?" Lily pleaded once more, her eyes pleading for permission. I chuckled softly and nodded in agreement. With a burst of excitement, she dashed to the pool and plunged in, creating a splash of water all around her. Miguel swiftly tossed a lifebuoy into the pool.
"How did you anticipate she would need a change of clothes?" I inquired as he settled beside me on the bench, bringing the food closer.
“When I told her we were going to be out of the house for a long while, she insisted that she pack a bag of fresh clothes and things she might need. She stated that you didn’t like it when she wore a cloth for so long because of the intense heatwave this period,” Miguel explained casually as he munched on a piece of food. I simply nodded in comprehension and plywood a bite of my meal.
"This is divine!" I exclaimed, relishing the delightful blend of flavors dancing on my taste buds as I ate.
“June?” Miguel called out, drawing my attention towards him for a moment.
"Mmm?" I responded absentmindedly as I savored the meal, intrigued by Miguel's next words.
"You're an incredibly strong and independent woman, June. What you've done with Lily is truly remarkable," Miguel praised, causing me to raise an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Alright, where are we headed with this?" I questioned, taking a sip of my fruit juice.
"I love you deeply, June. I want to make sure you have no doubts about my commitment to us," Miguel declared, his words hanging in the air. He paused for a moment, allowing the weight of his words sink in.
As I glanced at Lily, enjoying her time in the pool, I quickly finished my food and turned back to Miguel, meeting his gaze. I closed my eyes for a little while and when I opened them again, I caught Miguel’s gaze on mine. He was barking his raw emotions to me and he was not afraid to show it.
“Miguel,” I drawled out his name softly and gently placed my hand against his cheeks. He closed his eyes, savoring the feel of my touch against his skin and it elicited and contended sigh from him.
I loved this man deeply, the thought settling deep within me and stirred something inside.
He continued, “I want to take this leap into marriage with you for real this time. I already consider Lily as my daughter and I promise to take good care of both of you. I promise to stand up for you more when it comes to my mother and I want you to know that I don’t care about what she has to say.”
"Is this your way of asking me to marry you?" I quizzed with a mischievous grin, making Miguel's face to light up sheepishly. With a swift move, he pushed the food table aside and gracefully dropped to one knee.
"Oh my goodness, Miguel!" I gasped softly, my hand flying to cover my mouth. Little did I know my playful remark had sparked such a serious response.
"June Ryan, I have seen the world with you and without you, and the contrast is stark. Life without you is bland whereas life with you is a vivid masterpiece. I don’t want a bland life, instead I choose the kaleidoscope of colors you bring to my world. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife, truly this time?" Miguel's heartfelt proposal accompanied by a glistening ring from his breast pocket left me speechless.
I stared at the ring, momentarily contemplating the consequences of spending forever with Miguel. As tears welled in my eyes, I realized that no matter the challenges, I wanted to spend eternity with this remarkable man. I wanted to be addressed as Mrs June Lyon. A soft sob of happiness escaped from lips.
My gaze shifted to Lily, and a sudden jolt of shock froze me in place.
"Will you marry me, June?" Miguel repeated, but my focus remained on Lily.
"No!" My voice echoed sharply, shattering the beautiful moment and surprising us both.