Page 42 of Out of Office

“Preciosa...have you thought about how things would be if we lived in the same place?” he murmured, his velvety voice caressing my soul.

My heart had been working overtime since I saw him, and I couldn’t articulate the rush of rightness that suffused me at his question. We’d joked around about it but there was seriousness now that hadn’t been there before. But there lay a pipe dream. I understood the importance of his family, and he comprehended the meaning of my career. Besides, who moved in together after just a few months of knowing each other? These types of decisions took time, but with Adrián? With Adrián, I didn’t care about timelines.

“I have, but...”

“No buts, just, let’s imagine, for now...”

“I’ve thought of moving here with you...working remotely. I know how Aguimar is important to you.”

“I’ve thought of moving to you...but it would require...”

“I’ve looked at fiancé visas,” I confessed, and he squeezed my hip and rumbled in laughter.

“So, we’ve both done that internet search, huh.”

My chest tightened in excitement. “But wouldn’t you prefer for me to move here? I mean, it would be hard. This job doesn’t want any remote work, even though I could very easily do this work anywhere.”

How funny that when I finally got to the pinnacle of one of my career goals, the goal no longer satisfied me. The job at the Tropics remained challenging and important, but every day I pictured myself doing something different. Hospitality was in my blood, helping people plan their trips, giving them the resources, it all resonated deeply within, but maybe there were other ways of going about my dreams. Such thoughts would have felt blasphemous just a year ago, but now I could only see the vast possibilities.

“I know your work’s important, so I’d be willing to move...”

Air whooshed out of me, everything held still, then I remembered...

“This is us imagining, right? Honestly, it would be the perfect dream,” I said, pressing a kiss on his chest.

“Mmm-hmm. It is the perfect dream. Another one to add to our collection.”

Adrián drifted to sleep shortly after that, and I lay next to him, wondering again if I was following my brain or my heart when it came to Adrián.

“I was here for four months and had no time to come and visit,” I said, my hand warm in Adrián’s palm. Purple, blue, and gold splashed on the horizon as we wandered around the city’s Casco Antiguo.

The area brimmed with restored buildings from the 1600s, standing as the second established city founded by the Spanish colonizers. Ever since we reunited yesterday, I indescribably felt at home. When I met Adrián that first day, what initially drew me to him was his confident aura, then he opened up slowly during our drives until every morning and evening were the highlights of my day.

His dedication to his family, passion for life, silly humor, love for his friends, inquisitive mind, and sense of pride lured me until I fell in love. By the time I was ready to leave Panamá, the infatuation was so intense the steps to love were a hop, skip, and jump. Now I couldn’t imagine my life without him.

“I know, all that time, you had me—a sexy, debonair brother—at your disposal, and you didn’t take advantage of my services.”

“Sir, you are making it sound like your services were different from driving.”

He chuckled as we crossed the cobbled street into a little coffee shop. The scent of coffee beans greeted us as we entered the space, and I closed my eyes in satisfaction.

“The hotel has a restaurant facing the bay, so I figured we’d dine there, but before that...” He gestured at the shop, and I realized how quaint and similar the decor appeared to one of the fondas where we’d had breakfast in Portobelo. Not the same architecture, but a feel of homeyness and belonging that I couldn’t shake.

An older woman with flawless ebony skin walked out from the counter and greeted us warmly, inviting us to sit. No one else was in the shop, and from our seats, we had the view of one of the plazas with an obelisk and a rooster on top. The area was surrounded by pristine white archways and stairs that led up to a pathway with water views.

“You’ve brought me to have your evil milky concoction that you pretend is coffee?”

Adrián’s delicious rumble infiltrated my ears, traveling straight to my stomach. I didn’t need any warm drink. All the comfort I needed resided here with him.

“I...” Adrián started, then closed his mouth again.

“Are you alright? And why are you sweating? It’s nice out for a change.” I took a napkin from the table and wiped his forehead. He leaned and allowed me the gesture, and that bolt of rightness hit me again.

“Yeah... I’m good.” He nodded forcefully. Odd.

“Don’t tell me you’re nervous?”

He frowned then smiled, but still no words emerged.

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