Page 48 of Out of Office

But it had to wait until we were on our own, this night needed to go well, for Gen’s sake and even for Lissette.

So I stayed chill, polishing my shrimp, the savory flavors flooding my mouth, making me think of home. I kept my shit together while Gen and her mother discussed A.D. Nicholson and how it would a boon for her career to find him.

“Tropics wants to retain him for exclusive work. The numbers they’re thinking...unprecedented.”

My heart skipped at the kind of money I could make again...but no, there was a reason why I had left that side of my life behind. Look at Gen, she barely had any balance. The Tropics wouldn’t be a suitable environment for me.

I pushed myself with no help from anyone, no boss needed to ask me to work late, or do more, I believed in hard work. However, when Gen told me stories of how additional responsibilities had been added to her plate post accepting the job, it raised a flag. How could I explore a future with this company where I could keep a balanced life, if this was common practice?

“Mmm-hmm. I hope you find him. It would be such a windfall for your career. See, young man. When I ask about plans, this is what I mean. Gen is very successful. She deserves someone who matches that energy. I would know. Her father was another man who thought love and vibes would fill our pantry. So, while I worked hard, he just...did odd work here and there...needless to say it didn’t last long. And I don’t regret it one bit.”

At this point, my mood had grown from curious annoyance to feeling disrespected. I stared at Gen, who glared at her mom then turned an apologetic gaze at me.

“Mom, that is unfair. This is not like my dad. And you forget he was an artist. You knew it when you got with him, and he asked you to...” Gen took a deep breath and then shook something off.

“Mom, I’ve got an early day tomorrow, and it is Adri’s first day here. Maybe we do brunch another Sunday, huh?” she said gently, and I wondered if this would be how it would always go. If her mother’s personality would overpower our need for unity as a couple.

“Babe... Adri, I’m... Shit, that was bad. I’m so sorry.”

Gen’s mattress felt like pure heaven underneath me after one of the most challenging days in my life. I stared at the ceiling, arms crossed behind my head, wearing basketball shorts as Gen sat up with her laptop on her legs, wearing a cute pink tank top and shorts that made me look twice when she got in bed.

In the span of fewer than twelve hours, I’d said goodbye to my kin and country, had walked into uncharted territory, and was greeted by hostility and a lackluster welcome. I tried my best to give Gen grace. She couldn’t control her mother. I understood that, but why, if she knew what Lissette was on about our marriage, had she invited her to the apartment on our first night together under the same roof? None of it made sense.

“What exactly are you apologizing for?” I asked, and she tensed next to me.

“Well, my mom can be an asshole, but she’s like that at first. She’ll warm up.”

“Gen, I...listen, I can’t lie. Your mom was rude and disrespectful, and she doesn’t even know me. But my main worry is not that. I didn’t have any high expectations from her, but you...well, last I knew, we were both grown. Why does she have such a hold on your life?”

“Excuse me?” The temperature on her side dropped by several degrees. Shit, I was messing this up.

“Look, I get it. I was close to my parents. Shit, you can see I’m close to Claudia, but there is this hold she has on you...”

“Like Julín on you?”

“That’s not fair. I’m here, am I not?”

“And I’m in this too! Why would you...ugh.” She shoved her laptop off and stomped off to the bathroom. A few minutes later, she returned with a full-body onesie, white with pink bows scattered all over, and I stared. That shit looked...fuck, I was mad right now, but that onesie looked sexy on her. And it was such a contrast, I loved that she could show me all her facets.

“Uhhh...what just happened?”

“Well, this—” she pointed at herself “—is what I really wear at night when I’m by myself. I was embarrassed and, also I thought we would have sex, but if we are gonna fight on the first night, I need all the comfort I can get.” She threw her hands up.

“I don’t want to fight, Gen. I’m...this is a lot okay, I just... I truly don’t want to argue.” I sighed and stood up, helpless to her magnetism. Her eyes brimmed with sadness, and I wanted to erase that look, even if I needed my own balm for my feelings.

“So, this is what you wear to bed?” I asked, ghosting my arms around her hips.

“Yes...” she whispered.

“It’s sexy as fuck,” I murmured in her ear and loved how she trembled. Now that we were touching...it was easier. The soothing calmed me.

“How can we navigate your mom so that we fulfill your needs but respect my boundaries?” I asked, my hands full of her ass, itching to do more, but my mind needed reassurance, that, and my heart.

A heavy sigh wracked through her body, and she pressed a soft kiss right above my nipple, making me shiver.

“Stop playin’,” I chastised her.

“How can I when you feel so good?” She burrowed deeper into me, waking my lower body up as I met with her soft goodness.

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