Page 97 of Tarek

She laughs. “Yes.” Her fingers brush the side of my neck. “That hickey is huge. Who gave that to you?”

I laugh because I know the one I left on her chest is bigger. “A vampire. I returned the favor.”

Penny pulls at her shirt to cover the top of her chest. It’s a new habit I picked up, every time we have sex I feel a need to mark her. To let people know that she was with someone and that someone was me.

“The fuck?” I whisper to myself.

“Huh?” she says.

“Nothing, I just remembered something,” I reply. A small crowd of customers begin to dance to what I think is Maluma.

Penny’s foot begins to tap, and she claps along as the crowd begins to move.

I stand, dust my hands off on my pants, and I stretch my palm out to her. “Let’s dance.”

Penny pulls back in surprise. “You can dance?”

“There is only one way to find out.”

With a wide smile she places her hand in mine.

* * *

PENNY

I don’t understand much Spanish, but what I gathered is that granny thought that I was pretty, and Tarek was her baby. I know there was more to the conversation. Tarek is becoming a man of many secrets. He is a chef, a loyal friend, an adopted grandson to Abuelita, and a dancer.

I thought he would have mashed my feet by now or he would only know one step. I was sadly mistaken. He tossed and turned me, keeping me on the beat. His hands guided me with each beat. As he twirls me, I can’t help but smile as his hands settle on my butt and his legs is between mine. It’s like we are doing the lambada. My waist hits all the accents. Everything about Tarek is sexy and intoxicating and dangerous.

As the music comes to an end everyone claps because we are all having a great time.

Pablo calls Tarek’s order.

At 12:00am in the morning I laughed, danced, and now I am sitting on the pavement with a handsome man having a spicy birria and an Aqua Fresca. I would never think this would be a perfect night, but to me it was.

After saying good night to Pablo and promising Abuelita to return, Tarek drives to my house. Without a word he parks in front of my house and we both exit the car.

He takes my house keys out of my hand and presses into the lock opening the door. I step inside looking back I expect Tarek to follow.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

Tarek dips his hands in his pockets and sighs. “Tell me to go.”

That took me off guard. “You don’t want to stay.”

He kicks the threshold of the door lightly. “Tell me to go.”

“You don’t wanna stay, there are clothes you can use.”

“Penelope.”

“I don’t understand what’s happening?” I feel like I am floating in confusion.

Tarek bends his head and shakes it. “Tell me to go.” His voice was a mere whisper. He sounded like he was in pain.

I thought that after a great night like this he wouldn’t want it to end, I guess I was wrong.

“Um, you can go.”

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