Never Just Friends by Katerina Winters
Chapter 7
Sitting on the rim of the tub, Maritzia stared down at her phone and ticked the checkboxes on the quiz.
There was a rapping knock on the bathroom door. "Babe, are you ok?" Victor called out through the white paneled door. "Everyone is here."
Looking at the door, she could imagine him standing on the other side with a worried frown and she wondered if the frown was for her or just how her being in the bathroom while guests arrived made him look.
"Yes, I'll be out in a sec," she called back as she checked another applicable check box.
Scrolling down, she reached the end of the quiz and pressed the pink button for "find out your score." Exiting out of a few pop-up ads, Maritzia stared down at the result. This was the fifth quiz on the fifth website, and they all said the same thing—break up with him.
Hearing the talking from the other side of the wall, Maritzia listened to the faint familiar voices of her brothers and cousins in her living room and took a deep breath. Today was her birthday, she didn't have to think of this right now. Standing up from the tub, she turned to the full-length mirror and stared at herself. On the outside, she looked normal. Her skin was actually behaving for once, clear of acne and smooth. Her black hair was loose and curly around her shoulders and shined under the light. Her black leggings and silvery gray tunic hugged her body perfectly, making her feel a little bit sexy. Overall, she looked good. It was only when anyone looked at her eyes could they see her happiness. Thinking of the long lunch she had with Valerie yesterday, she recalled her cousin's beseeching words.
"Please, Ritz, please just break up with him already. Everyone can see that you're miserable. This makes no sense," she had pleaded with her over their shared Caprese salad.
Fashionable and exceedingly cute, Valerie had been dressed in a black floral dress over a pair of black tights and a cute gray cable knit crop top sweater that gave a preppy look to her already cute, round face.
"I'm not miserable," Maritzia had tried to argue, but she knew her words sounded tired. "I'm just…"
"You're just not happy?" Valerie had cut in angrily.
Maritzia had looked away from her cousin's penetrating gaze and sighed. "Yeah."
"Semantics," Valerie had shot back. "My point is you should be happy."
"I know, even Cade said that," Maritzia had poked at her salad, pushing it around her plate as she thought of Cade's set jaw and searching eyes when he caught her wrapped up in her thoughts lately.
"Cade is right!"
Cade wasn't just right—he was pissed. Even though she tried really hard to push away the growing feeling of misery before she went into work, it only took one look at Cade's piercing eyes for him to uproot the emotions she tried to hide. And he was less than pleased with what he found. Each day she could feel his anger towards Victor grow. The once somewhat civil relationship the men had was long gone, replaced by open hostility on both sides which only fed into her already growing stress. The urge to scream and just run away was becoming more than just a passing fantasy for her.
Just how in the hell were they going to make it through tonight with everyone under the same roof?
Resisting the urge to run a hand through her hair and messing up her for once good curl pattern, she took a deep fortifying breath and left the bathroom.
Her apartment was packed. With nearly all of Victor's cousins and her own family, that being just her brothers and her four cousins she grew up with at Tremont place, Victor had it in his head to have her birthday party be like a fun night out with just people their age, something her parents were less than thrilled about. Traditionally, everyone's birthdays were celebrated at their family apartment on Tremont. With everyone's front doors open, including Mrs. Moore's, it was a giant celebration that spanned both floors. It was a way for everyone to spread out and just have fun and relax. Children and teenagers usually stayed downstairs between her Aunt Agatha's and Aunt Maya's place while the older people milled around upstairs. That was her family's tradition and Victor was going against that. No matter how many times she tried to gently sway him against the idea, he would not budge. Determined to do things his way, he had assured her over and over again this night would be fun and that they could celebrate with her parents on another day. She should have pressed further on the matter, she knew her brothers and parents wanted her to without them even having to say anything. But she was so tired of arguing with Victor, and though the past few weeks had had its own tension with him trying so hard and his forced grins, it had been better than fighting. Maritzia just needed a few more weeks like this. She needed time to sort out her feelings without being under constant pressure.
"Hey, birthday girl. What you doing locked in the bathroom for so long?" Victor's cousin Sam called out as she walked into the living room.
Glancing over to her family sitting along the couch, she caught the worried looks on some of their faces. Smiling to reassure them, she scanned the people in the room and stopped, her smile nearly faltering when she realized Cade wasn't here. She needed him here. Where was he? Trying not to let her disappointment show, she smiled and greeted a few more of Victor's family as she walked around the sectional.
Maritzia could feel the same disquieting pressure that had built within her when Victor announced his plans for her birthday. The same coiling strain of ire when she imagined going through this whole night without her best friend at her side—it was unthinkable. She was about to ask Carlos where Cade was when she heard the front door open and a few of her cousins called out in greeting. Spinning around she let a relieved smile spread across her lips at the sight of Cade stepping through the door. Wearing a white fitted crew-neck sweater, jeans, and a pair of worn brown boots, he stepped into her apartment holding three big shopping bags dangling from his grip.
"Hey, there," he said, coming closer to her, ignoring everyone else in the room. "You were in the bathroom when I first came in so I went and got your gifts from the car. You okay?" he asked, his eyes tracing over her in worry.
Reaching out, she intended to squeeze his arm in silent assurance, a silent gesture to convey her thanks, but her hand was met with the solid wall of his bicep. Blinking, she looked at the swollen bicep under her hand and up to him again. Just how much did this man work out? When was the last time she actually touched Cade? She couldn’t remember. She knew he was ripped, but Jesus Christ, there was no give under her hand. It was like touching pure stone, not flesh and bones. For a brief second, he looked at her with the same confusion before understanding dawned over his eyes. With a purely wicked grin that has sent many women into frenzies, Cade flexed his arm under her hand, somehow turning the stone-like feeling of muscle under her fingers into solid steel while giving her a roguish wink.
Pulling her hand away, she burst out laughing. Instantly the lingering fear and worries that seemed to cover her like a shroud disappeared. Spirit lifted, she turned back to the party with renewed determination. This may not be the exact party she wanted or how things had always been done, but it was fine. The people she loved most were all here and she would allow herself to enjoy it.
After a few games of the world's worst charades that made Maritzia’s sides hurt from laughing so much, Victor announced it was time to open presents. Forcing her to sit down on the ottoman in front of the TV so that she faced everyone gathered on or around the sectional, Maritzia was the center of attention. Receiving a stack of various gift cards from Victor's cousins, Maritzia laughed and openly predicted she could probably have Starbucks twice a day for a year and still have some credit left over.
Her cousin Angel gave her what he gave her every year for her birthday, which was free automotive work for another year. Grabbing his face with both hands, she planted a happy, grateful kiss on the side of his cheek and he beamed at her. This was a tradition between the two of them that Maritzia loved. Each year he gave her free access to his mechanic shop and every year she gave him her police card with a handwritten note on the back that stated: To the officer pulling over my cousin, please kindly give him a warning for speeding or parking offenses only. This flagrant nepotism will not cover any other crimes. Valid in The Bronx only. It was a card he used at least three to four times a year and sang its praises accordingly.
Valerie and Pedro gave her a spa package she could not wait to use, while Luis gave her stocks and bonds, something he also did every year. It was only Carlos and Cade she could never quite predict. One year, Carlos had rented a bouncy house and like the fools they were, her, Cade, Valerie, and Carlos jumped around in it for nearly two hours in a nearby park, laughing as they made nearby children jealous and their parents confused. After their fill of enjoyment, they had let the kids of the park use the purple and yellow bouncing castle until the rental time ran out.
Handing her a small white box, with a pink bow, Carlos gave her an apologetic smile that immediately set her nerves on edge.
"Oh God, what is it? What's that face you're giving me?"
Carlos shrugged. "I couldn't get you anything cool. At first, it was going to be a hot-air balloon ride, but no one was doing any in New York. Then I thought of giving you a dog or something, but then I thought about it." He gave a meaningful glance to Victor before looking back at her. Maritzia didn’t dare look up to Victor to see his reaction. If she wanted the night to continue going smoothly between all of them, ignorance was her best bet.
"So," Carlos continued, "I just got you this."
"Well, that really sells it," Luis muttered with a smirk as he sipped his beer and everyone laughed.
Smiling, Maritzia opened the box and looked inside. Realizing what it was, she squealed in happiness. "A projector!!" she exclaimed, holding the box for everyone to see before looking back to Carlos. "Aww, you have been listening to me," she said, giving her brother an appreciative smile. "I have been telling him how Cade and I always talk about wanting to lay in bed and watch TV on the ceiling. This is amazing."
Valerie snorted and promptly tried to cover her laughter. Confused, Maritzia looked around the room at the assortment of shocked and amused expressions before settling on Victor's face. Anger flashed in his eyes, but she could see him try to force an awkward smile to hide it. Replaying her words, Maritzia realized her mistake and glanced at Cade who only leaned against the side of her couch with his arms crossed over his chest in a satisfied smile. He wasn't going to come to her rescue and clarify.
Shaking her head, she gave everyone a sharp look, mainly her laughing brothers. "You know what I meant," she laughed, doing her best to hide her embarrassment.
The conversation of laying down and watching TV had started between them in mutual lament on a rainy day. They had been out all day driving through terrible traffic and following up with numerous dead-end leads. She had mentioned how she had wanted nothing more than to be at home with a warm glass of tea while she watched the rain fall out the window. From there Cade added with a book, and she added with a good mystery movie, and he added while watching TV on the ceiling. From then on it was a running comment of longing between them, one she had shared with Carlos.
Thanking him again, Maritzia looked around the room as people talked, her eyes settling on the black gift bags Cade had brought in earlier. Eagerly she looked up and found Cade's waiting eyes watching her in deceptive idleness. Her heart fluttered like it always did when she looked at him. No matter how much she saw him, no matter how long she had known him, her heart had tripped over itself from the moment she laid eyes on the boy moving into her family's apartment building. Handsome to the point of sin and caring to the point it hurt, she often wondered if there would ever be a time Cade would let go of her heart and allow room for anything else.
Holding up both of her hands, she made the "gimme gimme" motions at him, which only made him laugh.
"And now for my gift," Victor announced loudly, cutting over the low conversations that filled the room and directly through her exchange with Cade.
Frowning in annoyance, she looked at Victor, and for that briefest second the emotions they both kept buried clashed and Maritzia could feel the inner meter of patience she had lose another notch.
Quickly, Victor smiled, dispelling all the unsaid things between them. "Wait right there."
"Oh, this should be good," Luis muttered and everyone laughed, no doubt recalling his gift to her last year.
Maritzia grimaced at the memory of the giant teddy bear and basket of cheap toiletries attached to its hands. It was the kind of gift high school boys gave their girlfriends after making a quick stop at Duane Reids. It was terrible. She had given the giant teddy bear to her nieces and nephews and secretly donated the cheap basket of toiletries to a shelter.
The front door opened and everyone on the couch turned and stared. From her position, Maritzia couldn’t see anything yet, just Victor's somewhat stooped position as he walked in with something in his hands too low for her to see, but everyone's silent reactions spoke volumes. Still not seeing it yet, Maritzia looked to Cade in panic. Her partner looked once more at the item in question and back to her giving her a small almost indiscernible shake of his head that gave her all the warning she needed.
Steeling herself, she waited and watched as Victor came into view rolling in an odd tiny bike at his side. Her first thought was that it was one of those old-timey circus motorcycles they trained bears to ride back in the old Barnum and Bailey days. But as she tried to keep her face in a look of delighted surprise with maybe a dash of appropriate confusion and not the all-out what-the-fuck she wanted to convey, she realized it was more modern than that.
"It's an electric bike," Victor announced with excitement.
"Oh…how nice, thank you," she forced herself to say as she looked at the thing.
There was a beat of silence in the room before Rodney, Victor's cousin, burst out laughing followed by everyone else. "Oh my God cuz, what the fuck is that?"
"Did she even want that?" his other cousin Cynthia asked through her laughter.
Looking over to her family, they all shared the silent looks of relief that they weren't the first to say it.
"Yes," Victor defended, trying to maintain his smile, but Maritzia could see his offense to the laughter growing by the stiffening of his shoulders. Turning back to her, he gave her an almost desperate pleading smile as he asked, "You remember, we talked about it a few months ago after seeing that one vlogger ride one around New York in all his videos?"
Oh yes, she remembered. She remembered how enamored Victor was by it all and how he watched damn near all of the man's videos in a day.
"Yes, of course," Maritzia agreed with a bright smile.
"Man, that looks like a gift for yourself rather than her," Rodney continued to laugh.
Normally, Maritzia didn't like Rodney, finding Victor's cousin toxic and obnoxious. He was the kind of man that held others down so he could feel superior, but today she found herself grateful he was saying exactly what she was feeling.
"It's not," Victor argued and turned back to look at her. "I got it for you because we both thought it was cool, and you can take it to run small errands nearby if you wanted to."
And die, she added mentally. The tiny bike did not look road worthy or even legal to drive, much less sturdy enough to face New York street traffic.
"Come on, let's go downstairs and try it out," he urged.
Seeing everyone agree and begin to stand, Maritzia looked to Cade. "I haven't gotten Cade's gift yet. I think his is the last. After that then we can go," she announced decidedly.
"Oh, yeah," someone remarked and everyone turned to look at Cade.
Coming around the sofa, Cade carried the black bags and gently set them at her feet.
Without preamble, Maritzia dug into them with an excited grin. Cade always got her the best gifts. From subscription services that sent her the most popular books each month, an expensive espresso machine, to a lifetime supply of candles from her favorite handmade boutique store, his gifts were always thoughtful and perfect.
Clutching the soft material in her hand, Maritzia pulled out the deep plum-colored outfit. Knowing immediately what it was, Maritzia shot up from her seat to everyone's surprise and started scrambling to pull out the rest. With matching down-filled pants and a thick jacket, the plum-colored snowsuit was exactly what she had talked about. Reaching into the other bags she pulled out a book titled Everything You Need To Know About Vacationing In The Alps, while the last bag held an exquisite pair of black snow boots.
Looking to Cade, her eyes watered. Ever since they were kids, they had talked about traveling and Switzerland had always been right at the top of her list. On their shared Pinterest board, she had pinned the ridiculously overpriced snow outfit and boots for things she would need for the trip. She didn’t actually mean it. She knew whenever she did get around to actually getting to the Alps she would probably find the cheapest and warmest outfit available, but this—she never imagined this.
"This had to cost a fortune," she whispered to her renowned cheap partner.
Standing beside her to inspect it, Valerie read the tag dangling from the puffy snowsuit's sleeve and whistled under her breath. "Yeah, the hell it was. Try a couple of grand. Sweet God."
"Can’t have you freezing when we eventually get up those damn mountains,” Cade remarked laconically from his leaning position against the couch arm. “I myself will have just enough money for a pair of long johns and that's it."
Looking at his phone and up to Cade, Carlos had googled the brand's name and found the outfit’s full price and gave Cade a horrified look that quickly mutated to outrage. "Oh, hell naw, you made me pay for food damn near every time we went out this month, man. What the fuck?"
Cade grinned evilly and gave him a shrug. "I'm not sorry, you can afford it."
Reaching down, Victor turned the tag over in his hand, reading the black embossed cardstock before looking back up to Cade with a restrained expression. "This was generous of you."
And for the first time, Maritzia watched as Cade's smiling eyes cut to Victor, their warmth fading into a cold hard edge of a knife. Cade gave Victor a mean smile in reply. "I'm so glad you think so."
Stepping forward into their line of sight, she quickly interjected between the two men. "Let's go try the bike," she announced cheerfully.
Downstairs on the street, everyone gathered around the sidewalk as Victor and Pedro set up the bike, going over the instructions once more. Wearing a light sweater, Maritzia and Valerie stood close to their cousins and brothers, using them as a human shield for the brisk wind. Although spring was on the horizon, the air still had traces of a winter chill beneath it, leaving the days to feel great and the nights with a bite.
A firm hand gripped her shoulder and Maritzia found herself being smushed shoulder to shoulder with Valerie. Looking over their shoulders, Cade grinned down at the both of them and began to vigorously rub their outside arms in an attempt to warm them up. Both she and Valerie laughed. It was something her father used to do to them both when they were kids when he took them to baseball games.
"Can you even ride a bike?" Cade asked thoughtfully.
"Yeah, she can," Carlos grinned evilly at her. "Remember when she rode mine down to the basketball court that day when we were kids?"
The memory dawned visibly on Cade's face as his eyes widened. "You mean the time she fell at Park avenue and damn near needed stitches?!"
"First of all, I'm right here," Maritzia growled, punching both men in the solar plexus hard enough to hear satisfying grunts from both of them. "I can speak for myself," she glared at Carlos. "And yes, I can ride a bike…I'm just not good at it," she added in a doubtful tone.
"Okay, babe," Victor said, clapping his hands together and giving her a large excited smile. "You ready?"
Sensing his enthusiasm, she smiled back, happy just to see him happy for once. Nodding, she stepped forward and took his outstretched hand, letting him pull her away from her protective wind barricade she created with her family. Putting his arm over her shoulder, she smiled as he nuzzled her ear.
"This is going to be fun," he told her.
Nodding, she stopped near the bike and listened to his instructions on how to turn it on, increase and decrease the speed, and use the kickstand.
"Okay, I think I'm ready," she said, reaching for the bike's black handlebar.
"Wait a minute."
Both she and Victor turned to see Luis and Cade standing directly behind them, both of their arms folded across their chests and giving them serious looks.
"Where's her helmet?" Luis pointed to her head while staring at Victor for an answer.
Victor gave Luis a tired look. "She is only test riding it. She doesn't need a-"
"So, you're telling me as an officer, that you want her to ride a motorized vehicle without a helmet. Is that what you're saying to me right now, Officer Ortega?!" Luis asked provokingly.
"Guys," she interrupted holding her hands, cutting off Victor before he could respond. "It's no big deal," she looked pointedly over to Luis. "It's not like I'm getting on the street with it."
"Like hell you're not," Cade mumbled and she ignored him.
Turning back to Victor, she gave him a smile. "Okay, let's just try it."
Nodding, Victor turned from the guys and held the bike steady as she got on. Putting one foot onto the pedal, she braced herself with the other as she felt the rest of the people quiet behind her and pay attention to what she was doing. Feeling a little self-conscious at the attention, she focused on Victor's instructions to where he wanted her to ride to and turn around at.
With one last nod, Maritzia turned on the bike and began to pedal. Proud of herself for immediately remembering how to balance the bike between her legs, she twisted the throttle on the handlebar and felt the bike kick up beneath her.
Everything happened really fast. One second, she was riding slowly away from the group and the next she was already at the end of the street, not slowing down at all where she was supposed to. Panicked, she stared at the oncoming intersection as she sped towards it.
"Maritzia, brake!" The booming command of Cade's voice acted like a jolt to her system. Letting go of the throttle, she clutched the lever underneath her left hand and pulled the bike to a hard stop at the curb's edge.
"Put the kickstand down and get off the damn bike." The deep angry command was closer now and she turned to see him jogging towards her followed by the crowd.
Embarrassed, she looked down and carefully complied with the command, making sure to set the bike up steady before swinging her leg off.
"My God, you’re talking to me like a suspect," she laughed nervously, glancing up at Cade's stony face, heart was still pounding. She wasn't sure which was scarier, Cade's angry tone or the near accident.
"I'm talking to you like a man who almost watched you kill yourself," Cade growled reaching out for her.
But Victor was already there, wedging himself between her and Cade, pulling her into a hug.
"Babe, are you okay?" Victor let out a nervous laugh, his eyes filled with worry. "I nearly had a heart attack back there. You went directly for the street."
"Your gift nearly got her killed," Cade corrected furiously.
Feeling Victor's hand tense against her she quickly spoke up. "Yeah, I'm fine, but I don't think my bike skills have improved," she laughed and stepped back. Looking to Cade she frowned. "Besides, what was that? Your dom voice or something?"
Cade's eyes went wide as some of the others around them started laughing. Blinking in surprise, a slow handsome smile broke out over Cade's face and Maritzia was happy to see the furious anger in his eyes fade away.
"My what?!" he laughed, his eyes dancing with humor. "We go to one sex dungeon on a case and now you're an expert enough to throw around the lingo?"
"I think I am, because that," she wiggled a finger at his gorgeous face, "was not a voice I have ever heard you use before. It was terrifying."
"It was very commanding," Valerie added with a wink.
Cade had the nerve to blush while giving them a dimpled smile. "Regardless, you scared the hell out of me," he mumbled, turning around with a hand on the back of his neck. "If you must ride that damn thing, do it in a park. A very big, flat park while wearing a giant helmet."
Behind them, a few of Victor's cousins began playing with the bike and she could hear Victor turn to argue with them saying he should be next.
Walking alongside Cade, she gave him a playful salute. "Roger that."
~*~
Opening her front door, Maritzia carefully pulled the jangling keys from the lock and stepped inside to set them quietly on the side table.
The lights clicked on around her.
"Maritzia, where have you been?" Standing in the middle of the living room, Victor stood in his boxers and t-shirt with his arms folded, glaring accusingly at her.
Maritzia didn't bother suppressing the sigh. Lifting her water bottle, she shook the half-empty yellow plastic bottle at him. "I went downstairs to the gym," she explained dismissively as she let the keys drop heavily onto the glass table-top from her hand, no longer caring how much noise they made.
She was surprised yet proud at herself how she didn't feel the usual sense of dread at his anger. Honestly, she just didn't care what he felt like anymore. Not after the argument they had earlier that night. An argument so intense she found herself wide awake at midnight just staring at the ceiling in their bedroom as he slept soundly by her side.
Was this what forever was going to feel like? The question had begun as a whisper deep in her mind and turned into a never-ending chant ringing throughout her head. Earlier that day, she had gotten off of work happy. She and Cade had completed all of their cases for the week and had a very easy-going day. The sun had been bright and the crisp air had felt revitalizing through her open windows on her drive home. She had felt good.
Until she walked through the door earlier that evening.
"Do you have a thing with ambushing me at the door?" she asked, barely able to check the contempt in her voice. Walking past him to the kitchen she turned on the water and began rinsing out her container before setting it to dry on the chrome drying rack next to the sink. Maritzia took a deep breath, feeling Victor's indignation behind her hitting her in invisible but unmistakable waves. Turning around to lean back against the sink, Maritzia crossed her arms and looked directly at him, motioning between herself and him. "Because this feels like déjà vu from earlier today."
Victor shook his head, his tousled bed head of black wavy hair flopping to one side. "No, this is different," he stressed, motioning one hand to the door. "You left in the middle of the night. I wake up and find you gone. Just how the hell am I supposed to react? I had no idea where you were."
Or who she was with, was what she wanted to add. She saw the way his eyes had scanned her tight-fitting biker shorts and purple tank top with suspicion.
Seeing that she wasn't going to say anything, Victor shifted uncomfortably. Taking a step towards her, he held his hands out to hers, silently asking for hers. Reluctantly she complied, placing her hands into his.
"Look…I'm sorry about earlier, I'm-"
Looking down at her hands in his, Maritzia frowned at his words and looked up sharply. "What exactly are you sorry about?" she asked, watching his face contort in confusion while his thumbs that had been stroking the back of her hands stilled. Pulling her hands back, she clarified. "No, tell me what you're sorry about, exactly. Are you sorry you started an argument much like this one the moment I came home, just because of what I posted to Instagram? Or what exactly?"
The argument had been so insane it felt almost surreal. Hours before, she had sat on her couch and listened as Victor complained and blamed her for purposely trying to pitch Cade against him. That posting the picture of her and Cade smiling and holding two puppies they had found while on a call was somehow telling the world that she didn’t care for him as much as she cared for Cade.
"I told you earlier," Victor said with a groan as he stepped back to pace agitatedly in front of her. Maritzia knew that familiar dissatisfied groan. He probably thought she hadn't been listening to him earlier, something he accused her of often in their arguments. "I just don't see why you posted that picture of you and Cade. You know how I feel about him. Dammit, Maritzia, the last picture you have posted of us is over a year old."
"Because that's when things were still good between us," she murmured before she could even stop herself.
Looking up from the spot she had been staring at on the floor, Maritzia looked up to see Victor's eyes wide and staring at her.
"What?” he breathed. “What are you saying?" his voice dropped to a near whisper.
She didn't want to do this yet. Not right now. She had wanted to practice the words to herself and settle into this life-altering decision a little bit more, but here it was with no warning and spinning away from her. Nevertheless, she had to hold on and maintain the course. Life had to be more than just living between clouds of resentment and storms of anger. Maybe his life wasn’t, but hers sure as hell was.
Steeling herself, she stepped away from the counter. "I don't think this is working out." She motioned between them. "We're not working out."
"Maritzia." Her name came out in a whoosh of pained breath and it killed her to hear it. "You can't be serious. Baby talk to me. I'm not saying-"
"You're miserable and I'm miserable, Victor," she confessed plainly. "This isn't fair to either of us."
"No." He shook his head, closing the gap between them. Reaching for her, he cupped her face. "Baby, don't say that. I love you."
Tears formed in her eyes but didn't fall, the determination within her stronger. Pulling away from him she shook her head, determined to make him listen for once. "This can’t be love, not when we both feel like this day in and out. We want it to be love, but it can’t be."
Alarmed Victor stepped back and laced his fingers behind his head. Maritzia could see the panic in his eyes as he looked beyond her, desperately trying to think of something. "No, you're wrong. We can get through this." He gave her a pleading look. "Please baby, just give us one more chance. Please." Reaching out for her, she allowed him to pull her into his arms and this time her resolve broke as she felt the rapid beat of his heart beneath her hand. "Please, please, please," he breathed in her ear, "just one more chance. We just need some time alone, just some time away."
She wanted to say it wouldn’t help. This was over and she knew it, and deep down he knew it on some level, too. Hell, nearly everyone knew it. But it was the desperate strength in his arms holding her tight that made her hold back her words.
"Let's just go away, just the two of us," he repeated, holding her tighter than he ever had before.