A little bit of context

“Let’s see, so this guy saved you from the bartender?” Belén asks, taking another sip of her coffee.

“Yes, I really didn’t know much about what happened between them because I passed out. The thing is, when I woke up, I was at his house and he made sure I was okay,” I explain.

“Why didn’t he call the police?” Belén asks, touching a sensitive topic.

“He thought was underage, the bartender, not me,” I clarify to her incredulous look.

“Of course, if the bartender were a minor, it would be a terrible mess for him to have hit he... Anyway, wow! It’s like in the end fate took care of sending you the right guy at the right time,” she adds with a satisfied smile.

“Don’t get too excited, it’s not anything formal, not yet,” I say, hoping she’ll understand.

“Oh, come on, the guy is your age, he’s really good-looking, and he saved you on top of that, why not?” she insists, unable to believe that I’m not taking advantage of the winning ticket.

“I don’t know, I don’t want to get my hopes up too quickly, not after...” I start to say, but Belén cuts me off.

“What happened with Matías happened a long time ago, Emma, it’s time for you to move on and let go of those memories that hurt you so much,” she responds, knowing where I was going with my thoughts. “Allow yourself to be happy again.”

I smile at her and take a sip of my coffee to avoid continuing the conversation. I don’t want to burden her with my worries, I think she must be tired of hearing me whine.

“What does he do for a living?” she asks, making me choke on my coffee. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, it’s just that I inhaled when I was swallowing,” I lie, putting the cup down on the table.

“It’s funny that it happened just when I asked about his profession... He’s not a porn actor, is he?” she asks, trying to hold back her laughter. Seeing that I’m not laughing, she adds worriedly, “No?”

“No, haha, he’s a surgeon,” I finally say, realizing it’s not really a lie after all.

“Oh, that’s great. Is he the kind that touches breasts or the kind that saves lives?” she asks, paying close attention to my response.

“The kind that saves lives,” I answer proudly, although that pride soon disappears when I remember the bloodied criminal lying on the kitchen island.

“That’s a shame, I won’t be able to ask him for free touch-ups,” she laments, feigning sadness.

“Anyway... what about you? I’ve only talked about myself so far, although I think it’s more accurate to say that you interrogated me,” I say with a smile.

“There’s not much to tell, lately I’ve been thinking about toning down the craziness, you know, work, going out, finding the love of my life to roll around with 24/7. I think it’s time to focus on myself, to eat the ice cream I want without thinking about gaining a few pounds, to buy those comfortable jeans instead of the tight ones, to burn those bras with underwires that suddenly pop out and stab you in the boob... I want to stop feeling like I have to find something to complete me, because damn it, I’m already complete!” Belén says.

“That’s great, I’m leaving confinement so you can enter,” I comment, not entirely convinced of her decision.

“One of us has to remain chaste,” she says, taking a spoonful of dulce de leche and putting it in her mouth. “Damn it, it feels so good when you don’t give a shit about anything!”

“I’m happy that you’re looking for your peace of mind. I’ll be here for whatever you need, but remember, if you go four years without sex, it’s my turn to play matchmaker.”

“I know and I appreciate it, and I want you to know that you can count on me for anything you need. Now tell me... how skilled are surgeons with their hands?” she asks, hiding a smile behind her cup.

҉

“Will you stay over?” I ask with cautious hope, resting in his arms always manages to drive away all my worries.

“I’m sorry, honey, I’m on duty tonight,” he says regretfully, knowing that hearing that never makes me very happy.

“Just be careful, okay?” I whisper, my heart squeezed with worry.

As the nights were split between my sheets and his, we became closer. Gradually, the bond we forged became stronger than any instant love that could be found bottled up in those small vials. And as we became more united, so did the concern that something could go wrong during his “duty.” He hasn’t told me anything dangerous has happened so far, but I also know that if something bad did happen, he wouldn’t tell me to spare my feelings.

“Don’t worry, you know that no matter what happens, I’ll always come back to you. After all, I came back even without knowing you,” he boasts with a smile that eases my heart. “But before that, shall we shower?” he suggests, gently caressing my back as he pulls back the sheets.

With my stomach on the mattress and my backside exposed, he leaves me perfectly positioned for a second round. He kisses my spine, sits on my buttocks, supporting the weight of his body on his knees, and begins to massage my back. The magic of his fingers always manages to make the tension of knowing he’s in danger disappear.