Manny nods and doesn't look thrilled but not exactly mad either. "You and Patrick, huh? Yeah, okay." He pushes himself into me, closing his eyes.
It's better if he thinks Patrick was my first. He's the most logical choice after all. I don't want this ruining our perfect moment though and as Manny moves in and out of me, I cling to him and meet him stroke for stroke, feeling him grow even harder against my insides.
And then it's like he's the only man in the whole world, the only one I'll ever need or want. I'm climaxing again and I'm crying because it's so perfect and so right and I don't ever want to be with another guy, ever!
And I love him. I love him so fucking much.
"I love you, Manny, oh my God, I love you!" The thought is out of my mouth before I can stop it and Manny shudders against me, coming and crying out my name too, his fingers knotted and pulling in my hair.
Finally, he collapses on top of me and we try to breathe, both of us sweaty and damp but not caring. After another long moment, Manny rolls off and takes care of the rubber and then we lay there cuddling.
"That was amazing!" I tell him. Then I remember I told him I loved him and I bite my lip. Holy crap, I probably shouldn't have said that. He didn't say it back. I'm surprised he hasn't taken off running.
Manny kisses the top of my head and holds me tightly in his arms. "How many times did you come?" He laughs.
"Shut up!" I bury my face in his chest. "You made me!"
That makes him laugh even more and I poke him hard in the ribs. "Stop!"
"You're kind of cute, you know that?"
"So are you!" I move up and kiss him on the lips. "Um, what I said, you know. That 'I love you' stuff. You can just forget about that. It was just...passion. You don't have to say it back or anything."
He looks back up at me with that darn look of his that I cannot read. But then suddenly he flips me over on my back and pins me down, his face next to mine.
"What if I want to say it back?"
I stare up at him because if he means that...well...it would just make this the most perfect day ever.
"Do you want to?" I whisper.
He nods, cupping one of my breasts with his hand. "I do. I do want to say it." He leans down and kisses me on the lips then pulls back. "Are you ready? Cuz' I'm gonna say it right now."
I grin up at him, tiny tears seeping from the corner of my eyes. "Yes, Manny, I'm ready."
"Good." He kisses me again, on the forehead. "I love you, Taryn. I love you so much." His thumb caresses my tears away. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."
The smile won't leave my lips. "Even if I suck at making burritos?"
Manny's grin widens. "Even if you suck at making burritos. "
His mouth returns to mine and we kiss and snuggle and like this, we drift off to sleep.
◆◆◆
Manny and I spend the entire school day at my house. After making love again, we go swimming and lay out on the deck until time to get ready for work. We're both scheduled today, the first time I didn't mind working with him. For obvious reasons.
I have decided to keep my job at Taco, Taco, Taco, even after I graduate and go to college. Manny's dad said I was welcomed to work during my breaks and summer, which is awesome. It makes me smile when I think about how close I may become to the Ortez family. Maybe even one day I'll be one of them!
Holy crap, I can't believe I'm even thinking that far ahead. I glance at Manny as he lectures Hector about something while I wipe the front counter down. My heart thumps in my chest like a jack rabbit. I do love him so much! I know that probably sounds weird, but it's how I genuinely feel. I've known the guy for so long, only intimately for a little while, but it's like we were both born to be together.
He's my soul mate. I smile softly at that thought. It's true. My mom used to tell me about how Ethan was her soul mate, how they couldn't keep away from one another once they met. Which seriously grossed me out at the time she told me. And I'd heard the same kind of stuff from Steve about my dad. But to be honest, I always thought that soul mate stuff was a big pile of shit. But now that it's happened to me, I know different. I want to spend the rest of my life with Manny. And that ain't no joke.
"Excuse me?"
I turn away from ogling Manny and smile at the blond, blue eyed girl on the other side of the counter.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" I blush, like she can read my mind and see my lovey dovey thoughts. "What can I get you?"
The girl shakes her head at me slightly, her mouth twitching like she wants to smile but can't. She looks vaguely familiar but I can't quite place her.
"No, I'm...not hungry. I just..." She looks behind herself quickly then back at me. "Are you...is your name Taryn?"
I stare at her. My stomach is fluttering, like a warning of some kind. "Yeah," I finally answer her, wary.
She nods, thinning her lips. "We go to the same school. I'm a senior too but I graduated early. My name is Kaitlynn Napier."
Okay. I have no idea who this chick is and why she keeps standing here telling me about herself. It's weird.
I smile, because I don't know what else to do. "Are you sure you don't want to order something?"
Again, she shakes her head. "I had Hayes too," she says suddenly,
