|
SURF CENTRAL
Gabi was dreaming. She and Antonio were standing near the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean. Antonio was looking deeply into her eyes as he promised to love, honor and cherish her for the rest of his life. They exchanged rings and the minister pronounced them husband and wife. Antonio leaned in to kiss his beautiful bride… Gabi moaned softly as she rolled onto her side. As her eyes fluttered open, she saw Antonio sleeping beside her in her bed. Gabi raised her left hand to admire the beautiful ring perched on her finger. She scooted closer to Antonio and laid her head on his warm chest, her hand lightly tracing circles around his abdomen. A broad smile crossed his lips as he sleepily rubbed his eyes, the bruise on his cheek still sensitive to his touch. "Morning," he said sleepily. Gabi’s stomach fluttered at the sexiness of his morning voice. "Hi. What happened last night?" Gabi asked wondering why she couldn’t remember anything after they had arrived home. Antonio laughed, "Well, you sat down on the couch and I went to get you a glass of milk. When I got back to the living room, you were fast asleep." Gabi smiled bashfully. "So, I carried you upstairs and put you to bed. I was going to head back to Maria’s, but I didn’t want to leave you, so I just stayed. I hope that’s okay." Gabi’s head snapped up. "Of course it is, why wouldn’t it be?" "Well, I just wasn’t sure what anyone would say...you know, if someone walked in and found us here," Antonio raised his eyebrows. "Is that why you left all my clothes on?" Gabi asked playfully. "No, I did that so I wouldn’t be tempted," he replied seductively. Gabi reached her hand behind Antonio’s head and pulled him down to kiss her. His warm lips caressed her tenderly as he felt his heart beat quicken. Gabi was running her hands through his tousled hair sending a charge through his entire body. Antonio parted her lips as his need for her deepened. Gabi pushed her body against him feeling his excitement growing. Antonio was losing himself in her when a door slammed in the hallway. "Sara! What did you do with my shampoo?" Casey called loudly. "I didn’t touch it, Casey. You’re such a neat freak, you probably put it away somewhere to keep the bathroom clean," Sara shouted back. Antonio put his head against Gabi’s chest and shook it gently. Gabi laughed as she rubbed his back. He raised his head to look at her, the passion still pulsing in his eyes. "So, this is what it’s like to have roommates?" he groaned in frustration. He rolled onto his back putting his arms behind his head. Gabi admired him lying so comfortably in her bed. She still couldn’t comprehend this wonderful man would soon be waking up in the same bed with her every day. "So, I guess maybe we should start thinking about a...different living arrangement, huh?" she said quizzically. "Don’t you worry about it, Gabi. I’ve got everything under control." Antonio said surely. "What were you saying about Maria’s?" "Well, I can’t very well stay at the Mission anymore, so I moved all my stuff to Maria’s. She and Ben let me take one of the guestrooms, for now. I have a deposit on an apartment near the beach…it’s pretty nice, not very big…oh, I hope it’s okay that I picked out a place without you." Gabi smiled at this amazing man. He had so many changes happening in his life, but he was still worried about what she liked, what she wanted. It made her love him even more. "Antonio, that’s fine with me. I just want to be with you." She leaned over him and kissed him gently. "But, what are we going to do for money, I mean, I’ll keep working, of course, but what…" It hadn’t occurred to Antonio that Gabi still working would mean at the station, everyday, with Ricardo. "Gabi, you don’t have to do that, if you don’t want to." "But Antonio, we are going to have a lot of expenses, with the baby and all. Have you given any thought to what you want to do?" Gabi didn’t want to push him, she knew his decision to leave the priesthood was difficult enough for now. "Actually," Antonio sat up. "I talked to Ben and he offered me a job at the Deep. It’s really nice to have such a prosperous brother-in-law! He knew that I took some business classes in college, so he’s offering me an Assistant Manager job. I told him I didn’t want any special favors, so he promised I would be paid as much as any other Assistant Manager with the same expectations." Gabi couldn’t believe how Antonio had taken charge of things so quickly. She was so proud and so touched by what he had done to prepare himself for life with her, the tears began rolling onto her cheeks. Antonio saw her tears. "Gabi, what is it? Are you okay?" Antonio touched her cheek tenderly. "Antonio, I love you so much...do you know how much I love you?" Antonio pulled Gabi into his arms and held her tightly against him, "Yes, I do." Gabi sat back quickly with wide-eyes. "Antonio, I don’t want to wait any longer...I want to get married right away. If that’s okay?" Antonio smiled as he pushed the hair off her face. "If that’s okay? Gabi, I’d marry you right here and now, if I could." They both started laughing remembering that only a few days ago, he was able to marry people. "Don’t worry, Gabi. I’ll take care of everything." They lay in each other’s arms talking about what kind of wedding they wanted, when and where. Gabi couldn’t wait to become Antonio’s wife. THE LOFT Ricardo felt like he had swallowed chalk as he groggily attempted to open his eyes and focus on something, anything to make the room stop spinning. His head felt three feet thick as he shakily sat up in bed. His clothes were strewn on the floor next to the bed along with several beer bottles and an empty bottle of Jack Daniels. His eyes darted to the black mini-skirt and pantyhose flung carelessly over the chair. Ricardo slowly turned his head to find Samantha half-wrapped in the sheet next to him sleeping quietly on her stomach. Ricardo grabbed his head as the after effect of the overwhelming amount of alcohol he had consumed the night before began to churn his stomach. What did I do...how did she get here? He searched his recollection for an explanation of the current situation. All he could recall was sitting at the noisy bar toasting his brother with a shot of tequila. Ricardo closed his eyes with the remembrance of Tyus announcing his brother was the baby’s father. Ricardo had been so sure...so completely sure. He sat up carefully and swung his legs off the side of the bed, the sheet draped across his lap. He felt his inertia pulling him onto the floor, but fought to keep himself upright. He surveyed the situation once again and upon finding both he and Samantha naked, he dropped his head with a sigh. Samantha stirred and turned her head to face Ricardo. Ricardo couldn’t look at her, he was embarrassed and uncomfortable. It had been such a long time since he woke up with a complete stranger in his bed, he couldn’t remember any of the suave conversations he used to strike up the morning after. Samantha reached her hand up and gently raked her nails across Ricardo’s back. Ricardo’s spine chilled at her touch. He pulled himself away from her and stood up, pulling on his boxers. "Hey, what’s the matter?" Samantha said softly. "You weren’t pulling yourself away from me last night. In fact, I couldn’t get you off of me." Ricardo felt his head spinning, but managed to walk across the loft into the kitchen. He wished he would turn around to find Gabi in his bed, but he knew that was impossible. No, he though to himself, right about now my baby brother is finding her in his bed. The thought sickened him as he leaned against the sink. Samantha stood from the bed and pulled on her skirt and sweater. She grabbed the rest of her things and walked behind Ricardo. She slid her arm around his waist and kissed him on the shoulder. "You were fantastic." The words stung Ricardo’s ears and sank his heart. "I left my number on the nightstand." She ran her hand down his near naked body. Ricardo didn’t respond. Samantha walked to the door, turned to Ricardo with a sexy smile and left the loft. Ricardo hung his head before turning and heading to the bathroom and a hot shower. BEN AND MARIA’S Maria set the phone back on the patio table. "Okay, so you just have to be there by 3 o’clock. Okay?" Maria was scribbling on the note pad as Antonio stared at the ocean. "Antonio?" Her brother was miles away. "Huh? Oh, sorry, Maria," Antonio said woefully. Maria touched her brother’s arm. "What is it Antonio?" Antonio looked into his lap, "I feel so guilty, Maria. Not guilty for loving Gabi, but guilty for hurting Ricardo this way." "You can’t help the way you feel, Antonio. Believe me, I know. You have to follow your heart. Both you and Gabi do. If you really are meant to be together, which I think you are, everything will work out in the end. Ricardo is strong, it will take some time, but he’ll be okay." Maria was trying to reassure Antonio. Antonio looked up at his sister with worried eyes. "Antonio, would it be better for you and Gabi to deny what you feel and live a lie?" Maria always knew the right thing to say. "No...it wouldn’t. What about mama, Maria? She hates Gabi. When she finds out what’s happened, the baby, me leaving the church…she’s going to hate her even more." "Mama’s a grown woman, Antonio. She’s not always going to approve of our choices...but they are OUR choices. You have to do what’s right for you," Maria squeezed his arm. Antonio smiled at his big sister, amazed at how level headed and grown up she had become. "Thanks, Maria. Thank you for everything. Gabi loved the ring...I couldn’t have done it without you. I promise, Maria, I’ll pay you back every penny." Antonio said sincerely. "Antonio, just consider it my wedding present to you," Maria smiled. "I just want my brother to be happy and Gabi makes you happy." Antonio and Maria finished making plans for the wedding. Antonio had promised Gabi he would take care of everything…he didn’t want her to stress herself. He vowed to make this a day Gabi would remember forever. SURF CENTRAL The past week had flown by in the blink of an eye. Gabi had taken personal time away from work for a few weeks. She couldn’t face Ricardo yet. She didn’t want to take anything away from the overwhelming happiness she felt now. Antonio had been busy working with Ben at the Deep, so they hadn’t seen each other much. Antonio worked late into the night, and not wanting to wake Gabi, he was sleeping at Ben and Maria’s. Gabi stood in her room, trying on the dress she had bought for the wedding. Maria knocked softly on the door. "Gabi...are you ready?" Maria paused as she looked at Gabi. "Oh, Gabi, you look beautiful." Maria walked over and checked the hem and the other last minute alterations on the dress. Gabi stood silently gazing into the mirror. She dropped her hands to her stomach which now bulged with her child. Maria noticed Gabi’s gesture. "Gabi, you look amazing. Antonio is going to love it." Maria was so supportive of Antonio and Gabi…she even ran interference with Carmen when necessary. "You know, there is nothing more beautiful to a man than the woman he loves carrying his child." Gabi smiled as a tear slipped down her cheek. "Hey, now. There will be enough of that tomorrow. We better make sure your mascara is waterproof." Maria handed her a tissue. The two women began laughing. Antonio smiled as he heard Gabi and Maria giggling. He knocked gently on the door and opened it slightly. "Gabi, can I come in?" Gabi ran to the door keeping it from opening further. "No...don’t come in Antonio. You can’t see me tonight." Antonio reached his hand into the room. Gabi smiled as she placed her hand inside his. Antonio spoke quietly around the door. "Okay...I guess I’ll have to wait until tomorrow, Mrs. Torres." Gabi felt her body flush with warmth hearing Antonio call her by his name. "You get some sleep tonight, understand? I don’t want you to be late to the church." Antonio leaned so his face was near the edge of the door, but he still wasn’t able to see Gabi. "I love you, Gabi. I can’t wait to marry you." He kissed her hand softly, gently released it and left down the hall. Gabi turned around to find Maria standing in front of her with a handful of tissues and a big smile on her face. Gabi laughed and grabbed the tissues as Maria hugged her tightly.
|