Through My Window (Hidalgos #1)(47)

“I’m dying to kiss you.”

My heart skips a beat, and he watches for my reaction. I just nod, giving him my consent. I can almost feel his lips on mine already as I close my eyes.

Ares’s face suddenly appears in my mind, making me take a step back. Yoshi looks at me confusedly, and I’m about to say something when a guy with a microphone interrupts us.

“All right, boys and girls! Time to welcome the players.”

Everyone shouts, raising their cups. The team walks into the room, all freshly showered and in regular clothes. Ares is with them, wearing a black shirt that suits him. In fact, black is a color that suits him too well for my taste.

The guy who I recognize as the team’s goalkeeper continues, “First of all, let’s welcome the captain, who gave us three beautiful goals today.”

“Ares! Ares! Ares!” Everyone joins the cheers, and I lower my head.

“Captain.” The goalkeeper slips an arm behind Ares’s shoulders. “You played like never before today, but we also know that you dedicated a goal to a girl.”

“Yes!” the people around me shout.

“I think we all want to know who the lucky witch is.”

A girl from the audience raises her hand. “I’ll be your witch anytime, handsome!”

“Will you reveal her identity?”

Ares laughs, shaking his head. “She knows who she is, and that’s enough.”

“Boo! Tell us! Tell us! Tell us!”

Ares shakes his head again and walks away.

The goalkeeper shrugs his shoulders. “Okay, back to the party. Enjoy!”

Yoshi grabs my hand and drags me through the crowd.

“Hey, Yoshi!” I complain, surprised by his force.

We leave the house, and he takes me to the sidewalk, far enough away from the people in the garden. He lets go of me, and I can see how annoyed he looks. “What’s wrong?” I ask.

“Please tell me it wasn’t with him.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Tell me you didn’t lose your virginity to that idiot.”

I freeze, not knowing what to say.

“Raquel, tell me! Ah! Shit! Ares Hidalgo? That arrogant asshole who treats women like dirt? What were you thinking?”

“I wasn’t thinking! I was … just . . .”

“You what? You what?”

“I got carried away by my feelings!”

“Feelings? Are you in love with him?”

I want to say no, I want to scream no, but the words stay in my throat. Yoshi looks so disappointed that it hurts. It hurts me to see him like this. “Yoshi . . . I . . .”

“You are. You’re in love with him.” He puts his hands on his head and lets out a long sigh of exasperation.

I don’t know what to say. I’ve never been so confused in my life, and then Yoshi starts to talk, disconcerting me even more.

“I like you, Raquel. I really like you.”

Everything stops, I can only look into those honey-colored eyes flooded with tears.

“I’ve always liked you, I thought you and I would end up together like some overused romantic cliché.” A sad laugh escapes his lips. “I guess it was too perfect to be real.”

“Yoshi . . .”

“I’m leaving. Tell the others. Enjoy the evening with your idiot.”

“Yoshi. Wait.”

He doesn’t listen to me and starts to walk away. My heart is beating like crazy. I don’t want him to leave, but what will I do if he stays? What do I tell him?

But then Yoshi stops a few feet away and turns to me again. I watch him in surprise as he walks toward me quickly. His eyes are full of determination.

“Fuck it all!”

“Yoshi, what—”

He takes my face with both hands and kisses me.





TWENTY-FIVE


   The Celebration




Yoshi’s kiss takes me by surprise.

Not only because I didn’t expect it but also because the moment his lips touch mine, new and pleasant sensations seize my body. His kiss is soft and slow. He tastes of vodka and something sweet that I can’t decipher, but I like it. He sucks on my bottom lip, then kisses me again, deepening the kiss a little.

The thinking part of my brain disappears, and my hormones take the wheel. I allow myself to enjoy this kiss. I’m a single girl being kissed by a cute guy, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Yoshi grabs my waist, pulling me closer to him, and I wrap my hands around his neck. I never imagined Yoshi could kiss so well. His tongue caresses the corner of my lips, making me shiver.

Someone clears their throat.

And that’s when I remember that we are in front of the house, in full view of everyone. I separate from Yoshi, without taking my hands off his neck, and turn my head to look at the person who cleared his throat.

Marco.

My heart stops, because he’s not alone. Behind him, a few steps away, is Ares. His hands are in his pants pockets and his eyes are on me.

Oh shit.

His face is an empty, indecipherable mask. Is he angry? Disappointed? Surprised? Or does he just not care? I can’t tell from his expression, which gives nothing away.

My hands drop from Yoshi’s neck and fall to my sides. What were the odds of Ares leaving the house at this very moment? Marco gives me an amused smile, his tone teasing. “You never cease to amaze me.”