Chapter 85 Stay
T.J. is unbothered as he stuffs more food in his mouth, without looking up. Valentina, Miguel's mother, is looking at him very proudly.
"Are you sure you should be up?" Lucille asks with concern as she looks at Miguel who is sitting next to me, slowly eating the delicious soup his mother prepared.
I can't help it, she's working on my last nerve. Why did she even call me to come here? She could've just lied to Miguel and said I wasn't available. Now she's acting like his dutiful wife, knowing we're fuck buddies.
Or whatever the fuck we are.
"Doctors orders." He squeezes my thigh under the table.
He hasn't stopped touching me since we arrived. He's constantly asking me to kiss him, to hold his hand, to run my fingers through his hair. Big, tough Miguel has transformed into a little needy boy wanting my affection.
And I love it.
Lucille hates it.
She tries to hide it, but I can feel her eyes burning on me every time I look away, or every time Miguel touches my face.
"Aren't you supposed to be in the hospital, though?" T.J. looks up from his bowl. "You still have an IV."
"It's only pain medication." Lucille answers for him, and I clench my fist in irritation. "Even the doctors are surprised by how quickly his lungs started functioning on their own again. One even said it's a miracle."
"You did say he was Superman." I say through clenched teeth.
She laughs, seemingly embarrassed. "That's just what people on base say."
People my ass.
I don't know who this version of me is. I've never felt this level of jealousy with Ben. Ever. And Ben was always surrounded by beautiful women, but not once did it bother me.
I now know why, of course. I was never in love with him. He was a safe space, comfortable.
I despise knowing that Lucille knows Miguel in ways that I don't. I don't even know what his favorite food is, if he likes sunrises or sunsets.
"Clearly not Superman." He deadpans, pointing to the plasters on his chest with his spoon.
"My boy strong." Valentina smiles lovingly.
Oh god, I love his mother. She is hands down the sweetest person ever. There is no pretenses with her, she just says whatever she wants to with her broken grammar.
She's worlds apart from Caroline. How the hell did Mr.Cargill go from this to that? They would've made a beautiful couple, and clearly they could've popped out more super babies like Miguel.
"When born, doctor say very strong boy." She smiles at me while she fills T.J.'s bowl with more soup, who doesn't decline.
"Ma, stop." Miguel actually blushes, making me smile.
This is just the cutest. This is the same man who killed someone, who chased me, fucked me ruthlessly.
His eyes meet mine, and his narrows, as if he knows exactly what I'm thinking.
Now it's my turn to blush, and I quickly look away, but the hand that was on my thigh lifts and clutches my chin, pulling my ear to his mouth.
"Don't think I've become soft." He whispers only for me to hear. "I can still fuck you until you can't walk."
I don't miss Lucille's look as I squirm in my seat.
"I also make make nice pie." Valentina gets up and walks over to the kitchen to fetch the pie, making T.J. hum in appreciation. One would swear it's been ages since he had a home cooked meal.
"Does your mom stay here with you?" I ask curiously.
"Yes." Miguel starts toying with the ends of my hair. "I'm hardly here anyway, and I think the fresh air here does her good."
I think about how I don't really like staying with my parents, because it makes me feel stifled, no matter how big the house is. Miguel doesn't seem to mind, but then I remember he didn't grow up with his mother like I did, maybe he's making up for lost time.
"I don't think I will ever move her back to New York." He looks over at his mom who is busy stacking plates. "That city wasn't good to her."
I frown, I've never wondered about his mother before. When I met Ben, I just thought maybe his mother was never in the picture. I wonder what the Cargill household was like for him.
Lucille abruptly gets up from the table. "Thanks for dinner, I have a debrief in the morning, so I should really go."
"I'll walk you out." Miguel slowly gets up from his chair, and pulls the IV stand with him as he walks ahead of her to the front door while she thanks Valentina for dinner.
He wouldn't have a relationship with both of us, right?
Insecurity grapples me, especially after the Ben saga.
I don't like this feeling, this jealousy mixed with a touch of anger and uncertainty. Like Uncle said, Miguel and I will never be accepted by his family, but Lucille certainly will. It would make a good story for the tabloids. Two officers falling in love.
"Have you booked the hotel yet?" I ask T.J. who now has a big piece of beef pie in front of him.
"No hotel!" Valentina gasps. "This big house!"
I don't have the heart to tell her that maybe it's not for the best that we stay here.
"We don't want to intrude." I smile forcefully. "And Miguel is still recovering, he doesn't need guests around."
"No, no, no!" She waves her hands in front of her. "We want you!"
I can't stay over. This is not a generic hotel room, this is Miguel's home, his safe space. Staying over at someone's house is so much more intimate.
I open my mouth to tell T.J. to tell her that we really can't stay, but Miguel comes shuffling from the front door.
"You want to leave?" He asks, a frown on his face.
God, why does he have to look so hot with that damn stubble?
"I haven't booked a hotel yet." T.J. finally speaks up, just long enough before he stuffs his mouth full again.
Miguel looks at me with those damn intense ocean blue eyes that has my toes curling.
"There's more than enough room for both of you here." He walks until he stops in front of me, taking my hand in his. "I don't want you to stay at a hotel."
How do I say no? I have to say no because I can't yet put into words how seeing Lucille in his space makes me feel.
He squeezes my hand, and I look at our interwined fingers that look perfect together.
"Madison." My name is a plea on his lips. "Please stay."