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Expressions

La Vida Art

The Art Vault

Cada Momento

“You’ve been working on this for me?” He scratches the back of his neck. “Why did you cross out The Art Vault?”

“If somebody mumbles it or has a thick accent of any kind it could sound like The Aardvark.”

A shaky laugh escapes me and a single tear falls down my cheek. My finger runs over the letters. “Cada Momento.”

“I wrote that one after you asked me to stay with you. I was overwhelmed with pride in that moment and I wanted to remember it. But then I realized I want to remember every moment with you. It doesn’t really have an art theme though, so…” I don’t let him finish his sentence before I fling myself across the table into his arms, pressing him further into the couch. His arms wrap around me and I kiss him for all the things I can’t find the words to say. I kiss him for his unwavering patience and understanding. I kiss him for his selfless support. And I kiss him because I’m in love with him.

“Thank you.” I kiss him once more.“Yo también quiero recordar cada momento contigo.”

MILES

My balls are frozen.

The house has a wrap-around porch in the back, which was pitched as some incredible selling feature. They forgot to mention you wouldn’t actually want to sit out here because it’s fucking freezing. Camila is covered head to toe in layers, her leggings underneath a pair of my sweatpants, and a long sleeve T-shirt under one of my hoodies. And fuck if I don’t love seeing her in my clothes. She rests between my legs, her head on my chest, my arms wrapped tightly around her, as we lay out on a wooden daybed with a paper-thin cushion on top. I’ve brought the comforter from the guest bedroom out and wrapped us up in it because Camila wanted to sit out here andwatch the trees. I’m still not sure what that means but despite the freezing cold, she seems happy so here I am, watching the trees.

“I could get used to this,” she says into the darkness. “I feel so refreshed like I really needed this and didn’t even know it.”

I kiss the top of her head. “We could come back every weekend if you want.”

She wiggles her body further into me and I can hear the smile on her face when she says, “I love it when you say things like that.”

“I’ll buy the whole damn house if you want it, Camila.” And I mean it. She must know that I’m serious because she sits up, turning to look at me.

“I just meant, I like when you talk about the future. Our future.” She pauses. “I know our relationship started as anything but normal, and when we decided to give this a go we weren't sure what it would look like or what it meant, but when you talk about our future, I’m not afraid of it. I like it. I want everything with you, Miles. I?—”

My heart hammers at her words. She’s saying everything I’ve been feeling, and I don’t want to hold it in anymore. I can’t. I sit up and pull her into a fiery kiss. I kiss her like a man starved. With every piece of my body and soul responding to her. I want her to know and to feel everything I’m feeling for her. Breaking the kiss but not pulling away, my forehead resting on hers, I whisper against her lips, “I love you, Camila.” Her heart beats against my hand where it rests on her chest. “I know this is wild, and if you’re not there yet, that’s okay, but I couldn’t go another minute without telling you.”

Her lips fall back on mine in a softer kiss, it’s slow and intimate. The chill of her fingers locking together behind my neck sends a shiver down my spine. “You’re right, it is wild.” Her lips brush acrossmine. “Miles.” I can’t tell whose heartbeat is whose anymore. “I love you, too.”

I force out a breath that was lodged so tightly in my chest it was a miracle I hadn’t passed out yet. “Say it again.”

She smiles against my lips. “I love you, Miles Cameron.”

I never planned on getting married. But at this moment, with Camila in my arms, I couldn’t imagine a life not being married to her.