Page 79

Story: Art of Convenience

“I’m sorry,” he blurts, and my eyes go wide. “I should have said it before, but I’m sorry, Camila. I’m sorry I lied to you, I’m sorry I broke your trust, I’m sorry for hurting you, I’m sorry for everything. I didn’t plan for this to happen, foryou, but when it did I didn’t think I would regret my choices because all that mattered was we ended up here. I didn’t give a fuck about the how. But you were right. I should have. I wish I could go back and find a better way.”

My vision blurs from the unshed tears.

“I thought it didn’t matter because we ended up together. I would never regret that. But you were right, if I could go back and do it all over I would find another way. I would have given you those papers that day and stalked you like a normal person.”

I can’t help the small laugh that bubbles out of me.

“I would have found another way because, in this lifetime or any other, I would find my way to you.” My tears break free now and he steps closer, his comforting scent filling my nose. He runs his thumb across my cheek wiping away the tears like he’s done so many times before. “I've spent every hour of every day my entire life working to be what I thought would be the most successful version of myself, and I thought I got it. But none of it matters. Whethermyname is on the door or Tom, Dick, or Harry, none of it matters to me without you.” His head drops, shaking briefly before looking back up at me. “I don’t deserve you, I know I don’t. But I will spend every day moving forward working to be the man you deserve.” My heart simultaneously hurts and fills. “Because I want it all with you, Camila. I want to make you coffee every morning in our home that you’ll fill with beautiful art. I want to share my success with you over dinners and vice versa. I want to be your number one fan through all your accomplishments. I want to be the old grandpa sitting next to you wearing matching silk pajama shorts on Christmas morning. Your goals are my goals and I promise, I’ll stop at nothing to make sure you have everything in this world that you deserve. Whether it’s a pastry or a goddamn ocean. Nothing will ever be too much for you,” he pauses, holding me tighter. “So tell me something.”

I smile through the cry that escapes my lips as he uses my words.

“Will you forgive me? Will you come back home and let me love you? Will you let me love you and be genuinely happy with you for the rest of my life?” His forehead drops down to mine and his eyes close as if he’s silently begging for a response. “Please. Perdóname, mi esposa.”

My fingers brush along his scruff that’s turned into more of a beard in the last few days. I watch his lashes flutter and feel his heart thrash under the palm of my other hand that now sits on his chest.

“I don’t need to forgive you, Miles.” His eyes squeeze tighter before he opens them to look at me. “I already forgave you.” The corner of his eyes shines as his body almost collapses on me in relief. His hands find the sides of my face as he pulls me into a desperate kiss. The moment his lips find mine I feel at home again. I feel safe and loved. My arms tremble as I wrap them around him, digging my fingers into his back. His tongue slides into my mouth deepening the kiss and a soft moan escapes me.

“I love you,” I manage to get the words out between kissing him. “I love you and—” He lifts me up and I kiss the corner of his mouth, his cheek, his neck. “It’s always been you and I would choose you and this strange situation of ours a thousand times over again.”

Miles sets me down and we stand at the railing overlooking the bay holding each other for a while. My chest fills with a familiar warmth standing in this spot again and just when I’ve had enough, when I can’t bear to not be alone with him for another moment, he leans down and whispers in my ear. “You ready to get out of here, Camila?”

Miles

Jonas

Bagels?

Me

Not today.

And I’m taking the rest of the week off.

Jonas

????

Me

Jesus. Don’t smirk at me.

Jonas

So, your woman found her way home, huh?

Me

Yeah.

Jonas

Nice. Miles Puss Face Cameron was getting on my nerves.

Me

Don’t call me that.

Jonas