Roads That Cross...

... With Interruptions (Part 2)

Ámbar thought Simón was gonna go back to work— It certainly looked like it for a second. But then he settled back into the chair and looked at her, tentative.

"Oh, um, I forgot to tell you. I video-called my mom today and she said she wants to talk to you."

Ámbar went cold. "Oh no."

Of all the things in the world, she did not expect him to say that. She hardly believed herself that she deserved to be with Simón and now she had to convince the woman who had raised him of it? She had no idea how to pull that off.

Simón chuckled at the dread that was most surely showing on her face. "Calm down, she really means just talk, she's not gonna intimidate you or anything like that."

His smile was calm and he seemed pretty convinced of his statement, but Ámbar didn't believe it much.

She averted her gaze, dropping it to the table.

"After all that happened, I can't imagine that she likes me," she said detrimentally. If she were that woman, she wouldn't want someone like her anywhere near her son.

Simón's hands reached to hold her own. She lifted her gaze and watched as he brought them to his lips, kissing the back of them. His eyes held hers, conveying kindness.

"She knows what I've told her," he explained softly, "which is that we are, or were, very different. That... you were going through a tough time this year, and you didn't want to accept anyone's help. But that things changed, and we managed to understand each other, and now we're together and you make me very happy."

Ámbar's chest tightened. "I do?"

His heartfelt smile grew, turning his face into one of disbelieving amusement. "Of course you do," he laughed, squeezing her hands to add emphasis to his words. "Can't you tell by the face of lovesick fool I make whenever I'm near you?"

Ámbar was left speechless staring at his expression. When he was so openly affective, she often didn't know what to do. He'd look at her like loving her was the simplest, most obvious thing; like he couldn't help himself because she was that great. Ámbar was used to admiration, but when she did something worthy of it, when she struggled to get it. Simón spoke as if she made him happy just by existing, and she didn't know how to respond to that.

"Well, the fool's face has always been there so it's a little hard to tell the difference," she joked light-heartedly. Humor was a good out when she felt overwhelmed. Hopefully, she'd soon be able to return his openness without needing it.

Simón huffed a laugh. "Jeez, thank you, love, I love you too," he replied sarcastically.

They both chuckled and a comfortable silence fell between them.

"So..." Ámbar started, going back to the conversation. "Your mom doesn't hate me?"

He smiled reassuringly. "She doesn't hate you. She just wants to know you a little bit. You know, because you're dating me and she's curious."

She nodded to herself. "Right."

"I can totally tell her no if you don't want to yet," he offered, probably seeing her nervousness in her face. "I mean, we could wait until we go to Cancún in the summer. There's no rush."

She lifted a brow. "We're going to Cancún in the summer?"

Simón froze.

"Oh." His gaze wandered and he rubbed the back of his neck. "I, uh, I kind of assumed..."

Ámbar couldn't keep the straight face anymore and broke into giggles. "I'm messing with you!" She told him and laced her fingers with his over the table. "I would love to go to Cancún with you."