Roads That Cross...

... With Interruptions (Part 2)

"No, I mean, we just have a lot to talk about," Luna replied. Simón assumed that it was about the video, but there was some nervousness in her stance. Maybe there was more to it, but he didn't dwell on it much. If it was important, he knew Luna would tell him later.

"Okay, sure, no problem," Mónica said with an easy smile. "Just make sure Ana gives her thumbs up too."

Luna and Nina agreed and thanked her. Mónica turned to the rest.

"Now, everyone go take a seat, dinner is ready," she told them. "I'm gonna go tell Mr. Alfredo. Can one of you go tell Ámbar to come down?"

"I'll go," Simón said immediately and rushed to the stairs with a pep in his step, ignoring the teasing looks that probably everyone was throwing his way.

He entered Ámbar's room before he remembered he could've knocked because he wasn't sneaking in; everyone knew he was there. Oh well, he was already inside.

He found Ámbar to his right, standing over a trashcan full of what looked like crumpled paper as her nails scraped the wall behind her dressing table.

"Hi..."

She turned to him. "Oh, hi, my love," she greeted him with a smile. "How was the rehearsal?"

"Good, all good," he said, frowning. "What are you doing?"

"I was just finishing cleaning up this wall," she said and tore a small piece of paper from it. "Yesterday these pestering pamphlets were sticking to my back and it was uncomfortable and I thought 'why did I even put so much garbage in this wall anyway?' so I decided to take it off." She backed away to admire the outcome of her work. "I think it looks better this way. Clearer and less... disastrous."

Simón stood next to her and observed the wall too. The black paint words were still there, but other than that, the wall was practically bare.

"Um, yeah. It looks less cluttered," he appraised. He was a little surprised by her impulse, but if she liked it better this way, well, great.

Ámbar hummed in agreement, still staring intently at it like searching for any leftover residue.

"Anyway, I came to fetch you for dinner," he told her. "It's ready."

Her body sagged with relief. "Oh, that's great, I'm so hungry," she moaned. "I'll go wash my hands."

She gave him a peck on the lips and went to her bathroom. In her absence, Simón noticed that the frames over the head of her bed had been tilted so they were straight instead of hanging on an angle. Ámbar must have done that too. He smiled. That seemed more like the perfectionist he knew.

His gaze went down and fell on the right nightstand. His heart squeezed. She had put the daisy he gave her in a glass of water.

"Okay, I'm ready, let's go."

Simón grabbed Ámbar by the waist, held her face and kissed her intensely. Ámbar let out a little sound of surprise but she reacted and returned the force of his lips. Her hands rose to cup his neck and his jaw. Simón wrapped both arms around her and pressed her against him.

They were both a little breathless when he pulled away.

"I adore you," he told her mesmerized. "So much. So damn much."

"I..." She blinked, looking a little dazed. "I'm not sure what happened but suddenly I'm not that hungry anymore."

Simón chuckled and held her hand. "Let's get dinner out of the way then and come back here."

She mirrored his look and smirked. "That sounds like a great idea."

Simón kissed the back of her hand and led her out of the door. Ámbar closed it behind them and both went down to the dining room.