The Show Goes On All Night (Rosie)

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

Hell.
He was living in a personal hell.
Guillermo sat on his mattress, staring down at his hands. Lightly clenched in them was his handgun.
The metal felt cool and calming in his hands as he burned.
Jeny wasn't home. Neither was Seth. They wouldn't know until he was found laying on the floor, cold and stained with blood.
He hoped Seth would find him. Jeny didn't need another mental image to keep her awake at night. Hopefully, the two of them could realize that they liked each other already. Seth would take good care of her.
Guillermo weighed the gun in his hand, then opened the barrel for the fourth time and counted the rounds inside. There were eight, just like there had been five minutes ago. He wondered vaguely why he was stalling.
Life without her was nothing. He was living a lie. He put on a show for Jeny and Seth, going on as if he was healing, pretending that he was at least okay, despite feeling hurt. Every day he wanted to curl up and die. The things he had said to her were horrible, terrible lies. She hadn't even gotten mad at him. She just took it, accepting easily that he hated her. Stupidly, she had believed him. He loved her, so very much.
There was nothing he could do about it now though. She was gone. He didn't know where she'd gone, or whether she'd be back. Not that it would make a difference.
Sighing, Guillermo lifted the gun and cocked it once before touching it to his temple.
Then he heard the most beautiful sound coming through the open window. He dropped the gun and it fired, creating a small bullet hole in the wall. He ignored it, however.
He heard the sound again. Now convinced that it wasn't a hallucination, he breathed,
"Rose."

[ROSE MERCER]

OUTFIT OF PLEASE DON'T SEE I'M TOTES PREGGO

Rose was back. It was a weird feeling, even in her own mind.

She had been gone from New York all Winter, off bouncing around Europe with Mallory. Trying to heal. And when she realized that there really was no healing, she carried on, enjoying the time with her best friend. Sitting in her car, still as flawless as the day she had left it with her Uncle, she stared up at her apartment in fear. Would she run into him? Would he noticed her cleverly concealed stomach, which was just starting to get that tell tale bump? Would he even speak to her if he did? Abrazos whined boredly in her front seat, a cute little creamy brown pittbull, still just a pup. In the back seat Besos laid, content and massive.

She had to do this.

Rose couldn't just sit in her car all day.

Opening the door, she was followed out by the baby pitbull, though she needed to open the back door for Besos. Going to the trunk, Rose started taking out her luggage. Though she hadn't brought much, Mallory, in her extreme generosity, had bought her what felt like all of France's fine clothing. Not that you could tell by what she was wearing. Her outfit lacked her usual... ness. Rose lacked her usual ness. Lugging it out, Rose debated on whether she should make two or three trips, or try and lug it all up once... True, in her condition, she should be taking it easy. But, damn, she was pregnant, not broken. Stubbornly, she started grabbing the bags out.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Abrazos starting to wander away. "Abrazos, vuelve!" Rose yelled, whistling for the little bastard. Instead of obeying, Abrazos started to wander further, trying to stir Besos to play, though she only lumbered near the pooch. "Abrazos, vuelve! Cachorro travieso!" The scolding caught the attention of the six month old, who came back, head hung in shame. Rose instantly softened, returning to her luggage. "Besos, usted sabe mejor..." Besos joined Abrazos in the shame hung, eyes sad.

Rose sighed.

Maybe she was just being snappish because of nerves. Putting a bag across her shoulder, she managed to wrap her small hands around two handles per hand. One pull bag, on smaller bag, in each. Damn Mallory and her luring Rose with words like Couture and Gucci... Pulling them along, she whistled for her canine companions. "Abrazos, Besos. Vamos. Vamos... su casa." She couldn't help the pause in her voice when it came to home. It was such a foreign concept, these last few months.

Starting in, Rose held her breath, quietly praying for everything to go smoothly. Entering the complex, Besos barked happily, recognizing the surroundings, as Abrazos sniffed around. Collecting her mail, Rose gave a small smile. Everything... everything was going to be okay. Her deep blue eyes calmed.

Everything was alright. Guillermo was probably... doing what Guillermo's do.

Though, a part of her did long to see him.

Sighing, she collected her mountain of mail. Ah, a new problem... how was she going to carry it all and her bags.

Shit.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

Without thinking, Guillermo jumped up and rushed out of his apartment. He threw a brief, regretful look at the bullet hole that was now in the wall, but turned to see a girl with coppery brown curls.
She was carrying what looked like over her weight in luggage. A familiar dog jumped up to greet him, but he patted it's head absentmindedly.
He stared at her breathlessly. Was it possible that she had become more beautiful?
He wanted to hold her, spin her around and laugh, talk to her, kiss her.
It was foolish of him to have run out to see her. For all he knew, she hated him. After all, he had said things to her that were unforgivable.
Now he couldn't just pretend he hated her, after he had rushed out to see her.
Guillermo drank in the sight of her and cleared his throat awkwardly when he caught himself staring.
"N-need a hand?"

[ROSE MERCER]

Bill.

Bill.

Junk mail.

Bill.

Sweepstakes.

Victoria's Secret.

Bill.

Honestly she was just stalling at this point.

Junk mail.

Loud throat clearing.

Bill.

Loud throat clearing?

Rose's sharp blue eyes looked up, seeing Guillermo, a faint pink color instantly filling her cheeks, the mail dropping out of her hands. Looking back down, seeing three months of mail spill to the floor didn't help her blushing situation. "N-need a hand?"

Her eyes went back up, as she knelt down, mouth slightly open. Okay... this would be the part where words would be useful. Speak Rose! SPEAK! "Oh. Um." What could she say? Last time she saw him, he said he didn't want to see/talk/breath her again. She was horribly prepared for this... "No I think I'm-" Leave it to Abrazos to make things more difficult, grabbing a piece of her mail between his sharp puppy teeth. Reaching forward, her suitcases did a sort of domino effect, landing on the pup, who released the piece of mail, and hid behind Guillermo's feet. Puffing her bangs from her eyes, she gave him a conceding nod. "Maybe... if you're not too busy..."

She didn't want to look too happy to see him. After all... there was very little chance of reconcile. He had sounded so sure, no matter how much Rose wanted something different. But she also didn't want to look unhappy to see him. He had initiated conversation. Perhaps enough time had past that they could be friends... or at least say hello when their paths crossed. Pushing her hair out of her eyes, she gave a polite and shy smile, before she let into her own cowardice and dropped her gaze again.

Ugh, this was awkward.

Must. Break. Tension.

"So. How have you been?" There was a small strain to her voice, as she grabbed her shoulder bag, mountain of mail snugged under her arm tightly. She couldn't quite meet his gaze. She didn't want to fall into his brown eyes.

Just open the doors.

Let him know she wasn't mad.

That she was never mad.

That she loved him stil- No! Not that. No pressure. He had had enough.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

Her eyes. Oh god. He had forgotten how much he loved her eyes.
Swallowing hard, he knelt to help her pick up the mail that had fluttered to the ground.
She stared at him, apparently lost for words.
"Oh. Um. No I think I'm-"
An unfamiliar puppy stole some of the mail and got into a bit of a bind when the suitcases fell over.
Rose looked a little frazzled
"Maybe... if you're not too busy..."
Guillermo nodded and took hold of her remaining bags. There was a small awkward silence and Rose gave him a small, shy smile.
This had been a very bad idea. His breath caught and he realized how much he had missed her smile.
"So. How have you been?"
Her voice sounded odd, forced almost and he wanted to cry and apologize and beg her to take him back.
"I've been.. better."
He watched her carefully, his heart sinking. Why couldn't everything go back to normal?
"So you, uh.. went on a trip. Have fun?"
He didn't want to show how much he cared where she was, who she was with, what she did.

[ROSE MERCER]

"I've been.. better."

Rose was confused. Just, really, really, really, really confused.

He was looking at her... that same way he use too. Had she mistaken all those loving glaces for just his face? Well... that wasn't a good feeling. And he was being so cordial. None of this was what she was expecting... "I'm sorry-" She wanted to reach out to him, hug him, ask him to tell her what was wrong. Tell him what was wrong with her. Fight for him! He had fought for her so hard! What if all he wanted was for her to fight for him, for once....

What if... what if... There was no what if.

There was what happened.

Rose was dumped. Why was she still clinging to strands of hope, after three god damn months?

"You don't have to carry all of those-" She said, reaching out for one of the puller suitcases. Her eyes lowered even further when her fingertips brushed his, but she followed through, taking the bag from him. Starting up the stairs, she whistled for her dogs, who followed closely at Guillermo's heels.

Of course they would like him.

Shit.

"So you, uh.. went on a trip. Have fun?" Forced conversation. Fantastic.

She considered the answer. "Oh. It was... fun. Yeah. I mean..." She took a deep breath, not wanting to offend, but not wanting to lie. "It was a much needed break. You know from... work." She finished, lamely, her cheeks remaining the fair, pink, glow. She swallowed, treading up the stairs, feeling her feet swollen in her shoes. Damn. Stupid pregnancy... Not that she minded the baby so much. But morning sickness, weight gain (which was far more noticeable in Rose's mind, at this point), feet swelling constantly, no smoking, no drinking. Soon people would be wanting to touch her gut... Shit, she would have to tell Guillermo...

Eventually.

One thing at a time.

"But there was other benefits. Sorted out my little problem, got that into check..." Rose continued, voice soft. Reaching their hall, Rose looked at him cautiously. "Um... you can come in, if you want. I mean. I don't mind." Stupid words, being all stumbling. "But I'll understand if you don't want too..." Nodding at her own statement, Rose went to her door, digging her keys out of her purse, wondering if this was good bye with Guillermo...

Again.

Her heart lurched.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"I'm sorry-"
Rose studied him for a moment before reaching for her bag.
"You don't have to carry all of those-"
She avoided his eyes when her fingertips brushed his and his skin burned where she had touched him.
"Oh. It was... fun. Yeah. I mean...It was a much needed break. You know from... work."
She turned a little pink and Guillermo heard the unspoken word. Rose had needed a break from him. Understandable. But that didn't stop the knot in his stomach from tightening uncomfortably.
She continued, and he listened attentively, loving the sound of her voice.
"But there was other benefits. Sorted out my little problem, got that into check... Um... you can come in, if you want. I mean. I don't mind. But I'll understand if you don't want too..."
Rose reached her door and began searching for her keys, but Guillermo was frozen a few paces away.
"Your little problem.." he murmured, brain working furiously.
"You mean Bruja?"
Wait, was he supposed to know she was called Bruja?
Sorted out. What did that mean? Was she gone? She couldn't be. She had threatened Rose. Was she.. behaving?
Realizing he had rudely ignored her question, he hesitated.
"I, uh.. sure. I can carry those. I mean, you've got your hands full.." Picking up the bag she had taken, he went in to the now unlocked apartment, feeling both comfortable and a bit awkward.

[ROSE MERCER]

"Your little problem...You mean Bruja?"

Rose didn't like how he said her name. There was a heaviness to it. Bruja had caused him pain. Bruja had caused problems in his life. Though, Rose was still unaware of the extent. "Um. Yeah. We... figured it out I guess." She said, opening the door. Besos headed in comfortably, with the Pup at her heels. Rose looked at Guillermo, as he figured out what he was doing.

"I, uh.. sure. I can carry those. I mean, you've got your hands full.." He said, swooping in, taking the bags from her.

"No, you don't-" He was already inside. "Have too..." Same old Guillermo. She followed him in, stopping dead in the living room. The clean living room...

Not that Rose's apartment was ever dirty. Just certainly not neat. Cluttered. But not right now. Right now it was... spotless. Shining like a new penny. Had the smell of furniture polish not been prevalent in her nose, she would have thought she was robbed. Dropping the mail onto the coffee table, Rose looked around a little perplexed. Without thinking, she instantly went to her kitchen, checking her fridge, which had been full when she left. This was no longer the case, and instead of coming upon spoiled food, she found only condiments, and a box of baking soda. "Huh... Foxy..." She muttered, smiling a little.

Was he mad?

Going back to the living room, she gave a friendly-ish smile to Guillermo. Who was in her house. With her. Alone. Awesome. Nothing could possibly go amiss here. "Um. Thanks. Just um... leave them where ever." She said motioning to her floor. Which, she was a little surprised to be reminded, was a soft cream carpet. "Looks like Seth held this place down while I was gone. Bet you could eat off the toilet..." What a failed attempt at humor that was. Sitting down, she unlaced her shoe, freeing her swollen feet, wincing a little.

Stupid feet.

"You can sit..." She offered, looking around, still a little winded that their were places to sit. Then she remembered. Right. They were... yeah. "Or if you have some place to be... I mean." She offered him a polite way out, if he wanted it, trying not to plead for him to stay with her eyes. "Thank you. For... helping me. With the bags." Rose needed to at least get that out, if he chose to leave. Just because he was her ex, her ex that she still loved, her ex who's child she was sort of secretly carrying, just because her ex was here, didn't mean she needed to be rude.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"Um. Yeah. We... figured it out I guess."
"You did? That's good.."
He wanted to demand more information.
What happened? Did she get Bruja under control? Was Bruja threatening her?
But he was supposed to be over her. Not nosing his way into her life again.
"No, you don't- have too..."
Rose stared around her apartment, looking surprised.
"Huh... Foxy..."
Seth had taken over the care and keeping of Rose's apartment while she was gone. Guillermo might have helped, had he been certain she was coming back.
"Um. Thanks. Just um... leave them where ever. Looks like Seth held this place down while I was gone. Bet you could eat off the toilet..."
He set down the bags near her bedroom door.
Her voice was a little strained and he avoided her eyes, trying to keep himself in check.
"You can sit... Or if you have some place to be... I mean. Thank you. For... helping me. With the bags."
Guillermo swallowed, meeting her eyes briefly.
How long would he be able to last with her? It would be a good idea to test the waters. Bruja hadn't necessarily say that they couldn't be friends..
"Uh.. no problem. I can stay for a bit, I guess. Jeny will be home soon.."
He didn't say that he wanted to stay.
With her.
Forever.

[ROSE MERCER]

He didn't inquire further on the Bruja situation. Perhaps it was out of politeness, perhaps out of disinterest. Rose honestly didn't know at this point. She sat in her chair, watching Guillermo with more interest than she honestly should be giving. "Uh.. no problem. I can stay for a bit, I guess. Jeny will be home soon..." Rose felt the familiar of relief and panic as he agreed to stay for a bit, though she gave him a soft smile. Alright... this was good. Everything was fine.

"How is she? Did she get that pa-" Rose stopped, eyes suddenly wide. Wait... did he know that Jeny and Rose had spoken a few times when she had been away? Of course, Rose hadn't planned to be in contact. And, honestly, rarely made the reach out. Jeny had called, a few days after Rose's houdini act, asking her what had happened and if she was coming back. Rose gave the brief summary of the ordeal, explained that she would be returning eventually, but wanted to give Guillermo some space. Jeny, who was utterly transparent, had been holding something back. Rose had always hoped and feared that it was that Guillermo missed her. Still, the girls had spoken about ten times. A strange comfort came between the two, though Guillermo wasn't really mentioned. Comfortable enough that Rose confided to her that she was pregnant, and had found out before she left. Of course, Jeny was is shock, and demanded to know if Guillermo knew. Rose said no, that when she came back that she would tell him. Jeny was left unsatisfied with this answer, but accepted it. Henceforth, the question of 'How much longer are you going to be gone?' became commonplace in their conversations.

The girls were not exactly friends. But they were bound by the fact that they loved Guillermo. Poor Jeny. It must have been hard for her to keep that locked away....

Unless she hadn't.

What if she had told him. And that's why he was being so... cordial.

No. Jeny promised she wouldn't. And would have warned Rose if she had. Right. Okay. Everything was fine.

Except Rose hadn't covered up her cut off sentence. "Um. Listen..." Rose breathed, deciding that this was like a band-aid. Just rip it off quick. Step one: Smooth out the past. "About... uh. That thing that happened. I mean." Stumbling was not going to help the awkwardness. Taking a deep breath, she looked at him. Or, more, looked through him at first. "I'm not mad. I get it... We sort of had a whirlwind of a relationship. So, I understand, why you had enough. And..." Rose's eyes focused on his, her throat tightening. "And I hope... we can be friends. Or... or even just close to it. I mean." She gave a small humorless laugh, though it was in good nature. "Your people are my people, after all." More so than he knew, at this point.

Rose's stomach fluttered, her arms hugging around her middle to try and sooth the little bit.

"So. Yeah. I just... wanted to say that." She ended again, lamely, eyes dropping from his. An awkward silence was only slightly lightened by Besos coming and laying down near the coffee table, while the Abrazos tried to provoke her into play, tugging her ears gently with his teeth.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

Rose smiled at him shyly. He tried a smile back and found it easier than breathing. He hadn't smiled in a while.
"How is she? Did she get that pa-"
He was a little surprised when she asked about Jeny. They had never been the best of friends, after all. But he frowned slightly at her unfinished sentence. He decided to ignore it, for now.
"Um. Listen... About... uh. That thing that happened. I mean. I'm not mad. I get it... We sort of had a whirlwind of a relationship. So, I understand, why you had enough. And... And I hope... we can be friends. Or... or even just close to it. I mean. Your people are my people, after all. So. Yeah. I just... wanted to say that."
Guillermo's insides squelched uncomfortably.
He didn't want to lie anymore. It hurt him inside. The little bits of the old Guillermo couldn't take it.
"Just, uh.. forget it, okay? It doesn't matter now."
He felt physically ill as he choked out the words.

[ROSE MERCER]

"Just, uh.. forget it, okay? It doesn't matter now." Guillermo replied, and Rose's heart sank.

It doesn't matter.

Rose tried not to look stung by this, but another symptom of pregnancy was rearing it's ugly head. Moodiness. She nodded, as if agreeing, wanting to scream out that it did matter! That it mattered to her! That it all fucking mattered, and she was sorry! That she could be better! But Rose didn't. Instead she watched Abrazos torment Besos, who fought hard to pretend to sleep. No tears welled in her eyes, but they did take on a little shine. "Right. I just. Wanted to clear the air, you know. We d-don't have to talk about it anymore." Crap. She choked a little. Rose pushed through to ignore the slip, clenching her jaw so it wouldn't quiver, looking as nonchalant as possible.

Change the subject. Change the subject quick. "Isn't he cute?" Rose asked suddenly, eyes on the little pitbull. "I got him in Germany... but he, uh, understands Spanish now, like Besos." Besos, agitated with the pestering, but her wide paw down on the puppy's back, smooshing the pooch down into the carpet. Rose gave a small laugh, sneaking a look at Guillermo.

He looked... more or less the same. There was definitely something different, but it didn't seem to be physical, as far as Rose could tell. Could he see something different about her? Shit, weren't preggo's suppose to glow or some shit? Did she look glowy? Rose certainly didn't feel glowy. A little sick maybe... but that's kind of normal at this point. More so than it had been, even before.

Abrazos escaped Besos's pinning, pandering up to Guillermo, tail wagging. There was something good in Guillermo. Everyone saw it, even at times when Rose went out of her way to not see it. Hell, her dogs even liked him. Her stomach fluttered again, as if urging her to tell him. "Guillermo, listen, there's something important I need to tell you." Rose blurted before she could stop herself.

How would he react? Would he be mad? Mad that she hadn't told him? Or mad that she was pregnant at all? The thought filled her with utter terror. What... what would she do? What if he didn't believe it was his? What if he didn't want it?

The stream of questions lurched her stomach, and Rose was on her feet, afraid that she would be sick. Her freckled skin turned a shade of green, as she tried to control it, eventually stamping it back. Taking a deep breath, Rose gave him a slightly embarrassed smile, laced with fear. "I'm sorry... all the travelling... upset my stomach..." Rose halfheartedly lied. Abrazos gave a small whine, as if calling her out on lying. Grinning softly at the pup, Rose sank to her knees, stroking his soft fur affectionately. She had not meant to put herself so close to Guillermo. And, at the moment, she wasn't sure if it was a bad thing. "But, actually. Don't worry about it. I'm just..." If she said tired, he'd go. If she said sick, he'd go. "It's just weird being back, is all."

She would tell him.

Eventually.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

Rose looked away from him and he stared at his hands. He was becoming very good at lying.
"Right. I just. Wanted to clear the air, you know. We d-don't have to talk about it anymore."
Her voice sounded a little odd, but she quickly changed the subject, smiling down at the little puppy.
"Isn't he cute? I got him in Germany... but he, uh, understands Spanish now, like Besos."
Rose laughed lightly as Besos lost her patience and pinned the puppy to the floor.
Guillermo smiled at the sound of her laughter.
"What's his name? Not Adolph, is it?"
He joked weakly.
The puppy padded over to him clumsily, sniffing at his knees. He leaned over and scratched his ears.
"Guillermo, listen, there's something important I need to tell you."
Guillermo looked up at the urgent way Rose spoke.
Suddenly her pale face was tinged a sickly olive green and he readied himself to stand and help her. She looked likely to be sick on the spot.
After a few moments she sighed with a bit of relief, her skin fading back to it's original color.
"I'm sorry... all the travelling... upset my stomach... But, actually. Don't worry about it. I'm just... It's just weird being back, is all."
Guillermo nodded, but eyed her warily. Was she sick? She ought to rest. Maybe she was sick of him.
It was certainly uncomfortable to sit and stare at each other like this, so he got up and put her radio on. The volume was turned up loud enough to keep comfortable noise, but quiet enough to chat, if the opportunity presented itself.
The song on the station changed and he smiled softly as he recognized the fast-paced Spanish music coming from the speakers.
He stood and held out his hand to her, silently asking her to dance.
He was seriously pushing the limits. The barriers he had rebuilt were crumbling faster than he could keep track of.

[ROSE MERCER]

Rose liked his smile, as she caught it when he looked over her pup. "What's his name? Not Adolph, is it?" Rose chuckled, shaking her head no.

"No. HER name is Abrazos." She shrugged a little. "It was Mallory's idea. Besos and Abrazos..." The joke was appreciated by Rose. And she noticed how he was ready to help her, when she nearly became ill. And this confused Rose further. Though, perhaps she wasn't giving him enough credit... There was nothing wrong with being empathetic. Rose couldn't just read into every little thing-

Her eyes watched him as he turned on some music, the channels flipping until resting on... She couldn't help but give a small laugh. Go figure. Loca. That was the first song they danced to together, in the apartment next door. That was the word that summed up their relationship. That was what Guillermo apparently was, as he held his hand out to Rose to dance.

She stared at the hand for a half a second, her blue eyes looking up at his brown ones: surprises, shocked, happy, sad, confused. Almost in a daze, Rose nodded, taking his hand, lifting herself out of the chair. He smelled... exactly the same. Citrus. Not quite orange, not quite lemon, not quite lime. A little pineapple thrown in. What is it that made him smell like that, she wondered. Rose let her self get pulled against him, whether it was by his doing, or just the magnetism she felt to him.

How could they remain friends? How could they ignore everything that happened? Would it get better? Or would he, innocently she was sure, confuse the hell out of her forever?

But it didn't matter right now. She could savor this. A small fix, to hold her over. God, it was like he was a damn drug. That didn't seem healthy. But still Rose danced with him, keeping with the fast rhythm of the music, her hips moving in sync with the beat. It wasn't quite like the first dance... Rose had no intention of seducing Guillermo right now. She was dancing with fun, with her friend, and that was all. Not like those other times when they were 'Just Friends'. For real.

Rose wasn't going to hurt him anymore.

Grinning at him, Rose felt a little awkward, dancing barefoot. But, that was reminiscent of the first dance too... Still, it didn't feel right out of heels. She felt clumsy. Abrazos barked happily, weaving between the two, and Rose couldn't help but laugh. This was... nice. Refreshing even. Stumbling on the dog a little, Rose caught herself on Guillermo's arm, laughing still. Fuck awkward. Fuck weird. She was so done with all that nonsense. Playing it off as if she had meant to trip on him, Rose raised his arm, twirling herself under it, giggling a little.

Catching his eyes, they didn't fill her with sadness this time. No, in those brown eyes she... she saw warmth. She saw comfort. Her home was in those eyes. Her wide grin shrank to a shy smile, her eyelid dropping, though her eyes stayed on his.

Please, just let me stay home for a little while longer.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"No. HER name is Abrazos. It was Mallory's idea. Besos and Abrazos..."
Guillermo gave a small smile and patted Abrazos' head.
He wasn't particularly surprised when she agreed to dance. He was surprised, however, by how comforted he felt by her touch. She was so close to him. There was something different, and he finally discovered that it was the smell of cigarette smoke. It wasn't present. She smelled wonderful, to be sure, but he wondered vaguely when she had stopped smoking.
He smiled back at her and Abrazos tripped around their feet, excited by the action. Rose swayed off balance as the puppy hit her shin and she caught herself on him, then played it off, twirling once with a little laugh.
Her beautiful blue eyes captivated him again and his heart moaned with longing.
Fuck Bruja. If she'd hurt Rose, he would just have to join Rose at the pearly gates.
"Rose, I.. That morning that I said those things to you.. Every word was a lie."
His voice was thick and he cleared his throat, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, he gave her a weak smile, then spun and dipped her easily.
"I love you, Rose. I never stopped."