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I could see Tim waiting in the café from the outside, and I was tempted in that moment to not go in, to just leave. But, something made me step over the threshold and sit down opposite him.

"Julie," he said. "Please let me explain."

"No," I said, holding my hand up. "Let me talk first." He seemed a little shocked but nodded for me to go on. "You don't love me—" he went to interjects but I continued. "— and I don't love you. If you really, truly loved me, you wouldn't want to be with anyone else but me. You wouldn't want to risk the chance of losing me. I don't love you, Tim. I tried to convince myself that I did, but I don't. And I'm sorry, but I can't help that."

He stared at the table for a while, before looking up, "You know, I sensed you didn't love me. Maybe that's why I slept with other people, to try and make you feel something."

"Always somebody else's fault, isn't it?"

"No, it's nobody else's fault but my own." He picked my hand up, but it was more friendly than romantic. "We've both been unfair to each other, not that you pretending to love me is anything compared to me disrespecting you..."

I breathed deeply. "I shouldn't have done it, I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, too," he said. "And I really do mean it this time."

I picked up my bag and stood up. "Bye, Tim."

"Hug?"

I rolled my eyes, half heartedly. I opened my arms to him. He felt and smelt so familiar, but I knew a drastic change from familiar was way overdue.

"Have a safe flight," I said. He nodded, and gave me a small wave.

It felt like a weight had been lifted.

☼  ☼ ☼

"Tim's gone," I told Elise as we sat on the sofa, in front of the tv, again.

Brenda and Clara had gone home, though reluctant to leave 'the god,' also known as Nicolás. I was grateful they had, even helping them pack to get them to leave sooner.

"How do you feel?" She asked, reaching for the popcorn between us.

"Relieved, honestly."

She gave me a side hug. "I'm really proud of you, Julie. One day, you'll find someone and they'll make you forget all about Tim. They'll make you realise what love really is."

"What even is love?" I said aloud. "A construct people use to excuse... what? Lying, cheating, hurting another person? I don't think I want anything to do with it."

"Your perception of it is so warped."

"Then tell me."

She breathed out a lungful of air.

"Love is: putting the other person before yourself, even if it means they are happy when you aren't; it's craving time with that person, like all the hours in the world wouldn't be enough; it's being in a room full of people, and feeling completely lost, but you see them and suddenly, you're home. They're home. No matter where in the world you are."

"I think," I said, not really knowing if I'd have the nerve to finish my sentence. "I think I'm in love with Nicolás, Elise."

"I know."

I turned my whole body towards her. "I need to ask you something." She gestured for me to go on. "You and Nicolás. Do you want to be with him?"

"No," she said, laughing to herself. "I practically threw myself at him the other night after one too many shots. I kissed him, for like a split second, before he pulled away. Told me he couldn't because he was in love with someone else." I bit my lip. Of course with my luck, I'd seen the split-second kiss and jumped to my own conclusions. "I'd have to be blind not to see the way he looks at you."

"Looks at me?"

She grinned. "Like you're the only girl in the whole entire world."

I registered properly what she said. "He pulled away? But Brenda said—"

"She has a knack for twisting my words and coming up with her own story." She rolled her eyes. "We didn't sleep together. Not even close."

"I've made such a mess of things," I groaned.

"There's still time to fix it all," she said, rubbing my arm. "Go to him, Julie. Tell him exactly how you feel."

I rushed out of the house and around to the restaurant. I banged on the window.

"Sofia!" I said as soon as she'd answered. She had an apron on and was splashed, like I'd just interrupted her doing the washing up. "Where's Nicolás?"

"He's gone for a walk," she said. "He should be back soon." She looked up at the sky. "You better go home, it looks like that rain they were talking about is going to start." Wiping her hands down her front, she paused. "What do you need him for?"

"I'm going to tell him I love him."

She gave me a knowing smile. "He left only a few minutes ago. If you run, you'll probably be able to catch him."

I gave her a grateful smile before taking off down the hill.

The rain started spitting when I reached the bottom. I didn't care, though, as I looked left and right and couldn't see him. But then, like a variation of the shadows, I saw him.

His long legs were taking him further and further away.

The heavens opened fully then. I was drenched in seconds.

"Nicolás!" I called into the open air, hoping the rain wouldn't swallow my words. He turned to me. "You really think you can get rid of me that easily?"

He looked confused, before yelling to be heard over the wind and rain, "You said yourself. There's nothing between us!" He went to turn away again.

"For fuck's sake!" Please stop walking away. I can't keep up, I wanted to say but I felt like that might— would— ruin the moment just a little.

"I love you," I let out, not knowing if it was about to be swallowed into the empty night air.

Just as he turned, I started striding toward him. He met me half way.

As we crashed together, thunder could be heard over head. Like everything that had been building up inside us both was finally breaking free. Another bang echoed around us, like the gods themselves were cheering.

Like they'd concern themselves with a couple horny teenagers. But I didn't care. In my own little world, the whole universe was watching. And damn right we were going to give them a good show.

His lips on mine was pure bliss. He was right with what he said before: no other man would compare. With just his lips, my whole body was alight and I just had to push myself further into him.

I could barely see with the rain, but my hands cupped his face once we pulled away. He was real. Not some cruel figment of my imagination. I traced the lines of his skin as he smiled at me, desperate to remember every inch of him.

"I love you," I told him.

He closed his eyes, dark curls falling over his forehead. "Say it again."

"I love you."

"Again."

I kissed him on the mouth. "I love you."

He held me by the waist, drawing near and encased me in his arms. Into my soaking hair, he said, "I love you too."

We grinned at each other, before meeting our lips once again.

To a passer by, we would look like one deformed creature or darkness. But I didn't care about any of that.

He was here with me.

We were one.

THE END

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