Free Forever Baby by Ellie Wade Page B

never been more than that?” he asks, his face concerned.
    “No, always only friends.”
    “You appeared to be more than friends at the club on your first night here.”
    Oh, yeah, I guess he saw that. “Um…that was a drunken accident. We don’t normally go around and kiss each other. He has a girlfriend. We really are solely friends.”
    “But you hold hands? You seem very comfortable together, like there’s more than friendship between you.”
    “We’re close, very close. We’ve always been loving with each other. That’s just the way we are, but it doesn’t mean anything.”
    “It always means something, Olivia,” he says.
    “No, not with Nolan. Friends only, I promise.” I smile reassuringly.
    Andres’s demeanor shifts, and he quickly changes the subject. “Are you hungry?”
    “Um…yeah, a little.” I realize I haven’t eaten all day.
    Andres leads me to the kitchen. “Well, I don’t have much. I don’t eat here too often. Is a sandwich okay?”
    “A sandwich is great.”
    He opens the refrigerator, pulls out ingredients, and proceeds to make us each a ham sandwich.
    He hands me a plate. “Your sandwich, madam.” He winks.
    God, he is good-looking.
    We eat and talk some more.
    I’m nervous when I speak. “What about you, Andres? Tell me about you.”
    “I don’t have any biological siblings, but I’ve grown up with Carlos, Nadia, Hugo, and Julio. They’re like family to me. My mom died when I was fourteen. She was the best in every way.” His face lights up at the mention of his mom. “I was going to college for a while, but I needed a break. So, now, I’m not really doing much of anything besides the band. I want to go back to school at some point, but I need a while to figure out what I want.”
    “Where’s your dad? He doesn’t live here?” I ask.
    “No. He couldn’t stay here after my mom died. He has a small apartment about twenty minutes from here.”
    “Have you always stayed here alone?”
    “Most days, yes.”
    “But you were only fourteen! A fourteen-year-old would never be allowed to raise himself in the States.”
    “This isn’t the States. Plus, technically, I still had my father. It’s not like I reported it to anyone. Livi, honestly, it wouldn’t have mattered if he were here or not. It was probably easier with him gone. I stayed at Carlos and Nadia’s a lot.” Andres pauses thoughtfully. “He wasn’t well. He still isn’t. He hasn’t been since my mom died.” He places our plates in the sink. “Come on, let me take you home. I’m sure you have homework to do before we go out tonight.”
    “We’re going out?”
    “Yeah. We’re going to Demo. It’s a sweet bar. You’ll like it.”
    I’m sure I will , I think as Andres takes my hand.
    He leads me out of the house, and my skin hums at the contact of his touch. It’s already so addictive.
    After our terrifying ride back to my house, Andres helps me off of the motorcycle before he leans in and gives me a tender kiss. He pulls away, leaving me breathless. My lips tingle with the memory of his mouth on mine as I watch him swing his leg over the bike.
    “I’ll be back by ten, beautiful.” He flashes me his gift of a smile.
    I’m melting as he rides away.
    I count down the seconds until tonight. Today’s events and the time I spent with Andres was so comfortable, fun, and simply perfect. I have to remind myself that it wasn’t a dream. It’s hard to believe that we were practically strangers yesterday. What a difference a day makes. Prickles of anticipation race across my skin as I think about tonight. I can’t even imagine the excitement that the evening will bring, and it can’t come soon enough.

Leaning against the wall, I sit on my bed as I finish the last of my homework. I look up to see Nolan watching me from the other bed.
    “Are you finished with your translations?” I ask.
    We’re working on the subjunctive today, and to be honest, it sucks.
    As Professor Gomez has said, The