Chapter 14
1031 Words
Ines
“You simply ran away? That’s what you did?” I asked Vicente, laughing as he told me the story of when he ran away from home.
“I was upset that mother wasn’t allowing me to play with my friends, it seemed like the best decision,” Vicente said with a laugh.
“You were 13, and punished for having set your mother’s kitchen on fire.”
“Like I said, running away was the best decision.”
We both laughed as we sat on the green grass of my family’s garden. We had spent the last hour telling each other funny stories from our childhood.
After Vicente and I had literally bumped into one another at the market, he accompanied me to complete the rest of my tasks. He visited the seamstress with me and helped me pick out a new bonnet, he went to the blacksmith with me to get more information on my father’s order for new working tools, and then down to the shore where we bought fresh clams from young fishermen.
“Those boys definitely gave you a really good price for the clams, I didn’t know they could be so amiable,” Vicente said with a smile.
I rolled my eyes as I had five times prior; he teased me that the young men were taken with me.
“They were friendly that is all.” I said.
“Yes, well they’ve never been that friendly with me.”
I laughed and he playfully glared at me.
Despite me being completely in love with him and ecstatic that he was with me; I felt very comfortable with him.
“You take amusement in this?” He asked, dramatically offended.
“In the fact that you believe they are interested in me? Yes I do.”
“Why?”
“They’re simply being nice, they’ve always treated me that way.”
“And you don’t believe that could be because they’re attracted to you?”
I shook my head. “There’s nothing much to be attracted to.”
Vicente frowned. “Then you don’t see yourself clearly.”
I looked away from him immediately, I felt my face go hot.
He had complimented me several times through out the day; compliments that could be considered flirtatious and that sent my heart racing. And while I wanted to believe that he was flirting and that something had changed between us two nights ago, I refused to get my hopes up.
“You’re too kind,” was all I said as I picked at the grass beneath me.
“I’m honest.”
I scoffed.
“Ines. Look at me.”
I pretended not to hear him and continued to look at the ground.
Vicente spoke louder. “Ines, I told you to look at me.”
And despite me wanting to refuse, my body couldn’t help but do as I was told. I turned to look at him and he was watching me so intensely I forgot how to breathe.
“You don’t see yourself for how amazing you truly are,” he said in a softer tone.
“Well.. that’s very kind of you to say.”
“You don’t believe me do you?”
“Yes.”
“You’re lying.”
“No I’m not.”
“Yes you are.”
“No.”
Vicente smiled crookedly at my stubbornness. It was a smile so beautiful that I sighed and gave in.
“Fine, I’m lying.”
In a swift movement he was sitting closer to me, his knee touching mine through my dress.
“Who don’t you believe me when I tell you that someone could be interested in you?”
I opened my mouth to respond but nothing came out. Truth was, I didn’t know why. I had just always convinced myself I was not the type of girl to attract someone.
“I just.. don’t see how someone could.” I said.
Vicente frowned and his honey eyes went sad at my response. “Well that’s just unacceptable.”
He leaned in closer and took one of my curls in between his fingers.
“First off, your hair is beautiful. Dark as a raven’s feather and curly. It bounces every time you move.”
“It’s.. different..” I said, thinking about the other girls in town. But before I could continue arguing with him, Vicente spoke.
“It’s beautiful.”
Then he looked at my lips and face. “And your face, it looks like it was sculpted. Your nose, lips and eyes are perfect, plump, round and full of innocence.”
I held my breath as he continued to look at me.
“And your smile, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
I felt my entire body tremble as his hand that had been playing with my hair caressed my cheek.
“And your very presence; it’s intoxicating. Your sweet voice, it causes any man to lose himself in your words. Your laugh, any man would give his life to keep you laughing.”
My eyes filled with tears.
Was this it?
Did he feel the same way?
“Any man would fall to his knees before you Ines,” Vicente said in a soft whisper that I felt against my skin. He was so close that I could see the details of his skin; I could smell him and only him.
And so I asked the one question I knew could either fill or break my heart.
“Would you be one of those men?”
Vicente stopped moving.
I held my breath, not wanting to push him away and hoping for the best but praying to the heavens that I’d have the strength to move forward if he said no.
I didn’t know how much time had passed but suddenly, Vicente kissed me lightly on the corner of my mouth.
It was a kiss so delicate, tender and soft it felt like the wind.
“Yes Ines.” He said breathlessly, his eyes full of raw emotion. “I am one of those men. And I’m sorry it took me so long to realize it.”
- Writer
