returning {to the past} -crystal

[~echo~]

She smiled at him, tears still in her eyes. He hesitantly kissed her and she obliged, gently kissing him back with her eyes closed.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex closed his eyes and slid his hands to the small of her back, pressing the length of her body against his. He kissed her slowly, savoring the moment right then, making up for the ten years he'd lived without her.

[~echo~]

Anita let the kiss go on for a while, then she pulled away gently, still touching his face very carefully. "I just want to look at you," she whispered huskily.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex smiled faintly. "That good-looking, am I?"

[~echo~]

She laughed softly. "Better than I remembered," she teased, hugging him again.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex brushed her dark hair behind her ear and smiled. "I think you've gotten more beautiful even since I was you less than a week ago."

[~echo~]

She smiled softly and laid her head against his chest. "Do.... do you want to stay here tonight?" she asked tentatively. "Just so you could get away from your family for a while."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex let out a slow breath. She had no idea how tempting that was, but... "I don't know," he said. "I worry about them... especially Carlos."

[~echo~]

Anita nodded, understanding. "No, I get it. I know how you feel... something might happen. If you need to go, then you can."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex took her hand and ran his thumb over the back of it. Then he kissed her fingers. "I'll be back," he said. "I'm not leaving you ever again."

[~echo~]

Anita smiled at him, her eyes soft. "Good." Then, without warning, she pulled him into her embrace and kissed him once more. After a sweet moment, she released him and smiled at him. "I'll see you."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

That kiss almost made him change his mind and stay. But if there was anything that was as or more important as Anita, it was his family. He kissed her forehead and then forced himself to step away. "I love you, 'Nita," he murmured. "I'll see you tomorrow."

[~echo~]

"I love you too, Alejandro," she said softly. As soon as she saw him out of her apartment, she sank down onto the couch and fell asleep with the smell of him lingering on the edge of her dreams.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex forced himself to stare ahead, not glancing back and doing his best to not let his thoughts stray to her. When he got back to the motel, he checked on his mom and Carlos--both asleep--and then slid under the covers of his own bed.

[~echo~]

Anita awoke the next morning, bustling around and getting ready for work tomorrow. Even though it was Sunday, she had to finish a few things for her bosses. She finished up around eleven in the morning and then settled down on the couch with a book.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex ended up being shaken awake by his brother, sunlight streaming into the room through the window. "Yo, man. You gonna sleep all day?" Carlos asked.

Alex started and sat upright, almost slamming his head into his brother's. "What time is it?"

"Almost noon," Carlos said. He'd jerked back as Alex sat up and now stood with his arms crossed.

[~echo~]

Anita kept staring listlessly at her phone, hoping that Alex might call, but she didn't want to disturb him or anything. She continued reading until she dozed off.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Alex scrambled out of bed and staggered around as he got dressed. "Watched over mama, ok Carlos?" he said, already halfway out the door. He heard a non-committal sound from his brother just before the motel room door closed behind him.

[~echo~]

Anita continued to sleep, her book resting on her slowly rising and falling chest.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

As Alex walked to his truck, he pulled out his phone and dialed Anita's number. He wondered what she must think, what with him not calling all morning.