Page 30 of Capicú Summer

He blinks.“Calling me hot? Use me? Look at that.”

“Get over yourself.” I grin, flipping through my app and show him the men who practically fuck their food while cooking. So many likes and comments. “You’re the bait. We post clips of you cooking. You know, doing sexy things with dominoes, shirt open or no shirt at all.” My grin widens. “Exploiting the whole ‘Altura’s hottest player’ thing. Women will flood the comments, and once they’re watching, they’ll bet. The more eyes, the more money.”

Yael laughs, low and surprised. “You want me to thirst trap the neighborhood?”

“I do.”

He shakes his head, smiling despite himself. “Mmm… your idea might be wild enough to work. Dangerous woman you are.”

“Effective,” I correct.

He slides open his notebook and shows me what he’s been working on. Bold red and blue color fills the background, clean lines and domino tiles forming a heart on the brick grey walls.

“It’s not done yet, but I was thinking something like this for the flyers,” he says almost nervously. “Down here I will add the tournament schedule, sponsors, QR codes for bets.”

I lean in to read, our shoulders brushing. The touch sends sparks all through me, making me swallow hard, when his scent invades my lungs. He doesn’t move away, he’s so close I can hear each ragged breath.

“Looks good,” I whisper.

“Yeah?” His voice drops, rougher now.

And when I make the mistake of glancing up, he’s already watching me—that same look he used to give right before saying capicú. Making liquid heat settle in my core. The space between us disappears, and before I can blink, he kisses me.

It’s quick at first, a light caress against my lips, then his tongue traces the seam of my mouth, asking for entry to which I grant with a groan that he swallows within his mouth. The world narrows down to heat and the pulse between us. It’s dangerous to be this high up with our tongues battling for dominance. Then the light flickers— once, twice— and the power cuts out completely.

My eyes fling open, we pull away, breathless with my lips swollen and tingling.

“What the fuck?” He says, looking over the dark city, people are already beginning to emerge from inside their homes, and from where we sit—they can definitely see us. “Guess that’s our cue.”

I smile, still catching my breath… my fucking thoughts. “Tomorrow,” I manage to say. “We’ll finish the plan tomorrow.”

He nods, eyes lingering on mine as I climb off the ledge. “Tomorrow.”

Something twists inside my chest, my hands grow sweaty for the first time in what feels like forever. Altura is quiet… And I’m not sure if I’m planning on the future or starting a fire that will consume me.

* “Mija, qué dichosos son los ojos que te ven,” - Girl, blessed are the eyes that see you.

* “Ven niña juega una mano aquí con estos viejos,” - Come girl, give this old man a hand.

* No puedo estoy ocupada limpiando. - I can’t, I’m busy cleaning.

* concinando - cooking

* No seas tan pendaja - Don’t be such an idiot.

CHAPTER 13

Yael

Present Day

It’s too early for this. Why are you here? Don’t you sleep?

I shake my head, putting on the latex gloves as I head to the kitchen.

If you’re gonna follow me around, come learn how to properly season your meat.

The morning light cuts through the blinds, painting the kitchen in stripes of purple and shadow. It’s early… five a.m. to be exact. My favorite time to wake up, when the world is still quiet and the air smells clean. I roll my shoulders, working the tension between them as I walk to the fridge, mouth open in a deep yawn as I put on the latex gloves.