“Good job,” I say, kissing his cheek.
He nods once, no humor on his face. We get out of the car, Aiden keeping his back firmly against the Rover. Benson steps forward, taking his permanent spot to Aiden’s right.
Javier crosses the street and jogs to us. He is wearing the same shiny shoes, dark jeans and blue shirt that he wore for the painting session.
“Hey, girl of the hour!” He ruffles my hair, giving me a tight hug. I hug him back awkwardly because Aiden is holding my other hand, not at all gently.
“Mr. Hale, good to see you again,” Javier says politely, extending his hand.
“Mr. Solis,” Aiden responds in his most even tone, releasing my hand and shaking Javier’s.
“It was really good of you to help us out. We’d have been fine with carnitas but Isa will like this more.” Javier smiles, tilting his head to me. There is a strange tightness in his smile.
“My pleasure,” Aiden says. Javier nods, looking back at me with that same smile. He arches his brows once and glances at his shoes. He looks almost self-conscious.
“Well, I, for one, hope Maria’s carnitas are there,” I say in case this is a reaction to Aiden’s wealth, much like my own. “Otherwise, I’m not even coming in.”
Aiden and Javier both smile, Aiden politely, Javier awkwardly. Javier recovers first. “Well, Mr. Hale, come on in, try the carnitas for yourself. Isa, let’s go. The girls are in a tizzy.”
I look at Aiden. His face is hard steel, his shoulders radiating thermonuclear tension.
“Umm, Javier, actually, it’s going to be just me. Aiden has to work…something came up with one of his Tokyo deals…time difference and all.” I try to keep my voice as even as possible but inside I feel like fermenting sulfur—smelly and slightly toxic. I hate lying to Javier.
His eyebrows knit together—one big, bushy painting brush. He stands straighter. My palms start sweating as I recognize his big-brother stance. It’s the same one he adopts when he hears about someone bullying Bel at school.
He frowns at Aiden. “But this is her party! You’re the big boss, you can’t change things around so you can come? She’s worked really hard for this.”
Aiden’s jaw locks, the snap of his teeth almost audible. His eyes darken with fury and narrow at the corners. Did Javier notice the clenched fists?
“No, I cannot change my prior commitments, Mr. Solis.” His voice is glacial. “I trust that she will be in good hands with you,” he adds, commanding—not asking.
Javier moves a step close to me. “She’s been in good hands with us for four years, Mr. Hale,” he says, both like a promise and a rebuff.
I decide to intervene. “And now I’ve got all these people ready to spoil me rotten.” I clap, my voice high enough to shatter the museum windows. “I’m a jammy girl. Get a move on, Javier, I fancy some carnitas.”
Javier looks bewildered. “Did you just use British slang?”
“Umm, yes, I reckon I did!” Good, that seems to distract everyone! Aiden is smiling without his dimple. Javier is blinking furiously. I skip to Aiden and rest my hands on his tense chest, feeling his strong hands clutching my waist like they are speaking words of their own.
“Thank you for everything,” I tell him.
“Be careful. And don’t forget your presents and your camera.”
“Oh, bloody hell! Thank you for reminding me.”
Benson opens the trunk and takes out the enormous cardboard box that contains all the turquoise gifts. I march to pick it up but all three give me a glare that says plainly drop it or ICE will be the least of your worries. Aiden nods once at Benson, who takes off toward the museum faster than Javier and I can blink.
“See you later, Mr. Hale,” Javier says, and follows Benson. I have a feeling he just gave us a moment alone.
I rise on my tiptoes to kiss Aiden expecting just a peck on the lips with Javier around. But his hands fist in my hair, and he kisses me once, hard. No extravagant dips or holds. Just a mouth-to-mouth kiss, like an exchange of air or a secret sign. And because of that, it leaves me equally breathless. I don’t want to leave him out here by himself when the rest of my world is inside. Hydrogen, 1.008—
“Have you reached magnesium yet?” he says.
How does he know? “No, just started your chemical namesake.”
“Toxic uranium?”
I pretend to smack his chest. “No! Helium. Nontoxic, rare on earth, and escapes easily.” I reach on my toes again and kiss his scar. “Don’t escape, Aiden.” I love you, I tell him with my eyes and run after Javier and Benson lest the words burst out on their own.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Spartan
Javier pauses at the double doors of the English Silver gallery. Salsa music floats from the inside. His eyes are deep, his eyebrows furrowed.