Stepson 1 (3/4)

On June 24, 2005, I noticed the sweat drops soaking the collar of my shirt. It was hot and even more so while holding little Gonzalo in my arms. The church was small and a powerful beam of light seeped in, illuminating me and my godson. Santi and Marta had been married for three years. Santi chose me as his best man, which brought us much closer together forever.

They eventually separated when Lalo was 16. At first glance, it seemed like he wasn't taking it too badly. Only once during that period did he dare to tell me that his mother's new partner, a certain Eduardo who lived in Pozuelo and was loaded with money, was unbearable to him.

"I understand that my mother doesn't want to be with my father, Uncle Sebas, but the fact that she's with a guy like that... He's such an asshole!"

At 16, Lalo had developed and was becoming a young man with a lot of promise. I felt embarrassed when he came to the pool in my neighborhood and I saw him take off his underwear and put on his swimsuit. Lying on the grass, I watched him get out of the water, using his arms to push himself up the ladder, showing off the muscles in his arms.

I watched him approach: chest, arms, thighs wet and dripping with water, and lie down on his towel next to mine. And I felt terrible when the image of his father naked that distant night came to mind.

The same eyes, a bit darker but with an intense blue... Yes, he had hardly any body hair, just a few incipient hairs between his pectorals. The boy wasn't a bad student, but the university entrance exams were approaching, and we were taking advantage of the summer to review and then take a dip. He wanted to study engineering or something related, like me. So, there couldn't be a better teacher than his godfather.