ꔛ pairing — jermajesty jackson 𝓍 ƒ latina!reader
೯ warning: no warning just fluff & pet names.
೯ summary: jermajesty goes on vacation to his girlfriend’s home country.
old-school salsa blared from a weathered speaker somewhere on the porch, the lively rhythm weaving through the warm evening air. beneath it, the sharp crack of dominoes slamming against the table echoed across the yard, each round ending louder than the last.
your uncles argued passionately over the game, pointing fingers and talking over one another, their voices carrying through the neighborhood while everyone else laughed and watched the chaos unfold.
you sat outside your grandparents' home, sinking into a slightly worn white plastic chair. the scent of fried food lingered in the air, mixing with the faint smell of cut grass and cigarette smoke drifting from somewhere nearby. an ice-cold beer rested in one hand while a freshly made empanada sat in the other, still warm enough to heat your fingertips. a quiet hum of satisfaction escaped you as you took a sip, the cold liquid sliding down your throat and offering brief relief from the humid evening.
across the yard, jermajesty sat at the dominoes table looking more focused than anyone else there. his brows were slightly furrowed as his eyes darted between the pile of dominoes in the center and the ones lined up in front of him, carefully calculating his next move. every now and then one of your uncles would bark something at him in rapid-fire spanish, and despite only understanding about three words total, he'd nod with complete confidence as if
he knew exactly what was happening.
you couldn't help but laugh at the sight. watching him fit in so naturally with your family filled you with a warmth that had nothing to do with the weather.
if you were being honest, this trip back to your home country had made you nervous.
not because jermajesty had done anything to worry you, but because you desperately wanted him to feel comfortable here. spanish wasn't exactly his strong suit, in fact, it wasn't his suit at all but somehow he was managing.
it probably helped that your family had practically adopted him the second he stepped off the plane. they love him so much that they practically forgot you existed.
even his mother, alejandra, hadn't made things easy for him. whenever the two of you were together, she'd slip into spanish and make jokes at his expense, grinning the entire time. jermajesty would immediately narrow his eyes, knowing full well he was being talked about, even if he couldn't understand a single word.
"why are y'all laughing?" he'd ask every single time.
neither of you would answer, which only made him more suspicious.
watching him now, arguing over dominoes with your uncles through a combination of broken spanish, hand gestures, and pure determination, you realized all that worrying had been for nothing.
your relationship with jermajesty would be hitting four years tomorrow, making this trip your anniversary gift in more ways than one. you still remembered the way your eyes filled with tears when he surprised you with the plane tickets weeks ago.
it wasn't just the trip itself, it was the thought behind it. the fact that he listened when you talked about your childhood, your family, your country. the fact that he wanted to experience it all with you.
the memory alone was enough to make your chest warm.
you were so lost in your thoughts that the familiar opening notes of baile inolvidable by bad bunny pulled you back to reality.
without hesitation, you shot up from your chair and made a beeline toward your brown-eyed boyfriend, grabbing both of his hands and tugging him to his feet.
jermajesty blinked at you, already laughing. "where are we going?"
"today is the day you learn salsa."
his eyes widened immediately.
before he could protest any further, you were already guiding him into position.
your feet moved effortlessly with the music, every step flowing naturally, as if the rhythm lived somewhere inside of you. years of family parties, cookouts, and celebrations made it second nature.
jermajesty, however, was fighting for his life.
his eyes remained glued to your feet as he desperately tried to mirror your movements. after nearly stepping on you for the third time, he let out an exaggerated sigh and looked up at you with the most defeated expression.
the sight made you laugh. hard.
"baby," he groaned, shaking his head. "i can't do this. you're moving way too fast."
you smiled and pulled him a little closer, pressing a quick kiss against his lips.
"mi amor, watch my feet."
"that's exactly what i've been doing."
"then stop panicking," you teased. "i'll go slower."
a reluctant smile tugged at his lips.
"okay... but if i accidentally launch you into the ocean, that's on you."
"you'd miss me too much."
your heart fluttered at how quickly he answered.
this time, you slowed everything down.
his hands settled comfortably on your hips while yours rested against his shoulders. little by little, the stiffness left his body. soon the two of you were swaying together, moving with the music instead of fighting against it.
the smile on his face grew wider with every successful step.
"see?" you said proudly. "you're a quick learner."
he looked down at you and smiled, revealing the gap you loved so much.
"nah," he chuckled. "you're just a really good teacher, ma."
before you could respond, he surprised you by spinning you beneath his arm.
a laugh escaped your lips just as the song came to an end.
the two of you froze when applause suddenly erupted nearby.
you turned to find your family staring.
apparently nobody had been paying attention to their dominoes game.
your uncles were clapping. your cousins were cheering. one of your tias was recording on her phone.
your face immediately heated up.
"you stepped on my foot twice."
he leaned down and stole another quick kiss before intertwining his fingers with yours.
eventually, the attention shifted elsewhere and you found your way back to your seats.
"we should head to the beach before it gets too dark," you said.
your colorful bikini peeked out beneath your white ribbed cropped tank top, paired with white linen shorts and the hermès sandals jermajesty had gifted you specifically for this trip.
he looked just as unfairly attractive.
a white tank stretched across his shoulders, showing off his arms, while loose white linen pants and a pair of birkenstocks completed the look. the souvenir hat he'd bought at the airport sat low on his head.
you had to physically remind yourself that your family was still present.
his laugh echoed through the warm evening air.
after saying your goodbyes and promising your family you'd be back later, the two of you started the short walk toward the beach.
the tenminute walk felt much shorter.
you pointed out places from your childhood, sharing stories you'd told him dozens of times before. somehow, he listened with the same attention every single time, smiling as you spoke.
it made your heart ache in the best way.
he loved hearing about where you came from because he loved you.
by the time you reached the shore, the sky had begun melting into shades of orange, pink, and gold.
warm sand slipped beneath your feet.
waves rolled onto the beach in a steady rhythm while distant birds called overhead.
for a moment, neither of you spoke.
you simply stood there together, taking it all in.
"thank you for everything."
his eyes immediately softened.
"for this trip. for loving my family like they're yours. for listening to every story i've told you a hundred times." you squeezed his hand gently. "for always making me feel important."
for a second, he just stared at you. like you were the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. then he stepped closer.
"baby," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear, "there's nothing to thank me for."
"anything for you. always."
the sincerity in his voice nearly brought tears to your eyes.
he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against your lips.
when he pulled away, your foreheads rested together for a brief moment, the sounds of the ocean surrounding you.
and standing there beneath the fading sunset, hand in hand with the man you loved, you couldn't imagine a better way to welcome four years together.
೯ taglist: @cursedbows @invinor @jermajestysbaby @hcwait @redemptioninthe4ethers ( comment to be added )
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