Chapter 34 #2
“Oh, I love it. It can be taxing at times, as can any job, I suppose. Some days I get to read an amazing book and help promote it, and some days I’m dealing with scheduling issues and legal problems with an author. Every day is something different. How about you? What do you do?”
Her smile was so bright the entire time Miguel was talking about his work as an electrician. She nodded and interjected when necessary, asking more questions and seeming truly interested in what he had to say. She just fit in so perfectly.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to use the restroom.” Cara smiled and leaned over to kiss me on the cheek, but I turned at the last second so she landed on my lips instead.
I watched her walk away but my attention turned to my brother when I heard his voice. “Publishing? Does she just read all day?”
I frowned at him. “Excuse me?” I asked.
He shrugged. “What?”
“What’s your deal, Miguel? You’ve been acting weird since we got here. Do you have a problem with my girlfriend or something?”
“I don’t have a problem with her, I just don’t know if she’s good enough for you. I mean, you’ve been together for how long? And we’re just now meeting her? Is she ashamed of us or something?”
“Oh my god, what the hell are you talking about? Good enough for me? I’m a grown ass adult, you know that, right? And ashamed of you? Have you lost your mind? Why would you think that?”
“Because she’s white and you’re not, V. Has she ever dated a latina before?”
“Whoah, Miguel. That has nothing to do with anything. I hadn’t brought her over before because we are still new and I didn’t know if it would scare her off. Her being white has nothing to do with the fact that you’re just now meeting her. I don’t care about that and you shouldn’t either.”
“I don’t, but does she?”
“No. If she did, she wouldn’t be here. And back to her job. What are you saying?”
“I’m just saying everyone else you brought home, no matter how short lived the relationship was, had real jobs, so I have to wonder what her intentions are.
Like, is she just looking for a good time?
Does she care about you? Does she respect you?
Does she believe in you and who you want to be as a person?
You have to think about these things, Veronica.
You’re not getting any younger, you know. ”
“Veronica? What the hell is this? Are you trying to give me the father talk right now? Ser Serio. What we are doing is none of your business. I wouldn’t have brought her here if she was just a hook up, for the record.
And I am an adult. You are aware of that, right?
I know what I deserve and what I don’t. Also, real jobs?
What is that supposed to mean, and why does everyone keep saying that? ”
“Everyone? Who else said that?”
I rolled my eyes, feeling more irritated by the second. Why was this even a conversation? “Nico. We were talking at work the other day and he basically said the same thing except saying she was too good for me.”
“Well, Nico’s a smart man, Vera. Except that you’re too good for her. You own your own company too, V, and I don’t want her to take advantage of how hard you work for your money. I love you and I only want the best for you.”
“I appreciate that, Miguel. I really do, but I don’t appreciate the way you’ve been treating her.
I really care about her, and I don’t want to lose her because you don’t think she’s good enough.
She owns her own company. She works just as hard as I do, if not harder.
Just because she doesn’t work with her hands, doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a real job.
And if you want to be technical about it, she makes more than me, but I don’t care about that and you shouldn’t either.
So when she comes back, I want the attitude gone and I want you to start respecting her more. Got it?”
“Damn, V. I’ve never heard you talk to Miguel that way before. You must really have it bad for this woman, huh?” I turned to Estephan with a scowl before it softened at his smile.
“She means a lot to me, but so do you guys. I love you and respect you, but I need you to give her a chance.”
“Fine, V. If she means that much to you, I apologize. I just don’t want you to get hurt and you two seem so different.”
“I know. Trust me, I know how different we are. She’s giving us a chance and I don’t want anything to scare her off, including my overprotective brother.”
“I promise I’ll try to back off. I am your brother, okay? I can only do so much.”
“?Ay dios mío! That’s good enough, I guess.”
“Well, we love her!” My cousin Camilla said with a smile.”
Maria nodded in agreement. “Yeah! She’s gorgeous and so sweet. But the way she stood up to Miguel? She’s a tough one. She’ll definitely keep you in line, V”
Wasn’t that the truth? Cara held a lot of power in and out of her office. I just nodded. “She’s perfect.” That basically summed up how I felt about her. In every single way inside and out, to me, she was just perfect.
“Aww, I love that! So, are you in love with her? Your brother doesn’t seem like a fan, huh?”
I groaned. He was going to get over whatever protective beast he currently had inside him. Maybe. “He’s just protective. But we had a talk, and hopefully he’ll back off.”
“Never. He’s your brother. No one will ever be good enough for you. And you’re in love, aren’t you? Anyone with a pair of eyes can see that.”
I opened my mouth to say something but Cara came back before I had the chance. Would I have admitted the truth, or deflected?
“So, Cara. How is your relationship with your family?” Estephan asked.