Chapter 15 Esmeralda
Esmeralda
“No, you’re not,” Esmeralda said.
Ignacio wasn’t going to destroy the first challenge she had received from ángel.
She clenched the cage door harder and tried to jerk it from his grasp. He didn’t budge.
“We made a deal,” he said. “Or are you going to go back on your word like always?”
She barked a bitter laugh. “That’s rich coming from you.”
The parade was picking up speed. The carnival was only half a mile or so outside the city limits. Soon, they’d be rolling into the main square amongst the excited crowds that had gathered to see the extravagant floats…and an ostrich cage bouncing on its axles in the very back.
Ignacio started to jog. “Let me in.”
“No. You’ll ruin the look I’m going for.”
“And what’s that? Are you trying to play the part of desperate dingleberry?”
She sneered. “Beat it, Ignacio.”
“Not until you help me like you said you would. You have to hold up your end of the bargain.”
She glared at him. But Esmeralda already knew she’d lost. Ignacio was as stubborn as a mule when he had his mind set on something.
It had once been one of her favorite things about him.
Like when she’d counted her favorite scarf lost after a strong gust snatched it from her throat.
Ignacio wouldn’t give up until he found it, tangled in the limb of a tall tree.
He brought it back to her, a little worse for wear, but she didn’t care.
In fact, she cherished the scarf even more knowing he’d climbed all the way up to retrieve it for her.
To show her gratitude, she made sure to mend any rips in his sleeves before his father could see. She’d also written him a note and slipped it under his door. Normally, he was the first to write. So, she thought he might find it special that she had taken the lead.
A bit of her softened at the thought of a younger version of him. She eyed the man who was a stranger to her, but also not, and her heart squeezed.
“You may join me, but on one condition,” she said.
“No,” he panted. “No conditions.”
“I can’t have some random person inside a cage with me when I’m dressed like this.
” She gestured toward herself. She knew she looked amazing, thanks to her friends.
And she could tell Ignacio thought so too by the way his eyes went to anything but her.
“I’ll let you in, but you must be in a costume. ”
“I don’t see too many clothing options nearby.”
She smirked. “I’ll make do.”