32. Enrique
Chapter 32
Enrique
W e worked remotely the next day despite being above the company. I was not interested in dealing with all the stares from our subordinates. Yasmeena and I didn’t get a strategy together because I was too busy being scolded by my Amá. This is one of the reasons why I didn’t want the news to get out. I knew my family would be livid that I eloped.
?Hijo, Por qué chingados tuve que enterarme de que te casarías en las noticias? ?Estás intentando matar a tu madre?
After I assured her that I wasn't trying to kill her by eloping, I told her that I planned to tell her before the news blasted the story. The second part wasn’t true but it was far less depressing than the truth.
It didn’t help that Yasmeena isn’t the woman I’ve been with for three years. Not only did I have to explain my marriage as well as I could with a NDA, I had to explain why I didn’t elope with Emily.
My mom didn’t hate Emily but she didn’t love her. They got along with no drama but my sudden departure is still shocking to her. Then came the rebound questions. I was able to appease her by promising to fly her out soon.
None of this would have happened if Yasmeena didn’t want to have a child so badly. I get a nervous flutter in my stomach every time I think about her becoming pregnant. The reminder of why she’s getting pregnant fucks me up if I think about it too much.
Reminders of her mortality keep me up some nights but I wouldn’t tell her that, she’d just say not to worry. If her plan is successful and she doesn’t make it I’ll have to console our child while-it just hit me-I’m missing her as well.
I take the short ribs out of the oven and continue to work on the pasta. The food preparation busies my mind enough to get rid of the intrusive thoughts. Yasmeena is on her laptop making notes about God knows what.
”Dinner will be ready in 10 minutes,” I announce.
“Okay, I have get-to-know-each-other questions.”
“Didn’t think you’d ever need those, did you?”
“I don’t know every single thing about you, Enrique. These are questions you ask like on a first date.”
“I know you don’t know everything,” I responded as I mixed the sauce. “I don’t expect you to know anything. I’m saying you probably never thought you’d have to ask.”
After one more taste to make sure the flavors are correct, I start moving everything to the plates.
“Oh, that’s for sure. I didn’t even plan on asking whoever else I was going to marry.”
“Your family’s reaction was an unexpected variable?”
“They would’ve known. I had an entire plan but, you know, life.”
“Life? That sounds loaded. Do you want salad or just pasta?”
I pour myself a glass of wine but stop myself from pouring one for Yasmeena once I remember her restrictions due to her meds.
“Just pasta and yeah, I meant cancer but didn’t think it was a subject to bring up right now. Anyways, favorite color?”
“I don’t have one. If you must put something, go with…” I stop to think about some of the shit I chose for room design. “Just put gray. I guess. I’ve heard that wearing purple colors would enhance my eye color. Can’t say I’ve tried it.”
“Okay, gray,” she types it on her computer. “We’ll put that to a test so that way I can see if it’s true. Second question, what was your childhood dream job?”
“Are you going to answer any of these questions? I’m sure I said a lot of bullshit when I was little, might be a question for my mom. As far as I remember, it was about 1998 when saw the first episode of TRL-”
“TRL? What’s that?”
I chuckle since I forget about the age gap sometimes. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to forget that I’m constantly being bossed around by someone almost a decade younger than me.
“Total Request Live. It was a show where a VJ -Video Jockey-would show the top requested music videos, interview celebrities, and talk to fans. I wanted to be the next Carson Daly. You should know who that is at least,” I explain as I move everything to the table and then sit across from her.
“Bread and butter?” I offer.
“I heard of him, somewhat. And no thank you. And yes, I’ll answer the questions too. I don’t have a favorite color but I favor black. My childhood dream was to be an equestrian. Next question, wha-”
“Equestrian? Do you still ride when you can?”
“No, I haven’t ridden in months. Next question, left or right side of the bed?”
A low level of sadness hits me again. If she was riding until recently, I have to assume the cancer is to blame. I’m not sure if I want to open up the discussion about her illness, so respond to the next question instead.
“We slept in the same bed last night.”
“I know but I’m reading off the questions. Fine, left side of the bed then. Next one,
“The actual answer is the side Yasmeena doesn’t want because we both know you’re more particular. Try your food.”
Yasmeena eats a bite and waits until she’s done chewing to speak again. “I’ll ignore that. Next, hmm, no skip that one, not important.”
“What’s not important? I’m glowing from how you just raved about what I’ve spent all afternoon cooking for you.”
“It’s really good, thank you.” She takes another bite. “It’s just a question about relationships. Like I said, we can skip it.”
“The more you want to skip it the more I become curious about the question.”
“The question is what is something in past relationships you needed to work on? See, we can skip it.”
“I’ll answer. I can be stubborn, especially when I feel like I’m right about something. It can be endearing and frustrating. While I cannot fully change who I am at the core, I feel like ‘work’ is constant and varies by partner. What worked for me and Emily won’t work for me and you. Overall, I just strive to listen to my partner and try my best to make sure I’m fulfilling her needs.”
“Okay, since you’re answering, I’ll answer as well. I needed to work on choosing better. Someone who couldn’t be controlled by my family. I do however have other hang ups, like my communication could be a little better. Being honest too with things but I guess I did change that a bit since you know about my disorder and diagnosis. Next, first impressions.”
“Your family definitely can’t control me,” I joke as I digest everything she said, “Thank you for sharing with me,” I tell her. “My first impressions of you?”
“Yeah. You can be honest.”
“Beautiful but aloof. Smart and brutally honest.”
“My first impression of you was level-headed, meticulous, and honest. Oh, your eyes. Next, what’s your ideal weekend?”
“Wait. What about my eyes?”
“You have very expressive eyes and them being the color they are, adds an effect to it.”
“An effect, huh? My ideal weekend is complete peace. No work, arguments, or worry. Just rest, good food, and exceptional love making. Yours?”
“Uh, wor-”
“Yas, if you say work for an answer I’m confiscating your laptop.”
Yasmeena glares at me before continuing.
“Fine, I don’t have one. Next question, any hidden talents?”
“What I heard is that we need to do things on the weekend to find out what you like. No hidden talents I can think of I can tango but I wouldn’t call it a hidden talent.”
“That’s cool. It’s not an easy dance to learn and what do people do on the weekends? I don’t think I have hidden talents either.”
“Not work. That’s step one.”
“If you’re not working, what are you supposed to be doing? Just staring at the walls?”
“It’s a concept called fun. First, you must know what’s fun or relaxing to you and go from there. But yes, there have been weekends where I’ve done absolutely nothing.”
“Have you met me? I don’t know what relaxing means.”
I eat a little more of my food and take a sip of wine before responding. “Now that you have me, I’ll show you.”
“Okay. There’s a lot of questions but I’m sure we have some time to go through them. Let’s talk about how we’re going to be in public.”
I grab my wine and stand to move to the other side of the table and sit next to her. Yasmeena narrows her eyes at me as I push down on her laptop to close it. I pick up her fork and get some of the meat, cheese, and pasta then steer the fork towards her face.
“Eat my damn food, woman.” There is no bark to my tone as I said it softly. “I cooked for four hours for you.”
“You don’t have to feed me, I’m still eat-”
I cut her off as I slipped the food in her mouth. Yasmeena gives me an evil eye while she chews but it’s more adorable than anything.