Chapter 10
CARLO
I’ve been an ass with my flirting, as evidenced by Tania slightly pulling away.
I need to get my shit together and not lose my mind at the sound of her moaning over arepas, it’s not fair to her when she’s been clear she wants to take it slow.
Thankfully, she doesn’t seem too mad, giving me a genuine smile before she takes another bite of her dinner.
“These are seriously the best things I’ve ever eaten,” she declares.
“Gage’s abuela worked hard on the recipe ages ago back in Columbia and brought it here. It’s the family’s pride and joy, and their biggest bread and butter at this place.”
“As it should be,” she says with a firm nod. We finish up eating and our drinks, switching to sipping water for a few minutes while we people watch.
“I normally don’t like going out to crowded bars, but this place manages to feel intimate and cozy, not stifling, even when it’s this busy. The atmosphere is amazing,” she remarks.
“That’s why it’s one of my favorite places to hang out. That, and my obvious bromance with Gage.”
“So you’re not much for crowded bars either?” she asks with a laugh.
“Nah, I got over that scene quickly after it was legal for me to even be at the clubs and bars. I’d rather be outdoors in the quiet for the most part. I think it comes with having a loud, crowded house growing up. It made me appreciate my solitude more.” She nods thoughtfully.
“I’m the same, but I think it’s more because I’ve had both, and solitude is so much easier, even if it gets lonely sometimes.
I was an only child until I was 8. Then in my first placement in the system, I got a foster sister and foster brother and it was a shock.
He was their older, biological child and hated me and my foster sister.
He made life so miserable for us that we were placed in another home fairly quickly.
Luckily it was together, because my foster sister Celeste and I are still close.
” Her warm chocolate eyes are unfocused and far away, clearly dwelling on her past.
This woman. Little by little, I’m starting to piece her together.
She’s experienced such unthinkable loss, and been through so much, that now she simply avoids things that give even a whiff of possibility of experiencing more pain.
It’s not just about avoiding a mess at work, it’s protecting her peace at all costs in every aspect of her life.
She finds control and peace in her art, something no person or circumstance can take from her or change about her.
Her dream is to help other people express themselves and bring them joy through her art on their skin.
The cats immediately wormed their way into her heart when they showed up at work, so I think it’s just humans she’s scared to love and then lose.
It shifts my selfish view that instead of being skittish and mistrustful of me as a potential boyfriend, it’s more that she’s afraid of the potential pain of any close relationship she goes into.
She needs time to know whether it will be worth that possibility of pain. I’ll happily give her that time.
“That’s completely understandable. So where is Celeste now? You said you’re still close?” She shifts, and I know another truth that’s hard for her is coming. She lifts her chin, already looking a little defiant, daring me to judge her before she’s even spoken.
“She’s had a tougher life than me. She was in the system for years and years before she was placed in the same home I was.
Our second foster family together got her a little help, but it wasn’t enough.
She still has a lot of anger and big feelings she doesn’t know how to handle, and she’s always been a brawler.
A few months ago, she was groped at a bar and repeatedly told the guy to fuck off.
He didn’t, he kept grabbing her and bothering her.
She beat the crap out of him, because unwanted touching is triggering for her and he wouldn’t stop in spite of her protests.
Like, she knocked out some teeth, that’s how hard she went.
Turns out he’s some state senator’s son with big connections.
He pressed aggravated assault charges, and she’s been in jail because the bail is too high for me to pay.
Her defense attorney was horrifically incompetent and doesn’t think anything can be done to lessen her sentence or get the charges lowered on an appeal after the first judge brought down the hammer.
” It immediately clicks why she was looking up NY defense attorneys that day a couple of weeks ago.
“You want to help her.” It’s not a question. She nods. I’m learning that Tania will go to the ends of the earth for people she loves, and it makes me ache for her even more.
“I’m trying to find a good defense attorney that will take her case pro bono because they believe her and want to help.
I know it’ll be like attempting to find a unicorn, but I have to try.
Her sentence is 3 years. She’s been picked up for fighting before and been slapped with community service, not 3 years in prison.
” I don’t want to give her false hope without talking to my dad, but I’m sure he knows people, either in his firm or that he went to law school with, who would take Celeste’s case.
In the meantime, I’ll just support her however she needs.
“She’s lucky to have you, Tania.”
“I’m lucky to have her too, she saved me when I was growing up.
In the first home we were in, that foster brother hated us so much that he got violent.
She took the brunt of it to protect me, and she’s had my back ever since.
This is the least I can do. It’s important to me,” she says quietly.
Celeste took the brunt of it, but that means Tania still experienced some violence toward her from this asshole.
My fists clench and she notices. I’d really like to find out who he is and show him what violence is, but this is ancient history that Tania probably doesn’t want to dredge back up.
I keep my voice much more placid than I’m feeling right now.
“Then I’ll do whatever I can to help. I’m sure I can figure out something.” I really hope there is some way my dad can help me find an attorney for her. She looks at me with uncertainty.
“You’re not judging me for having a foster sister in jail?”
“Of course not! Give me some credit, Castillo. You have no idea some of the crazy shit I’ve done.
I’m in no position to judge anyone. I want to see her get out of jail quickly because it sounds like bullshit that she was sentenced like that.
” She nods, looking like she’s fighting back tears.
Her hand comes to my shoulder as she looks up at me with those shining, chocolate eyes through thick lashes.
“You’re one of the really good ones, Hernandez,” she says quietly.
My heart thumps rapidly at her touch and her words.
I don’t know how to respond in a way that won’t have her running for the hills like, “please don’t ever move out,” or “you’re the most beautiful, wonderful person I’ve ever met in my life.
” The band luckily saves me and starts one of my favorite cumbia songs, so I give her a smile.
“Want to dance? You were lured here with the promise of seeing my moves.” She nods solemnly.
“That’s the only reason I’m here, so let’s get out there.
” I lead her onto the floor with my hand on the small of her back.
When I find a spot that has some breathing room, I bring her into a hold, my left hand holding her right, and my right arm banded below her shoulder blades.
The music starts to pulse through me as I lead her into the steps.
She stays right with me, her hips swaying, her feet in perfect unison with mine.
We dance like we’ve been doing this our whole lives together.
It’s effortless. Her body is pure relaxed warmth as she moves in my arms, and I want nothing more than to dance with her like this forever.
We dance a few fast songs in a row, enjoying the upbeat music and letting it move through us.
Then the band switches to a slow, quiet tune and we sway a little closer.
“I feel like I’ve been mislead,” I tell her with a playful pout. She laughs. We have our faces close to each other’s ear so we can talk more easily over the music and noise, and her amazing floral scent permeates my nostrils.
“You thought you’d be teaching me? I was dancing in clubs with Celeste before it was even legal for me to be there. I love her to death, but we got into trouble together sometimes.”
“What’s the worst trouble you’ve ever been in?” I ask her. She tilts her head like she’s thinking.