Chapter 21 #2
“Why, scared I’ll steal her away?” he taunts. As if Tania would touch him with a 10 foot pole when I know she thinks he’s like an oily Ken doll.
“Not at all,” I reply easily. “See, the thing about women you don’t seem to get is you don’t steal them, you earn them.
Tania doesn’t take kindly to people giving her a hard time for no reason, which you’ve already done.
She was pissed and so upset that day you called her into the office.
She may seem sweet and slightly quiet but she has fire to her that I love.
I’m more concerned that your fragile ego won’t be able to handle the humiliation she would dole out if you try with her after what you did.
So if you’re smart, you will leave both of us the hell alone.
Anything that needs to be said to us can come from Jacob, or if it’s related to our work for the day, from our loaders or through the electronic system.
If you don’t, Jacob will hear this recording and you will be out of a job.
I don’t want to be responsible for a person getting fired, even you, but I will have zero issues doing it if you pull anything.
I mean anything. Do not even look at her.
” My control over my rage at this douche is starting to slip, and it takes everything to get it back in check.
He looks like he wants to argue, but then he glances at the phone in my hand and visibly thinks better of it.
“Fine,” he seethes. “Now get out and get to work.”
“Gladly,” I retort. Jesus fucking Christ, what a small, awful man. When I leave his office, I feel his eyes boring holes into my back. Tania immediately comes running up to me when I shut the door to his office.
“Everything ok?” she asks nervously.
“I’ll tell you everything later, now’s not the time,” I tell her in a low voice. She nods, searching my face for any clues before she squeezes my arm.
“Ok, well have a good day out there. I’ll see you back here.” I lean down and give her a quick kiss.
“See you back here, sweetheart. Be careful out there.” We finish up our prep and head out in our trucks for the day soon after.
I purposely make sure I go through my route as quickly as possible without sacrificing doing a good job to spite that asshole.
I’m still livid about the exchange, and a huge part of me wants to send the recording to Jacob right now.
I promised I wouldn’t though, as long as he leaves us alone.
When my day is done, I find that I beat Tania back to the hub.
She gets in not long after me, and we close out our days quickly before heading to my car.
As soon as her car door shuts and we’re on our way, she angles toward me in the seat.
“Well, don’t keep me in suspense here! Tell me everything about what Don said, because you looked ready to kill someone. I’ve never seen you so mad.” Her anxiety is clearly vibrating through her and she’s almost bouncing in her seat from nerves.
“Long story short, he likes you and hates that we’re together. He tried to give me some bullshit about me being too slow on my routes, but I know that’s not the case. So I called him out on it.” Her jaw drops, her mouth working but no sound coming out. Finally, she’s able to speak.
“Holy shit. I would never have gone out with him, not my type at all. He couldn’t have taken too kindly to that, I’m surprised you still have a job,” she says, her voice full of concern now. I give her a little wink.
“Always have receipts, sweetheart. I recorded him and if he pulls anything with either of us, Jacob will hear it and fire him. I told him to stay the hell away from us, that anything work related can come electronically, through Jacob, or our loaders.” Her brows hit her hairline.
“Is that legal?”
“To quote the great Lin Manuel-Miranda, everything is legal in NJ,” I tell her with a wicked grin. “I explained to him that we have a one party consent law here, and it’s not like I’m using the recording to extort anything from him. I just want to keep him out of our sight.”
“You did not just quote Hamilton to me,” she says, shaking her head and burying it in her hands, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter. “You have a vicious side, baby, and I don’t hate it. I kind of wish I could have seen his face when he found out you recorded him.”
“It was completely priceless, he went tomato red. I’m only vicious when it comes to protecting you and the cats,” I tell her.
She looks at me with a small, conspiratorial smile, and I know that smile means that she would do the same for me if necessary.
Damn if that doesn’t warm every part of my soul to know someone would go to bat for me like that.
Then her face gets pensive. “I’m getting out of there and officially starting at Living Arts as soon as possible. I don’t really want to be around him at all, even though you warned him to not come near us. That’s not a good work environment to be in.”
“I was thinking the same. I’m going to job hunt, maybe ask about a transfer to a different hub or see if Taran could put a word in for me at his old UPS hub. The recording will hopefully keep the peace until we’re able to move on. No matter what, we’ll be ok, yeah?”
“Yeah, we will be,” she affirms, giving my thigh a squeeze. I see a text come through from my mom on the touchscreen in my car, so I press it to hear it.
Mijo, I didn’t want to bother you at work, but I have lots of soup and a big helping of cilantro lime chicken and rice in to-go containers for you and Tania. Your sisters have already taken some, so come and get it while you can
I look at Tania and she’s smiling so fondly.
“Guess we’re stopping by your parents’ on the way home, huh?”
“How can we turn down her cilantro lime chicken?”
We aren’t too far out of the way, so I talk text my mom back to let her know we’re happy to stop by. When we get there, my mom comes bustling toward us for hugs in what looks like a tennis outfit. In 29 years I don’t think I’ve ever seen the woman pick up a racket.
“Mami, what’s with the workout gear?”
“Papi and I are trying pickleball for the first time with our friends Sally and Ed. It’s why I can’t have you all stay for a sit down dinner, we’re meeting them in half an hour. I did all of this meal prepping though and wanted to make sure everyone got some.”
I hug her as I tease her. “When was the last time you picked up a racket?”
She scoffs, “I have to start somewhere.” She hugs Tania. “What about you, Mija? Are you going to tease me about trying pickleball?” She’s grasping Tania’s shoulders with pure affection though and it makes me melt.
Tania holds her arms up in surrender. “I’ll leave the jokes to your son, I am NOT getting in the middle, but I think it’s a great sport to play,” she says on a laugh. My dad comes out then and slips his arm around my mom’s waist. He’s in joggers, a moisture wicking shirt, and baseball hat.
“No making fun of my little number cruncher for trying to be athletic for once,” my dad says, kissing her temple while she swats him. “Come get your food. What’s new with you two?”
“I don’t think I got to tell you both, but I did end up getting into art classes at the community college. I’m excited to start in the fall.”
“That will be fantastic, mijo,” my dad says.
He’s looking at me with a ton of pride for the first time in a while.
This is all he wanted, and we were both too stubborn or proud to get to this point before.
It gives me even more motivation to spend more time on my art.
I’ve been sketching so much lately, and it completely soothes my restless brain and body.
I credit the amazing woman next to me as the inspiration, it was her encouragement that had me pick up my pencils again after way too long.
She brings out the best in me and gives me the courage to show all of my many facets, not just the fun and goofy side.
With a big hug, my dad hands me the food containers, and then my mom is shooing us out the door.
She hugs us both fiercely before saying, “Wish me luck making a fool of myself on the court!” I kiss her cheek.
“All jokes aside, I love that you’re trying new things, Mami.
You’ll do great.” Tania echoes me, and both of our cheeks get a pat before we head home.
Home. The home that feels so full of love and life now that it makes my heart want to burst. I have the woman of my dreams, those two adorable furballs, food made with love from my mom, and approval from my dad.
My job isn’t fancy, and maybe I’m not the smartest or most accomplished, but I feel like I’m the goddamn richest man on earth with everything I have.