Chapter 33 #2
“Fallon, it’s okay. We’ve been over this. We were all young, and things were weird between you two. It wasn’t like we slept together. There is literally no reason for you guys to keep apologizing. Please let it go. I have! It was a long time ago.”
“I know, I know. I just still feel terrible about the whole thing. But you’re right. If you’ve let it go, I should too. I will eventually, okay? But in the meantime, I have something else to apologize for. I was going to call you tonight, but I’m glad I caught you now.”
“Oh, no. What?” I asked nervously.
“Rebecca. Ugh, I hate even saying her name. Rylee told me what happened. I can’t believe she flirted with you.
I mean, I can, you’re gorgeous and she’s Rebecca.
I just mean I can’t believe the fucking nerve.
I’ve already had to calm Mackenzie down after Rylee told her.
She went ballistic. I mean, face red, yelling and cursing.
It was bad. She wanted to go find her, but I made her promise me she wouldn’t.
She’s also in the past and I don’t want to give her any more power.
I’m glad Rylee handled things and I’m so sorry that happened. ”
“Oh. That. That was a little weird, but I appreciated that Rylee had your back. I also love how protective Mackenzie can get with you. It’s cute as hell, but seriously, there’s no need to apologize.”
She smiled and stood up. “I better run before Kenzie finds me and literally carries me out. It was so good seeing you, Cara. You look happy.”
I returned the hug she gave me. “I can totally see her doing that.” I laughed. “You take care of yourself, Fallon. Rest more! And I am happy.”
“Good. It’s been a long time coming. I hope it sticks around, you know? Anyway, I’ll call you later. Bye.” I waved her off and she was out the door.
“Yeah, me, too,” I said to the empty cafe. I stayed a little longer after Fallon left before I headed home.
When I got settled into my favorite red silk pajama set, I carried my freshly made hot chocolate to the couch and started checking emails before I stopped myself.
I had Vera’s voice in the back of my head telling me I could check my email tomorrow.
In the back of my mind I could admit that I maybe worked a little too much, and that maybe it was a way to keep myself distracted from the fact that I was single and alone.
If I focused on work, I didn’t have time to sit alone on my couch and feel emptiness.
Now that I had Vera, I could’ve afforded to take a few hours off. So, instead of checking my email, I decided to text her:
Me: I hope you’re happy!
Vera: When I’m talking to you, I am.
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t hide my smile.
Vera: Is everything okay, though? Why do I have the feeling that wasn’t a happy statement?
Me: No, everything’s not fine! You’ve infiltrated my thoughts and you’re not even here!
Me: I was going to get work done, but your voice barged into my head and made me change my mind. I hope you’re happy! If my work suffers, it’s because of you!!
Vera: Oh, princesa. Your work isn’t going to suffer because you take a night off. I’m proud of you, baby. Also, I can rectify that issue if you’re just dying to see me. I wouldn't want you to suffer.
Me: I know it won’t, I just have to adjust to time off. Work has consumed my life for years, and now that I have other things going on in my life, I need to find a balance. And I do miss you, actually.
Instead of a reply, my phone rang.
“Hey, you,” I said softly.
“Hey back. Sorry I didn’t want to text anymore. I wanted to hear your voice. Am I bothering you?”
I shook my head, feeling dumb after realizing she couldn’t see it. “Uh, no, not at all. How was your day?”
I couldn’t contain my smile. There was something about her voice that calmed my racing thoughts. I was in deep trouble.
“My day was good. Just got in from taking Nyx on a walk. Ran into those sweet girls from the bookstore. Farrah and Alexis, right?”
“Yeah. They’re sweet.”
“Si. So, what are you up to?”
“I just got home not that long ago. After work, I went to the bookstore and ran into Fallon.”
“Really? How is she? She’s due any day now, right? Shouldn’t she be on bed rest?”
I laughed. “You don’t know Fallon. She’s stubborn. Mackenzie insisted she stayed home to rest, but she snuck out. She also apologized for the Rebecca thing and the date incident for the billionth time.”
“I really hate that name now.”
I laughed. “I know you do.”
“I miss you, princesa.”
I settled into the couch, my heart feeling full. “I miss you, too.”
“So, feel free to say no, but I am requesting your beautiful company tomorrow. My niece is having a soccer game, and I’d love for you to be my plus one.
A few of my brothers and cousins will be there, so it’s going to be low-key.
Again, feel free to say no. I know meeting the family can be huge, and I don’t want to put any pressure on you. It’s just a casual thing.”
I laughed. Only about half a dozen people. Super low-key. As I sat and thought about it, I pulled my lip in between my teeth, toying with the skin.
Meeting the family was a big thing. I’d seen her with her brothers at the gym and they looked very intimidating. What if they didn’t like me because I didn’t look like someone she should be with? What if they didn’t think I was good enough for Vera?
I cleared my throat. If she wanted me there, there was no way I was saying no, despite how nervous I felt. “Of course. I’ll be there.”
“Really? That’s great! It starts at ten, so I’ll pick you up around nine?”
“That sounds good.”
“Good. I’ve got to take Nyx out before calling it a night, so I better let you go. I’ll see you tomorrow. Good night, princesa.”
“Good night, Vera,” I said softly before hitting the end call button.
I sat there for close to five minutes just staring at my phone, fidgeting with my fingers.
Meeting the family. Wow. That was a big thing. I know she said it wasn’t and it was just a casual soccer game, but to me, it was a huge deal. I’d never met the parents before, and I knew how close she was to her brothers.
I’d be fine. If they didn’t like me, she’d break up with me and I’d be wrecked, but I’d be fine. It was going to be fine.
I stood up and made my way to the kitchen. It was not going to be fine, and I was stressed, so I did the one thing that calmed me when I got too much in my head and my thoughts started to spiral like they were now. I baked.
A lot of people in my life didn’t know I baked when I was anxious. Only Blair, Drea, and Eloise knew. Eloise knew only because she had showed up to my kitchen covered in flour and powdered sugar and tears streaming down my face.
Without asking questions, she slowly lowered us to the floor and let me cry on her shoulder.
Eventually, once the tears subsided. I told her I baked when I was anxious.
She’d asked me why I was crying and I told her it was because I had just had a really bad day and I was in my feelings about not having someone to come home to.
After that I really looked at myself in the mirror and decided I’d take a break from dating for a while and focus on work. Little did I know that I’d find Vera a year later.
My absolute favorite thing to make were peanut butter blossom cookies. They were easy and so good I could’ve eaten a whole batch in one sitting.
As I started pulling out the ingredients and preparing the dough, I started thinking about who would be at the game and if they’d like me. I knew her brothers could be protective. For one, they were brothers, and she was their only sister.
For two, I saw how they looked at me at the gym. I didn’t know what they knew, but with the way Vera was looking at me, anyone with eyes could’ve known we had some sort of history.
One of them looked at me like he was threatening me from across the room with his eyes. Was it all in my head, or did he think I wasn’t good enough for his sister?
As I put the dough in the fridge to set for a while, I went to my room to sort out my outfit for the game. I had to impress her family. I just had to.
Family was very important to Vera, and she was important to me.
I wanted them to like me. My biggest thought was that they weren’t going to approve of me either because of how I looked or what I did for a living, and Vera would end things with me because she holds her family’s opinions very close to her heart. They had to like me.