Chapter 5
FIVE
Carlos picked up the phone on the fourth ring.
“Hey, Mom.” His tone was clipped, on edge. He was mad at me. I just knew it. Angry that I’d chosen Flirty Flings BookCon over him on such a big weekend.
My spine stiffened. “What’s wrong?”
“These damn refs keep penalizing our team!” In the background, irate families booed. Lacrosse parents were the worst. Or best. Depending on who was on your side.
“What’s the score?”
“Zero. Zero. Because of the fucking refs!”
I winced and yanked the blaring phone away from my ear.
“Language,” I snapped. Though, it was more out of habit. Carlos was old enough to do whatever he wanted. Plus, those fucking refs were annoying.
“Why is everything so quiet? Aren’t you supposed to be with Yaz and Katie?”
I’d tucked myself away from the busy corridor where the three ballrooms emptied out to.
“I needed to use the restroom and figured I’d check in on you guys.
” If I went to the bathroom after our conversation, then this wouldn’t be a lie.
But I had to say something. I didn’t want to sound desperate.
Or to make him think I was spending my entire vacation worrying about him and his brothers instead of having a good time.
“We’re fine, Mom. The boys are kicking ass. Well, sort of. We’ll FaceTime you later. Go have fun. I’m begging you.”
“I am having fun.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“I am!”
“Good. You deserve it. Tell Yaz she owes me 20 bucks.”
“For what?”
“We had a bet to see how soon you’d call today. She said you’d call right away, but I said you’d try to hold off and let us have our space. I win.”
I scoffed noisily. At that very moment a random woman walked by. She threw an offended glance my way. I held up the phone and mouthed, “My son.” Her face morphed with understanding. She wiggled her phone in silent camaraderie.
“I’m going to hang up, Mom. Grandma Mary just bought nachos from the concession stand.”
“Nachos? It’s like 9 am there.”
“Is there a wrong time to eat nachos?”
“Well . . . no . . . but—”
“Gotta go. Love you!”
The line went dead.
I sighed and leaned against the wall. It certainly didn’t seem like the kids were too worried about me or mad that I left. Besides, my mom was there, which meant they were going to be well fed and spoiled rotten.
I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt. Everyone was fine.
Everyone but me.
It seemed like everyone’s lives were moving on.
My ex was remarrying. Carlos was loving college life.
The twins were like two tornadoes tearing through my house at random.
Everyone was in a constant state of forward motion but me.
I lived in the same house. I slept in the same bed.
Hell, I hadn’t even bought new underwear in who knew how long.
When I did try to switch things up, I ended up going viral.
A text brightened my screen.
Katie
We’re about to meet Marcos Medina now! Where are you?!
Marcos Medina’s honeyed voice played in my mind.
And then I thought about that damn doll.
I took the business card out of my pocket and scanned the QR code under the description. Reviews for BookCon Carry-On filled my screen. Every single review was five stars.
OMFG. My life is forever changed.
My legs have been quivering for weeks!
IF I COULD GIVE MY EXPERIENCE(S) SIXTY-NINE STARS I WOULD.
Thank the Gods I listened when I heard my name called.
My spine straightened. When they heard their name called? This was getting too strange.
A text banner popped up on the top of my screen.
Yazmine
Bitch. Where are you?
I winced and raced back into the ballroom. I took a sharp right and all but sprinted to meet the girls who were giggling at the front of Marcos Medina’s line.
“There she is!” Katie exclaimed. “Marcos, this is your biggest fan, Victoria.”
“Well, hello, Victoria,” he crooned.
I had been wrong. The voice calling my name sounded nothing like Marcos’s. The voice whispering my name was so much sexier.
“Your friends have told me all about you,” Marcos teased.
I shimmied, enjoying the attention for what it was, a bit of fun. “I bet they did.”
With an overconfident grin, Marcos rested an elbow on the table and recited my favorite line—everyone’s favorite line—from Sentient Sex: “Did you come here for me, or are you here so I can make you come?”
We all laughed and clapped, cheering Marcos on. But in the back of my mind, I was thinking about one thing. Going back to BookCon Carry-On.