Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
It takes a few seconds for my body to calm down. I’m dying to ask Fernando why I’ve suddenly propelled to the top of his friend list, but for now I’ll have to wait. I exhale deeply and school my face in a way I hope doesn’t appear too frustrated.
After all, not only is his aunt the one who’s footing the bill for the last few days, but she’s also one of the people we need to convince that we’re the real deal.
My hand reaches for Fernando’s. I shuffle closer to him, lace my fingers to his, and squeeze tightly, reassuring him I’m ready for the show to begin.
“Tía Yesenia!” he calls.
She backs the golf cart up and redirects it down the path, parking next to us. She points to her cheek. “I’m still wet, I don’t want to get your suit dirty,” Fernando says.
“Don’t let that stop you. Clothing can be cleaned.
Go on already. Give your favorite tía what she wants.
I haven’t seen you in over a year!” He does as he’s told.
Directing her attention to me, Tía Yesenia holds her arms open and looks at me expectantly.
“You too, Ava. You’re practically part of the family. ”
Her words cause Fernando to cough. He drops my hand, and I wrap my arms around Tía Yesenia. Over her shoulder, I mouth “relax” to him. He gives the slightest bob of the head.
Greetings exchanged, I return to Fernando’s side. He drapes his arm around my shoulder and pulls me closer to his body. “What are you doing here, Tía? Did Mamá send you?”
Tía Yesenia laughs. “I’m not here as her spy. I have a meeting with the hotel’s management. I’m presenting some concept drawings today for the expansion wing. Meeting you here is just a coincidence.”
“Mm-hmm,” he says, not totally convinced.
“Would you two care for a ride back to the lobby? I’m heading that way myself.”
“We’d love it,” I answer, knowing she wants time to speak to us.
“Fantástico. Ava, you sit up front with me. Fernando, you can have the back.”
I take my seat next to her. “Thank you again for gifting us the chance to stay here. The last two days have been a dream.”
She perks up in her seat, backing up and starting the cart toward the main building. “It was nothing. I just hope you had some quality alone time together. Goodness knows you won’t get much of it when you reach Santa Luz.”
“Tía, what do you mean?” Fernando asks.
“Your mamá has quite the schedule planned for you two.”
“But that’s not what we want.” He groans. “Ava is only staying with us two or three days at most. She has her own plans.”
“Fernando, we talked about this,” I gently remind him.
“No, Ava. Mamá can’t take over our visit.”
Tía Yesenia glances in the mirror at her nephew.
“If you want to try asking your mamá to change her plans, good luck. She’s been the most stubborn member of the family since the day she was born.
” She laughs and looks to me. “My sister was two weeks past her due date when she was born. My own poor madre was beside herself. The only way Julissa was coming out was by C-section.”
“Now I know which side of the family that particular personality trait comes from.” I giggle.
Fernando crosses his arms and huffs.
“Was he stubborn as a child?”
“Sí. More so than any of my other nephews. I remember when he was about five years old. His cousin had started taking ice skating lessons. He decided it looked like so much fun that he wanted to take them too. But both his parents said no, he was too young. But I knew my nephew wouldn’t budge.
Every day for weeks after school, he’d find a way to tag along with his cousins to the rink, watch the class, then practice what they had learned when he got home.
” Tía Yesenia turns the cart. “His madre has some videos of him skating around the house in his socks. I’m sure she’d be more than happy to locate them for you if you’re interested, Ava. ”
Twin patches of pink appear on his cheeks. “She doesn’t want to see those.”
“Yes, I do!” I exclaim. “Especially if you were a five-year-old cutie pie.”
“Were?” he challenges. “I’m still a cutie pie.”
“Most of the time,” I tease.
“And what am I when I’m not?”
I take a moment to consider his words. “You’re a koala bear because you’re always napping.”
He smirks.
“You still take long naps?” Tía Yesenia asks.
“Sí,” he says.
Tía Yesenia shakes her head. “So, Ava, tell me, how did you and my nephew get together?”
“Tía, I’ve already told you this stuff,” Fernando whines.
“No. All I’ve heard from you is that you had a girlfriend. Just like your tíos, you leave out all the details.” She rolls her eyes. “Now it’s Ava’s turn to fill me in.”
My body shakes in silent laughter. Fernando mutters under his breath in Spanish.
“Your nephew and I officially got together last month, but before that, we were friends. He was a regular volunteer at my veterinary clinic. Every time we talked, I’d wish we could spend more time together.
I waited for Fernando to make the first move, but he never picked up on my hints, so I asked him out on a date, and he said yes.
” I cross my fingers behind my back, hoping Fernando doesn’t mind I’ve fabricated a few more details than we’d talked about.
“You know me, Tía, I’m terrible at picking up on a woman’s body language,” he adds.
Tía Yesenia laughs. “I’m glad Fernando’s picked a smart go-getter. You’ve given me hope that maybe you’ll be the one who finally gets him to settle down and start a family.”
My ears burn and I cough a little.
“Tía,” Fernando warns.
“What? I’m preparing you for what the rest of the family will say. We want to see you happy and have some babies to spoil.”
“I want to see him happy too, but we’re still in the ‘getting to know you’ stage.” I rub the back of my neck. “Marriage and kids are the last things on our minds.”
“Sí. What Ava said.”
“It’s never too early to have that conversation.” Tía Yesenia pulls to a stop outside the lobby. She turns off the engine and sighs. “But forgive me if I’ve overstepped. I’m just an excited tía.”
“I know you mean well, Tía,” Fernando says gently.
“Give us time. Like Ava said, right now, we’re focused on learning more about one another and growing and developing what we have.
I’d like to hope Ava is the one”—his eyes meet mine, sparkling with warmth, then return to his aunt—“but I can’t give you any answers about the future yet.
” He kisses her on the cheek. “Thank you for the ride.”
As he says that, even I find myself glimmering with hope that I could be the one. He sounds so convincing. An army of butterflies stirs in my stomach. Every time I’ve thought about Fernando recently, I’ve seen him as being more than just a friend. I want our fake relationship to become real.
“Yes. Um, thanks.” I offer her a return hug, forcing myself to focus on the present.
“Are you two leaving for Santa Luz after you check out?”
“I think so. We need to check on our rental car first. It’s still with the mechanic.”
She nods. “Well, if you don’t get it back by two, send me a text. You can have the rental agency pick up the vehicle and I’ll take you home with me.”
Fernando promises we’ll keep her up to date. She waves and drives off.
As we ride the elevators back up to the suite, he runs a hand through his hair. “We’re almost out of time, but you can still back out of being my girlfriend if you want.”
“Nope. I’m not going anywhere,” I insist. Especially now that I’ve realized what I really want. “I liked your aunt a lot. She was blunt, you’ll never mistake what she means or wants.”
“That’s how all my family is.” He leans against the elevator wall. “They’re loud and say exactly what’s on their minds.”
“Good, I can handle it.”
He arches his eyebrow, but doesn’t say anything.
“It’s funny. My family is the complete opposite of yours. I can’t wait for you to meet them.” I face-palm. “Fernando, I didn’t mean for that to slip out. I don’t expect you to meet my family. Outside my sister. Since you’ve already met her.”
He holds up his hand. “Ava, we’re under a lot of stress. I think we’ll both misspeak a couple times over the next few days.” My gaze meets his, and I see the sincerity in his eyes. “Although for what it’s worth, I’d be more than happy to meet the rest of your family.”
The doors open and we step out.
“Go ahead and take the first shower. I’m gonna text my sister,” I say.
“I’ll be quick.”
“It doesn’t make any difference to me. Take your time.”
I open the balcony door and step outside, letting the cool breeze tickle my face. It’s so easy to pretend Fernando and I are a couple that at times I can’t believe it’s not real. Is this how method actors feel?
What is Fernando feeling? He’s admitted that he finds his aunts intimidating. Seeing him stand up for himself and say we’re taking this relationship at our own speed made me want to applaud, then kiss him senseless.
Even if it’s all a farce. He shouldn’t be scared of them or even have to put on a show.
At the end of the day, it’s his life to live.
He’s the one who has to be at peace with his choices.
And if he wants to stay single forever, he should be able to.
Although I do hope he changes his mind down the road.
As the song goes, one is the loneliest number.
Our rental car is ready after lunch. We don’t take Tía Yesenia up on her generous offer, instead departing Valencia for Santa Luz on our own around one.
“Is it terrible if I’m relieved?” I say to Fernando as we leave the city limits and head along the coast to his hometown.
The scenery is breathtaking and reminds me of the Pacific Coast Highway from back home.
We’re driving along a road that runs parallel to the ocean.
There’s a vast expanse of azure-blue ocean from the road to the horizon that I can’t stop staring at.
“Nope, I am too. We deserve a little quiet time to ourselves before we have to face my family.”