Chapter 11
Latin Lover Boy
Mateo
I’m getting married tomorrow. As in, tonight is Thursday night, and by this time tomorrow, we’ll be married.
How is this my life?
The creek of the wooden chair beneath me keeps me grounded to the present as I shift in my seat. I’m struggling to keep up with everything happening around me, my mind freezing as I see my past and my future collide thanks to my spur-of-the-moment decision.
I can’t take my eyes off of Holly. She’s sitting between Cruz and Reina across the table and a few seats down from me.
I’m grateful Cruz’s summer semester was light enough that she could get away for the weekend.
I’m doubly grateful her soccer coaches were forgiving about missing two practices.
Soccer means everything to Cruz, but I’m happy her fame hasn’t pulled her away from her family-first attitude.
I should have known getting Cruz, Reina, and Holly together would be like creating the three musketeers.
They are thick as thieves and their giggles bring a smile to my face.
I shove another forkful of chicken Alfredo in my mouth as I watch them laugh together.
Holly’s face is bright and happy—a far cry from the look she had after Jorge ruined our lunch earlier this afternoon.
After ring shopping, we went back to her house so she could document Jorge’s surprise arrival at lunch.
It took everything within me to not break something when I flipped through all the papers she had printed of threats and stalker-type encounters with him.
He has been such a stalker and boy oh boy does that frustrate me to no end.
This is modern times and a round of fisticuffs isn’t the way to solve problems like this, but I wish I could challenge him to a duel.
I even have a great cowboy hat to wear to the shoot-off.
Not to mention, I would win.
The bright part of the afternoon was when we went ring shopping together.
It brought out Holly's smile again, and I could tell she was feeling better. We joked and laughed, breaking even more of the awkward ice between us before things get real tomorrow. Holly’s giggles as I picked out the most obnoxious rings soothed my soul after our unsettling lunch.
My lips twitch as I remember Holly settling on a simple gold band with three large cubic zirconium diamonds in the middle. It’s a classic look and very much Holly.
I chose a thin gold band and a silicone ring to wear when I’m working on the farm or in the wood shop. I made sure the gold was real for both of our rings because one day I’ll replace her fake diamonds with real ones.
The trio of women break into laughter and I catch Holly’s eye.
Her cheeks turn pink before she breaks eye contact with me to look up at Cruz, who is sitting a head taller than Holly.
Cruz is almost as tall as I am, having hit a late growth spurt her senior year.
It’s cute seeing the height difference between these women.
Actually, it’s just Holly. Holly is the cute one. I couldn’t care less about my sister and best friend and how they look right now.
My mami’s hand grips my forearm, bringing me back to the present. My dad is busy chatting with Alex, so all of Mami’s attention is on me. I take a deep breath and mentally prepare myself for the questions I’ve been avoiding all evening.
She softly whispers, “Hijo, are you okay?”
Mami’s voice is gentle, with a slight salvadoreno accent. She’s lived in the United States since she was a small child, but she works to keep her accent and the connection it gives her to her family and her roots.
Her accent is more prominent tonight, and I know that usually happens when she is feeling deeply about something. There’s a twinge in my heart. It’s going to be weird not hearing her voice daily.
Who am I kidding? I’ll still hear it. She’ll probably call me every day, and I will answer every time I’m able.
“Sí, Mami. I’ve been thinking about the future.”
She frowns. “I’m worried, hijo. Marriage should be with your amor, and this is happening so fast.”
I pat her hand. “I know, Mami.” I shrug. “But how many women could I marry in Bolt? I know this isn’t what you dreamed of for me, but I feel peace about my wedding.”
Her eyebrow raises and her chocolate brown eyes stare into me. Mami can read me like a book, and I’m a hundred percent expecting her to unearth the secret of how I feel about Holly and the fact that this marriage is a sham. I have no doubts she will. It’s her special Canela Rivera de Watson skill.
Or maybe it’s the fact that she’s my mother.
Either way, I’m prepared for a heart-to-heart moment right now.
She squeezes my arm. “Marriage is sacred, mijo. It’s supposed to be about love and commitment.
It’s supposed to happen in a church, not the courthouse.
I want you to find and marry tu amor. How do you know that you love her?
” Her eyes mist over, and the next thing I know, I’ve wrapped her in my arms and am stroking her thick hair.
“Mami, you’re right. I’m hoping something can grow between me and Holly.
She needs me, and honestly, Mami, I don’t want to marry anyone else besides Holly.
I haven’t met anyone who makes me feel the way she does.
Our marriage isn’t starting out the way you dreamed, but I’m hoping it ends the way you want it to,” I whisper into her ear.
She pulls back just enough to rest a hand on my shoulder, the other cupping my cheek. She arches her singular eyebrow as only my mami can. “Do you love her, mijo?”
I meet her gaze fully. “I don’t know if it’s love yet, but I really like her, Mami.”
She studies my face, her smile growing the longer she looks at me.
Her eyes twinkle, a tint of mischief in them.
I get my prankster heart from my mom, and I’m only slightly nervous about what she’s about to say.
“Well then, you’ll need to use your Latin lover skills and channel the roots of your ancestors to convince her to fall in love with you.
You may have inherited your father’s gringo looks, but you’ve got my heart, hijo. You’ll win over tu esposa.”
We both chuckle. “Latin lover skills, Mami? Really?”
She winks, her eyes crinkled with laughter.
“Spanish is one of the most romantic languages, hijo. Take advantage of your history. Woo her with the beautiful words of our language and the romance I know you have in you. You’ve watched your dad woo me almost every day of your life.
You’re just as romantic as he is, if not more, because you have my blood in you.
I believe in you, hijo. Romance your wife. ”
I shake my head and chuckle. She’s not wrong.
I’ve always loved speaking Spanish, even if I’m not fully fluent.
I’ve loved having salvadorena blood in me, and it’s something I’m proud of.
Dad is a romantic, even if he’s a quiet one.
He had to be to win over my mother, who passed on her love for all things romance to my sisters.
If this isn’t the moment Mami has trained me for—with help from my sisters—then I don’t know what is.
I turn back to my food, finally touching the salad that came with my pasta.
Holly’s presence acts like a magnet, drawing my gaze back to her.
She throws her head back in a laugh at something Cruz said.
Her hair falls like a waterfall down her back, a wave of honey complemented by her sparkling blue eyes.
I never noticed the color of Alex’s eyes until I realized they matched his sisters.
The blue is captivating, and though I can barely see their shade from this far away, I know I could look at them all day and study the way the hue changes colors with the lighting.
What started out as a crush on my best friend’s sister when I first met her almost two years ago has flared into a full-on bonfire of affection. Spending time with Holly today has fanned the flames of my feelings, and if I’m not careful, they could become a wildfire.
I’m not sure I’m ready to be burned.
Mami pulls me into conversation again, tearing my gaze away from Holly.
As I finish the last bites of my salad, Reina plops down into the chair next to me. Cruz taps Mami’s shoulder and they switch places.
I glance down the table at Holly, but she’s deep in conversation with Hudson.
No chance of rescue from the interrogation committee.
I look at Reina, ignoring Cruz’s smirking face on my other side. “Hey besties, what can I do for you?”
Reina squints and her lips purse. It’s a look I’ve seen throughout our growing-up years, when she’d bust me for pulling a prank. I’ve affectionately named it the “I’m mad at you and you need to fix things” look.
Don’t want to mess with that look. I’ll take my chances with Cruz. Except, when I look at Cruz she has her arms crossed and the singular eyebrow arch she learned from Mami in full employ.
Well, barbed goatgrass, there’s no hiding from these women. Guess I better find out what they want to talk about, although I feel like it has something to do with Holly and girl code. We’ll see.
“It seems like both of you lovely ladies have something on your mind. Care to share with the group?”
Reina’s face is serious, without a hint of humor. “You are not allowed to break her heart.”
My heart squeezes. Jealousy and a hint of anger flit through my chest. I know everyone is protective of Holly, especially because she doesn’t have anyone looking out for her besides Alex, but isn’t anyone worried about my heart?
I quickly remind myself that this is my sister and my best friend talking to me. I know they aren’t trying to hurt me, but I can’t help but let out some of my own feelings in my response. “You wound me, Reina. Aren’t you afraid she’ll break my heart, bestie?”
Cruz’s laugh is mocking, sending another jolt of pain through my chest. “You’ll survive. She might not, especially with the awful examples of relationships she’s had in her life, excluding Alex and Reina, of course.”
Ouch.
Have I really dug a hole for myself as the happy-go-lucky guy who doesn’t have feelings? I mean, she’s probably right, because I have a support system to rely on when I need to lick my wounds.
But still.
Ouch.
I fold my arms and lean back in my chair, hoping to downplay my feelings. “Ladies, I feel betrayed by your loyalties.”
I catch a quick grimace from Reina, and the reaction assuages my bruised feelings.
I scoot my chair back a few inches until I can see them both.
I keep my voice quiet, but serious. “Listen, I like Holly. More than a little bit. This may be fake for her, but I’m going to treat this like a genuine marriage, respecting the boundaries of our arrangement, of course.
If at the end of a year she doesn’t want me, that’s her choice.
But I’m not going to sit on my behind and wait around for her to fall in love with me. ”
Cruz smiles, dramatically clasping her hands to her chest, and leans in conspiratorially. “Have all of my lessons on romance and grand gestures actually helped you?”
I scoff. “Do you mean all those times you had me watch romantic comedies, went over romance tropes, and talked about grand gestures with you? No. It means Holly is special and deserves to be treated as such, and I will be using my own creative genius to woo her.”
Reina tilts her head, a small smile on her face. “You’re already in love with her, aren’t you?”
I scratch the back of my neck. “Love might be a strong word.”
Reina shakes her head. “It’s the right word. Okay. I’m a hundred percent on board now, and I’ll help.”
“Help?” I sputter out.
“Yes, I’m going to help Holly fall in love with you.” She does a little happy dance in her chair. “If you stay married, you’d actually be my brother, which would be awesome.”
I raise my hands. “Woah, woah. I don’t need any help. I’ve got this.”
Reina rolls her eyes. “I meant I’ll help when Holly calls and wants to talk. You’ve still got to actually win her over. I’ll just be your wing woman.” She shrugs and continues her happy dance at this statement, like I’ve made all her dreams come true.
Cruz rubs her hands together gleefully. “I’ve always wanted another sister.” She does her own little squeal and now they’re both dancing in their chairs.
How much trouble will these two bring to my love life? Hopefully, none.
This conversation needs to end before things get even more out of hand and Holly notices. “Alright ladies, I’m going to take a restroom break and try to forget we had this talk.”
They giggle as I get out of my chair.
I remember to push it in, because Mami didn’t raise a heathen.
I weave through tables, finding the sign for the restroom, and wonder if today can be over already.
Can we just skip to the part where I get married, my meddling family drives away to the airport, and I head off into the sunset with my marriage-of-convenience wife?