Chapter 14
SARINA
“What do you mean the wedding is being moved up?”
“Exactly what I said.”
“But how is that even possible?”
“How do you think? It’s Dad, anything’s possible,” she scoffs. “I’m already feeling stressed. I was hoping telling you wouldn’t add to it, and that you’d be excited.”
“Of course, I am. You know how much I love Chloe. I just wasn’t expecting the wedding to be moved up so soon.”
I hear her fiancée, Chloe, in the background mumbling something to my sister before she chimes in. “Is that my favorite soon-to-be sister-in-law?”
“The one and only.”
Harper’s voice grows distant as she shouts that she’ll see me soon from what sounds to be the other side of the room, leaving me and Chloe on the call.
“What’s she talking about?”
“Which part? The wedding being moved up or the see you soon part?”
“Both.”
“Your mom called Harper bright and early this morning. She didn’t say much other than me and Harper needed to come over right away, making it sound urgent. We hopped into my truck and I drove us there. Harper was so fucking nervous, she didn’t even change out of her nightgown, for fuck’s sake.”
“Was everything okay?”
A long-winded sigh scratches at my ear through the speaker.
“Of course it was. We got there, expecting the worst, and your mom answers the door, dressed to the nines, as usual, and there was a whole breakfast spread waiting for us with your dad sitting at the head of the table irritated that it took us so long to get there.”
A dry chuckle rumbles through my throat as Chloe continues to tell me about the impromptu meeting my dad held for them. Without giving any logical reasoning, he simply told them that the wedding will no longer be held in three months.
“Three weeks?! Is he serious?”
Chloe’s tone remains flat. “Are you really that surprised? You know how your dad is. Whatever he wants goes and screw anyone that’s in his way.”
“Still, I don’t understand how he can just snap his fingers and change something that has been in the works for well over a year?!”
“Yeah, well, he did. Whatever his reason is, I honestly don’t care since getting to marry your sister earlier isn’t something I’m going to fight or complain about.”
I admire Chloe and Harper’s relationship so much. They love each other so unconditionally, it’s the kind of love, if I weren’t so closed off to opening my heart to another person, I would want for myself.
My lip pouts, though she can’t see it. “You two are so cute.”
“Thanks,” Chloe breathes out, putting a pin in the moment.
“I know you, there’s a but there, so go on.”
Chloe chuckles. “But you know how Harper gets. She’s all stressed out because she’s had everything planned and timed the way she wanted it to go. I told her not to worry, I’ll help coordinate whatever she needs me to, but I just want her to relax.”
“Of course. You’re so good to her.”
“I love her.” Her voice falls to a whisper. “And if I can be honest with you, I want nothing more than to get married and do what I’ve been planning with her for a long time.”
“Which is?”
“Do what you did. Leave. Get her the fuck away from your father, from Hemp Grove, after we get married there, from all of it.”
I understand Chloe wanting to get her and Harper away from my dad, but the second part surprises me.
Hemp Grove Ranch is my brothers’ livelihoods.
They inherited it from their mom’s grandfather upon his passing and turned the property into a cannabis retreat.
All of them have gotten into trouble with the law before, so Hemp Grove was supposed to be their fresh start upon their inheritance, though hearing the way Chloe mentions it is making me wonder if that’s really the case.
“I’m sorry, I know that’s probably coming off as disrespectful. Your brothers aren’t half as bad as your dad. But still, I’m just so—” Flustered, she stops talking.
“It’s okay. I get it. Tesoro’s are a lot.”
“Yeah, and to make matters worse, I have your dad thinking once we’re married, I’m going to merge my family business with his.”
“Wait, you’re not?”
“Umm, no.”
“Does he know that?”
“Umm, no,” she repeats.
“I see.”
“Yeah, I’d like to keep that part out of it until Harper and I get married. If he finds out, forget about it.”
“I promise, I won’t say anything.”
“Thanks, Ri. I appreciate you.”
“Of course. I mean, we survived the awkward stage of my best friend sneaking around with my sister for months before having to catch you two together, I think I can live through you telling me what I already know about my dad.”
Her tone softens. “Well, it means a lot. Also…” Her voice drags dramatically. “I wanted to ask you for a favor.”
“Anything, go ahead.”
“In my effort to have Harper stress less, I might have booked her and her bridesmaids a flight to New York for some much-needed sister time slash an early, very impromptu bachelorette party?”
I glance down at my desk cluttered with computer monitors and papers everywhere. “Um, yeah, sounds good, when were you thinking?”
“Tonight?”
“Tonight, as in today?”
“That’d be the one. Please. You don’t have to do anything but show up at her hotel. I’ll text you the address and the time to meet them. The limo service I had arranged will drive y’all around. She misses you. This will make her so happy.”
Guilt tugs at me. In my desperation to leave home, a part of me has separated itself from the people still there. My sister included. We haven’t talked as much as we used to, and I know that although the phone works both ways, that is in part my fault.
“I know, I miss her too. Tell her I’ll be there tonight.”
No sooner do I get off the phone, it’s chiming to life again within seconds. This time with a reminder of a meeting coming up in less than a half hour.
I silence the notification, deciding to get back to work, when I’m interrupted by yet another phone call.
I look over to Tomás’ empty desk. I don’t know why he’s calling me instead of being in his office, telling me whatever he needs to face to face. Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised, in the almost week I’ve been working here— in his office— he has barely shown his face.
It’s probably for the best. I don’t know how much work I’d be able to get done with him around.
My mind already drifts to where it shouldn’t every time I see his name in an email, or when I think back to that night we shared a couple weeks ago.
Having him here, sitting a few feet away from me, would be distracting to say the least.
Clumsy as ever, I grip the side of my phone too hard, unintentionally forwarding the call instead of answering it.
Tomás
I tried calling you…
I know, I forwarded it to voicemail
Tomás
Ouch
By accident!
Tomás
Sorry, I was on the phone. It was a family thing
Tomás
No need to apologize. Family always comes first. Is everything okay?
Yeah, it’s fine
Tomás
Good, I’m glad. I was calling to let you know the location of our meeting changed. Car service is waiting for you downstairs
Now?
What the fuck is going on today? Can no one stick to a goddamn plan? First wedding dates, now meetings.
Tomás:
Yes, hence why I said it’s waiting for you
Tomás
***
Hence? Really? What’s next? Thy chariot awaits you out yonder my lady?
Tomás
I’m not following
It’s a joke . Never mind
Tomás
If I could I would
Now I’m not following
Tomás
Get you a chariot
You know, something fit for a queen
Okay chill
Tomás
I’m trying to…
I’ll see you soon
I head outside to see an all-black Tahoe parked out front. The driver opens the door for me and the second I sit down I notice a coffee cup waiting for me in the arm rest cup holder of the back seat, along with a water bottle, and a bottle of Diet Coke.
He remembered.
Granted, my three drink go-to was at the bar, but his assumption was correct that I like to have three drinks on me at all times.
Forget the chariot. I could get used to this. Having someone care enough to notice, and willing enough to do small acts like this.
I sit, content for the duration of the car ride, alternating between my three drinks until we pull up to a gorgeous modern building that looks like something out of Architectural Digest.
“Mr. Ramos is expecting you,” the driver says, opening the door for me. “When you walk in the lobby, simply state your name and the concierge will see you to his floor.”
“I’m sorry, his floor?”
“Yes, Ms. Tesoro,” he says, albeit a bit confused.
“Where are we, exactly?”
“Mr. Ramos' residence.”
Oh.