Chapter 11
CARLO
She doesn’t stir or have a nightmare at all, at least nothing that woke me up.
In the morning, she looks so happy and peaceful while asleep in my arms that my chest completely seizes with emotion.
Her dark hair fans out across my arm and the white pillow case, plush lips parted, and one hand underneath her cheek while the other holds onto my arm that’s draped over her waist. Our legs are a tangle.
I could really get used to this, it’s the absolute best.
We go through our morning routine after she starts to sleepily stretch and wake up, smiling up at me when she sees I’m still holding her. We both have a shift today, because Saturdays are required on a regular basis.
“Hey, is it cool if we drive separately to work? I have somewhere to be afterward.” I am being stupid and evasive about going to see my dad to ask about helping Celeste, because I don’t want to get her hopes up about him hooking her up with a good defense attorney.
“Oh, of course!” Her smile is fake though, her voice is a little strained, and she looks uncertain. I frown in confusion.
“What’s wrong? What did I say?”
“Nothing! I just…like I said before, if you’re going out and want to bring someone home, I’ll make myself scarce.” My brow furrows. Then it hits my dumb ass that she thinks I’m going on a date.
“Why would I be bringing someone home?” My voice comes out more angrily than I meant for it to.
She flaps her arms in a dismissive gesture.
“I don’t know! We haven’t made any promises or said we’re exclusive or anything.
You’ve spent every night here since I moved in and have never brought anyone home.
It’s been weeks. I don’t expect for you to be a monk while you very patiently wait for me to get my shit together.
” I crowd her against the door, one hand above her head and the other lifting her chin, because this woman needs to be set straight right quick.
She looks at me with that cute divot in her brow, clearly confused by my reaction.
“A few weeks? I haven’t been able to muster up an ounce of interest in anyone else since I met you, Tania.
I tried, after you turned me down, but it wasn’t happening.
There has not been a single woman for over a year.
My right hand has been my faithful companion.
Now after dancing, sharing this apartment together, snuggling in bed, you think I’ll be looking at other women? What kind of man do you think I am?”
She swallows hard, her eyes wide with shock.
“I thought you must have definitely given up on me a while ago, considering I kept you at a distance for so long. It’s not like I could fault you for looking at other women since this is so new.”
“Sweetheart, not a fucking chance. Get that shit out of your head right now. For you it’s new, for me this has been over a year of patiently waiting and hoping.” Her eyes are still wide, but they soften and the smallest smile touches her lips.
“Ok, it’s out of my head. I’m sorry it even popped into it in the first place.” I lean in to press a quick kiss to her cheek and wink at her.
“You’re forgiven. I just have to stop by to see my parents, and I know I’ll be roped into being there for a little while. I won’t be home too late, though. I’ll see you tonight if we don’t get a chance to chat at the hub, ok?”
“Ok.” Her voice is a little strained and breathless from what I said, her eyes still wide and locked onto mine.
I brush her cheek with my knuckles, loving how her breath catches when I do, say my usual goodbye to the cats, and head out.
Right as I start to close the door behind me, I hear her speak.
“Hey, Carlo?” I pop my head back in to look at her.
“Yeah?”
“There’s been no one since I met you, either.” We stare at each other for a beat before I impulsively take her hand and kiss her knuckles, like I’m some freaking Duke in 19th century England. The fact that there’s been no one for her either since we met has me almost giddy with relief.
“Good to know,” I tell her as I run my thumb along her knuckles, enjoying the silk of her skin as much as possible before I say goodbye again and head out.
She arrives at the hub not long after me, and we exchange private smiles while we get our trucks ready for the day.
Ray goes up to her, and I watch them joke around and chat a little, her smile and throaty laugh lighting up the whole hub.
When we’re both about to get going on our routes, our eyes meet again, more smiles, and little waves.
“See you later,” I mouth to her. She just nods and ducks her head as she gets into her truck, her cheeks clearly pulled up in another smile.
I try to focus on my day, but my thoughts keep straying to that vulnerable look on her face when she knocked on my bedroom door last night, the way she felt in my arms, the way I love just having her beside me in bed without anything even needing to happen besides cuddling.
It’s been so long since I’ve had anyone in my bed, so to have my dream woman next to me is like finding a warm home with a fire blazing in the middle of a snowstorm.
Everything about her warms me to my bones in a way I’ve never experienced before.
I don’t ever want her sleeping in another bed but mine again, but I’m getting way ahead of myself.
Baby steps, this woman has lost or been separated from everyone she loves and is understandably skittish about opening herself up to that again.
I’m beyond thrilled that she actually sought me out last night, it’s a good sign.
I get through my work day without it going too badly.
One guy chews me out because apparently his package was supposed to arrive two days ago.
Nothing I can do about that, unfortunately.
I don’t see Tania back at the hub when I’m done, which is a bummer, but I close everything out and head to my parents’ house.
My dad’s car is in the driveway, so thank goodness I won’t have to wait to talk with him about Celeste.
They’re not expecting me, but they’d be more offended if I asked to come by like I’m “some stranger,” as they put it.
I hear the low murmur of my parents talking in the kitchen when I walk in.
“Mami, Papi, surprise visit from your favorite son,” I call out. My mom comes bustling out.
“Mijo, what a wonderful surprise! Come eat with us, you must be hungry. I made plenty of steak, mashed potatoes, and creamed spinach.” I almost drool like Pavlov’s dog at the mere mention of steak as I engulf her in a hug and drop a kiss to her cheek.
It’s practically impossible to cut down on how much red meat I eat when my mom cooks the way she does.
“I’ll never say no to that.” We head into the kitchen and I quickly make myself a plate before I sit down with them. My dad claps me on the shoulder when I sit, and I see him clock my uniform.
“How are you, mijo? You had work today, huh?” I tense a little as I tell him I did, waiting for him to make a pithy comment about it. He’s looking at me like he’s formulating what he wants to say, and like he’s had whatever he wants to say on his mind for a while.
“You work hard, and I appreciate that. I just wish you could do something that fires you up and makes you excited to get up everyday, ok? Your sisters all have jobs that they’re so incredibly passionate about.
They’ve found success because they find so much joy in it.
The success comes naturally from there. I want that for you, mijo.
” He runs his hand down his face and lets out a heavy sigh.
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you about this, I realize I’ve hurt you with my comments.
They didn’t come out the best way.” I’m a little dumbstruck.
This is not at all what I expected when I came here to talk to him today.
He’s always so proud, I don’t think I’ve ever heard him admit he’s wrong about anything.
My mom is beaming and squeezes his arm. Clearly she gave him a talking to. My throat feels thick when I respond.
“I thought you wanted me to follow in your footsteps and become a lawyer? Carry on the legacy of amazing real estate lawyer Hector Hernandez?”
“Of course I was hoping at least one of you would. I can’t lie and say I wasn’t disappointed that you didn’t want that, I know it showed.
That’s on me, not you. Expecting you to be a lawyer would be like expecting Anita to wear something out of style.
It’s just not who you are, and I need to accept it.
All I want is for you to do something you love the way your sisters have done. ”
I know he means well, but I can’t hide my annoyance at how out of touch what he just said is.
“That’s much easier said than done, you know that, right?
We’re more privileged than most, and this family also has had a lot of luck.
Most people, myself included, just work to pay the bills, and it’s not the end of the world. ” My dad sighs.
“I know that, I don’t like that I seem out of touch with reality. Reality doesn’t mean much when it comes to your kids, you know? Parents want their kids to live their dreams, and go after everything they want, not be stuck in reality. The real world sucks.”
“I like my job, Papi. Since I don’t know what I’m passionate about, I don’t even know what to pursue. I’ve been thinking about art school, seeing if that could be a good side job, or at least make it a regular, fulfilling hobby.”
“That would be wonderful! I’ve always loved your sketches so much,” my mom exclaims.
“Tania mentioned it, and the idea is sticking with me. I think I could really enjoy studying art for real.”