4. Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Jake
It had taken the whole drive for my erection to subside. Not only had the audiobook put more images in my head that I knew what to do with, but the car was full of her— from the simple resin charm hanging from her rearview mirror, with a pressed violet in it; to her perfume infiltrating every corner. It had been months since we'd been this close, and it got to me.
Dinner at her parents' house was a common affair, but that night's meal had a different feeling to it. Ever since I was eight years old and I spent as much time with the Sotomayors as I could, they'd shown me what an affectionate family looked like… but due to my own family, I had learned to read the vibe in every situation. Tonight's meal had an unusual energy hiding in the corners.
I took a deep breath and counted out slowly. Something had changed, but I wasn't sure what yet.
Food had been consumed, and I offered to help Tío Raúl with cleaning up the dishes. The Sotomayor's house had a big kitchen with a large breakfast nook; when they had bought the stately home, they made sure we would have enough room around the table. The plan was that Violeta's parents could sit comfortably alongside their two children, me, and each of our partners.
Tío Raúl and I moved around the modern, stylish kitchen with ease. Everyone else stayed at the table for the first little while. My best friend, Gabe, was the only one officially dating someone; he and Lina, a driven business woman and Gabe's girlfriend, stayed at the table with Tía Sonia, his mom. Violeta joined her dad and I by offering to get dessert and coffee ready, when we were almost done.
"Go sit, Tío," I said. "I'll help Vi take everything."
He didn't argue and let me finish up. Soon we had all sat around the table again, a rare lúcuma cake— Tía Sonia's favorite— in front of us. Whatever the news, it would be good.
The pressure in my chest released.
After we'd all taken a few bites, Gabe and Tío Raúl shared a long, telling look.
"Are you finally going to give us the news?" Tía Sonia asked, her accent soft and comforting as always.
"Do you want to do the honors, Dad?" Gabe smiled.
"No, I think you should." Tío hid a grin behind his coffee mug as he took a long sip.
Lina grabbed Gabe's hand over the table. "What's going on? You haven't said anything."
"No, it just became official today." Gabe lifted their interlocking fingers and kissed the back of her hand. "We had a couple of meetings with the Board and, well… plans have changed somewhat."
I had to consciously hold back from stealing a glance at Vi, but I felt her eyes on my face. Any change to the company structure could potentially make things worse for us… or remove the biggest barrier that had forced us apart two and a half years ago.
"We'll make it official at the meeting next week, but we wanted to share it with the family first," Tío Raúl said. "That's why we wanted you all here tonight."
A pang pinched my heart, like every time they implied I was family. My love for the Sotomayors was deep and full of gratitude; to know they cared about me never failed to feel a little unreal, and a lot amazing.
"So?" Vi's voice sounded primarily excited, but I had paid close attention for years. There was a thread of anxiety in it too. "What's the news?"
Gabe grinned at each of us in turn, but settled his eyes on Lina. "Remember how the original plan was to wait another year before we did the big change, and I took over the CEO role, Jake went up to my role, and Dad retired? Well, we decided it would be best if Dad and I worked together before he transitioned out. That means…"
My best friend turned to me, a huge smile on his face. "Congratulations, Jake. You're getting a promotion sooner than expected."
A tremor built behind my breastbone. Tectonic plates shifted and sought a new way to engage. Years and years of working for the Sotomayors had paid off, and I was finally reaching the highest level I would likely ever reach. Between this and the years of love and care I had had with them, I had gone beyond my wildest dreams.
Me, a poor white kid from a violent home, a VP in an international conglomerate.
"You both are getting a promotion sooner than expected, then!" Tía Sonia exclaimed.
I couldn't talk yet. This change didn't only accelerate the executive plan for the Sotomayor Group… it also meant that Vi and I would finally be at the same hierarchical level.
If the shift of tectonic plates before had caused a tremor, this realization was an earthquake.
I couldn't help it. I gazed at Vi, whose eyes were glued to mine.
She had made the connection, too. Two years ago, she had feelings for me. If there was any chance she still had them, maybe this change filled her mind with questions, too. Maybe she wondered if I would take this as a chance to repeat our one kiss. Or to grow the balls to overcome my worries, and take a chance on us.
"Come on!" Tío Raúl patted my shoulder. "I thought you'd be more excited! You get to become VP."
I tore my gaze from Vi and stared at the man I thought of as a father figure. "I'm not sure I'm ready."
"What?" Gabe frowned in my direction. "You've been helping me with a lot of things, ever since Lina and I did the bid for the stadium deal. You already have a hand in most of the things I run, and I will be right next to you for the transition. I may be shadowing my dad as the co-chief, but part of my role will be to oversee your role. There'll be a plan to support you, just like my dad will be supporting me. You won't be alone."
Tío Raúl left his hand on my shoulder. "We wanted to tell you so you wouldn't be surprised at the meeting next week when we announce it, but don't worry— the actual transition to this new set up won't happen until six to eight weeks from now. You've always been a critical piece in our plans. We need you. We'll help you. You'll have time to address any concerns."
"It's okay to be nervous," Tía Sonia said. "But don't forget, you're completely capable. You didn't get here without merit. Raúl is right— you're family, and you're an important piece in our success as a business."
"You have dedicated as much time to the Sotomayor Group as any of us." Gabe's voice echoed the exact same tone as his parents. "We want you to take over because you're good at this, and because then we get to keep it in the family— you know how much we like that."
"I know," I grumbled. "You don't let me forget it."
"Then let's celebrate, okay?" Tío Raúl squeezed my shoulder. "This accelerates everything. It's good for all of us."
I may have had doubts, but I smiled at everyone.
Gabe convinced Vi to come with him, Lina, and me outside after dinner; he leaned against his car with the three of us around him. Vi mostly lived at home with her parents, though she'd been known to stay with boyfriends at times. Since her most recent breakup a couple of months before, she hadn't had much reason not to go to her room right after dinner. She had no reason to come out with us, either.
If I tallied how those patterns came and went, it only tormented me. It affected no one else. I had learned to cope.
"Okay, you're planning something," Vi said next to me, her eyes on her brother. "More often than not, this is when you hurry to take Lina home."
Gabe rolled his eyes, not embarrassed, and Lina laughed. Vi's lips curled in a satisfied shape, and I had to cross my arms not to reach and kiss her. It was a daily occurrence.
The night was warm, and the mild light of the garden lamps gave the space a certain intimate feeling. The automatic sprinklers had just started their nightly ritual, making sure to keep the flower beds and other greenery happy.
"Yes, I'm planning something." Gabe kept his voice quiet, so it wouldn't carry through the yard to the house.
We all leaned closer, getting the memo that this was private.
Gabe looked into the house through the kitchen windows, further confirming his parents weren't around. "We may have messed up. We've been focusing on the transition so much of late that I didn't realize— until Dad said it in passing—"
Vi startled. "Oh my god. It's their fortieth anniversary in a few months."
"Shit. We haven't planned anything." I frowned. "Did your dad say if they have planned anything?"
"Dad said he's taking Mom on a trip. We could have a party the night before they leave."
Lina nodded. "Tell them that we're all taking them for dinner and then, bam! Surprise, it's a party."
"It should be a big one," Vi added. "Forty years! And they've done amazing. They're wonderful. We should really take it as a chance to show them how loved they are."
Gabe, Lina, and I nodded in vehement agreement.
"The problem will be logistics." Lina tsked. "Four months is very little time to plan a big party like this."
"We'll work as a team," Gabe said. "Lina and I can organize catering, music, invitations… you two could book the venue and figure out decorations? We need to come up with the guest list asap."
Vi and I exchanged a quick look. I nodded and pushed my lips to the side. This would get us spending a lot of time together, compared to the past couple of years, but the risk was necessary. It was important to me to help organize a party for the people who'd shown me what warmth was like. I would need to keep myself under control, but that wasn't new.
"We'll do it." Vi crossed her arms as well. "We'll make this happen."
"We'll figure it out," I added, and hoped I was right.
"I don't think we should hire a planner." Gabe shrugged. "You know them. They would love it if we made the effort."
Vi nodded. "We'll make the effort."
"Okay, let's do that." Gabe stood and opened his door. "Let's go home now. We have the initial steps. We'll text as things come up."
Gabe and Lina gave Vi a kiss on the cheek, in the Chilean style for hellos and goodbyes.
"Chao, hermanita." Gabe gave her a quick hug and got in the car.
"Let's go for coffee soon," Lina added for Vi.
After the latter nodded, Lina got into the car as well, next to her boyfriend.
Gabe and I shared the floor up high in a skyrise, our two condos the only properties there. I needed to get in that car too, to catch a ride with him— this time as planned.
But I stared at Vi for a second, torn as always between wanting to kiss her and keeping my distance. Even the simple cheek-to-cheek kiss that her family favored seemed like too much. Yet not doing it always stood out.
Awkward…
"Bye, Jake. See you at the office."
Having made the decision for me, she turned around and went back into the house. I could imagine her wishing her parents good night, then going to her bedroom alone.
Just like I would go into my place alone.
I got in the back seat of Gabe's car, and took the whole ride to think about where the lines lay between Vi and I, and where they'd move to with the upcoming transition.
Even in my reticence I liked to fantasize, sometimes.
Tres Amigos + Jake, Jake's best friends chat group
Gabe : Guess what: in six to eight weeks, I'll be the Sotomayor Group's new co-CEO. We changed the plan for the transition and I'll shadow my dad for a year before he retires
Max : Congratulations! Jake finally knows?
Jake : How long have you guys known? I suppose the director by proxy that you assigned, Max, kept you informed
Max : That's right. But I was informed a couple of weeks ago. I celebrated with Eva, who wishes to congratulate you, of course.
Javier : I've known for just as long. Congrats, man
Jake : We're still congratulating Gabe, aren't we? Why are we talking about this? I was the only one who didn't know
Max : we're congratulating you both, obviously
Javier : any plans to celebrate?
Max : the gala is around the time of the transition. It’s in your city this time. Should we all go and toast to it? Eva will attend with me again this year
Jake : You all know I don't like going
Gabe : you can make an exception this year, yes? So that we can all toast you
Jake : we could all meet at the lake house instead
Max : I vote we do both
Javier : both sounds good
Gabe : attending every three years should be doable, right? Come on, Jake
Jake : fine. I'll go this year
Gabe : perfect. I'll enlist Mom to help me convince Vi to attend as well. We should *all* toast to this change
Jake : shouldn't we talk about the other party first?
Max : what other party?
Gabe : You're officially invited to my parents' 40th anniversary party. BUT DON'T MENTION IT TO THEM. It's going to be a surprise
Jake : details to follow. We're just now beginning to plan, but earmark some free time for four months from now
Javier : we'll make it work
Max : absolutely, we'll be there. We can help too
Gabe : you mean "we" as in you and Eva, right? Because your "fake" totally not fake wife is invited, too, of course
Jake : it was so obvious when you and Eva went to the lake house for Dieciocho
Javier : I knew it when I saw them for Max's birthday
Max : go on, bug me all you like. I don't mind. I live in wedded bliss, nothing can touch me
Gabe : it's okay. Javi and Jake will get their act together and catch up one of these days. They're allowed to be jealous
Javier : I'm not jealous. I'm happy being single. Not looking for anything, so you can leave me out of it
Max : oh, how I'm going to enjoy teasing you when it's your turn. You too, Jake. I know you're reading this and wondering if we'll make fun of you, too, and the answer is yes
Jake : eh, you can also leave me out of it, thanks
Gabe : we all know that's unlikely
Jake : good thing I love you all because sometimes I don't like you as much
Max : you love us too much to not like us 3
Sometimes I wondered if they all knew I harbored big feelings for Vi.
I liked to think they didn't, but sometimes the signs suggested I was wrong…