Page 96 of Liar

I’m forced up on stage.

“Which one of you dare defy me?”

Everyone is frozen in place and staring at me.

“Which one of you dare claim what is mine?” He raises my hand high and shows everyone my ringless finger. “Because whoever you are, motherfucker, if I don’t see a ring on tamale girl’s finger by tomorrow, the engagement is over.”

He glares at me, hard. Does he suspect I’m lying? That there’s a man foolish enough to steal away what he so very mistakenly believes is his? What did Javier say? That everyone knows Ignacio is obsessed with tamale girl? That he’s waiting for the day she’ll come crawling back to him.

¡Mierda!

He storms off before someone brave enough steps forward to help me.

I feel the sympathetic looks. The “Dios míos” looks. The “what is she going to do nows?” A blatant lie, and he called me out for it in front of everyone.

What am I going to do? Leave Loreto?

I straighten my spine and stalk away from the dance floor. Hiding my embarrassment and blind panic. I’m so lost in thought, so frazzled, I jump at the touch to my arm.

It’s Javier. Grim and clearly freaked-out. He takes me by the hand. “Come with me.”

“Will you escort me home?”

He shakes his head. “An official from the civil registry office has been called.”

I stop short. “Don’t be ridiculous. Actions have consequences. I lied, and now this is on me.”

“It’s decided.” He states it like a fact, without emotion, without passion. “No arguing.”

“I can’t marry you.”

“Not me.”

My mouth drops open.

“The Bastard is waiting.”

29

In my twisted fantasies abouthim, I imagined what my wedding day would be like. Hayden smiling down at me, so much love within his eyes. Me, dressed in pure white, with a small bouquet of pink flowers, so full of hope and so head over heels. Us, overcoming each and every obstacle keeping us apart and placing the unpleasant memories of how this day came to be behind us.

I’m in the back seat of a car, pinned between a nervous Javier and my ever-silent, soon-to-be-husband, in a daring red dress and the weight of the world on my shoulders.

Javier called my brother minutes after I was unceremoniously ushered inside the car. Diego is on speaker phone and hasn’t stopped talking since the car ride began. “Ignacio is arrogant. He’s grown accustomed to you giving into his demands. And now you’re going to blindside him? Your marrying her will infuriate him more than if it were Javier.”

“I’ll do it,” Javier interrupts.

The Liar turns, ignoring me completely as he narrows green eyes on Javier. Somewhere between the zócalo and the car, he took out his contacts. Does Javier notice? Or is he too busy trying to disappear into the seat?

The Liar silently returns to looking out the window. He hasn’t said a single word the entire time.

Diego curses.

I sit quietly, demurely, content to let Diego convince his boss what a horrible idea this is.

“Or we’ll lie about the wedding to placate the pendejo. No need for you to actually marry her.”

He’s met with silence.