Page 60 of Who's Loving You

“His name is Nic?” Papá asks, and I realize Icompletely forgot to tell them his name, just as they didn’t bother to ask.

“Nico Loving. In case you want to ask Esmeralda to Google him since I know neither of you know how to do that.” I give a small chuckle thinking about Papá calling me to ask if I know Google and how to get ahold of him because he had a question to ask. “I will call Nic and let you know if we can make it work. But no pouting if he can’t. Got it?”

“Sí. Got it,” Mamá replies, and I can hear the smile on her face.

“Te amo. Nosotros hablaremos pronto.” They say they love me back and we hang up.

My neck is tight and tense from holding in the stress and I make a mental note to schedule a massage. Now that the hard part is over, it’s time to deal with the eager puppy dog who I have found hidden under the playboy facade Nic likes to present to the world.

The tension fills me again, and I repeat the process of breathing, clenching my jaw, and dialing his number.

“Hello mi Reina. Are you calling to tell me you’re madly in love with me and we should run off to Las Vegas to get married and have a dozen beautiful babies?”

My eyes are going to get permanently stuck in the back of my head if I can’t control the rolling of them when I speak with him.

“No. This is not a declaration of love or proposition of marriage and family, and there never will be. This is me calling to tell you that I told my parents about our sham relationship…minus the sham part. And now–”

“And now they want to meet me so your father can give me his blessing to marry you?”

“Please don’t make this difficult for me. Try to actlike a normal human and keep your stupid comments to yourself. I just need you to smile and answer a few questions. Can you do that?” My nerves are at an all time high. Never knowing what he’s going to say or do has me on the edge of my sanity.

The thought of Nic saying something sexually suggestive or crude makes my stomach curdle. I would never be able to visit my family again. The entire state of California would be banned from me ever stepping foot in it.

After a few moments, Nic finally breaks my thoughts of mom choking on her water after hearing him say‘that’s what she said.’

“Beautiful. I promise to be on my best behavior. So much so that Mamá and Papá San Ramón will be begging me to be part of the family.”

That’s my fear.

20

NICO

Me: Hello mi Reina. I got to the restaurant early. I’ll be waiting at the bar for you three. I can’t wait to see you. I’ve missed your beautiful smile since I saw you last.

Mi Reina: Oh Jesus. You must be a painter because you sure can lay it on thick.

Me: No painter here. Just a truth teller.

Mi Reina: Anyhow. We’re on our way. Probably fifteen minutes. Please be good.

Me: Babe. I’m going to shine like the superstar I am and show them how in love we are.

Mi Reina: We’re not in love.

Me:We will be.

Mi Reina: Not in this lifetime.

Me: I see the way your eyes gobble me up when I’m in my uniform.

Mi Reina: I’m not gobbling you up. I’m working very hard at not rolling my eyes.

Me: I can make your eyes roll. Just say when, baby.

Mi Reina: (massive eye roll and not in the way you would like)

Me: (how my eyes will look when I see you tonight) Are you wearing a sexy dress?