Carolina excused herself from the table, not that anyone would miss her presence, and peeked out from the curtain in the living room.
After the way her parents had been treating her, they didn’t deserve an explanation. But Carolina decided to try to be the better person and show them some respect.
“Mamá. Enrique and I are going to Carmel for the day to see the Christmas decorations. I’ll be back later tonight.”
Mamá pointed a wooden spoon at her that was covered in scrambled eggs. “Carolina Yvonne!”
“Oh?” Carolina laughed. “You can talk? I thought you lost your voice.”
“Don’t mock me, mija. Siéntate.”
“I’m not sitting down. You won’t even have a conversation with me, and now I should sit here while you yell at me for my own decisions? No. I’m leaving.”
Mamá’s face scrunched, and Blanca’s eyes widened in horror. “Look. I know you like him, and we might forgive your behavior the other night, as a onetime courtesy. We don’t want you to get hurt.”
Carolina felt a softening in her chest. Her parents were looking out for her in their own way. But even so, their stonewalling was unacceptable. “I’m not going to get hurt, Mamá.”
“I don’t know about that. He doesn’t evenlivehere. What do you think is going to happen in the future?” Mamá asked, propping her elbow on the table.
“Nothing. I think nothing is going to happen in the future. And that’s fine. We are getting to know each other now.”
“Mr. Right Now is Mr. No Future.”
Carolina didn’t even bother to respond.
Mamá narrowed her gaze. “Don’t be home too late. I mean it, don’t push your luck.”
“I won’t. I’m aware that my curfew is eleven.” She kissed Mamá on the cheek and rushed out to Enrique’s SUV.
“Hey, sunshine.” Enrique greeted her with a kiss and a coffee. The latte was as warm and sweet as he was. What syrup was that? Caramel? Ha—that would be a fun prelude to this day.
“Hola.” She squeezed his thigh. Being in the car with him felt so normal.
He headed north, away from her family and toward freedom.
Carolina couldn’t wait to see the Christmas decorations. She was grateful to have the company, and to spend more time with Enrique, but even if he weren’t here, this was a perfect way to spend the day. Why did she never make time to do things for herself? This wasn’t even her parents’ fault—she could’ve taken Blanca and Adela.
Carolina needed to better prioritize her self-care.
She looked over at Enrique, confidently driving his SUV. This was his vacation, and she hadn’t even asked about his family. Ugh, she had been so wrapped up in her own drama, she wasn’t taking the time to get to know him.
“How’s your family? I still can’t believe they all came way out here because you wanted to meet me.” She turned down the air-conditioning for her side of the SUV. There was also a booty warmer. This Tesla was fancy.
He smirked. “They’re good. Well, it’s just my brothers here and Julieta’s family—her mother, Linda, and her cousins, Tiburón and Rosa. Actually, they all wanted to invite you over for Christmas Eve.”
She shook her head. She could never miss celebrating Nochebuena with her family. “Oh, that’s sweet of them. But I’ll be withmine.” Though the way things were going, she wasn’t even sure if that was true. She considered for a second inviting him over but decided against it. They were not in a serious relationship. It wouldn’t be appropriate. And it would give her father even more wrong ideas about them.
“What about your parents? They aren’t here with you?”
His face tensed. “My mom is in Italy, actually. On a cruise with her boyfriend. My father, he’s alone in La Jolla. We had a pretty big falling-out. Well, mostly he and Ramón did.”
“Ah, that’s so sad.” She hoped that she would always remain close to her family no matter what choices she made. That they would never reject her like she’d feared they would the other night.
Like she feared now.
Enrique continued toward Carmel on Highway One, the most beautiful stretch of freeway with priceless views. The waves crashed against the rocks, and magnificent trees towered in the north. Carolina almost never took the time to stop and marvel at the ocean. Why was her entire life consumed by work and family? Where was the joy? She almost never left Santa Maria.
She touched Enrique’s arm. He’d already learned so much about her life, but she didn’t know much about his. “So, what’s your life like down in San Diego?”
