“Honestly, it’s pretty laid-back. I live with Jaime. We wake up early to surf, and afterward I get in a workout or a run. I usually have something to do for work—I’ll either go to the test kitchen or visit my small farm. Then I often hang out with Jaime and my friends, and we go out somewhere at night, like a new restaurant or a rooftop bar or catch a Padres game.”
“Wow. That sounds like a great life.” Carolina wanted to get out of her comfort zone and try new things herself, but it almost felt too easy. Did he do any community service? What about extendedfamily? Like aunts and uncles? He had to have a big extended family—he was Mexican! Carolina wanted to pry but held herself back.
“I can’t complain. What about you?”
She laughed. “Nothing like your life. I wake at five to go to the fields alongside our workers, but I’m usually checking the irrigation or the soil or the plants. I don’t pick as much produce as I used to, but I will help out if we are short. Then I do some paperwork, which I hate, so Blanca does most of that. Sometimes I take a quick siesta. And then I’m back out on the fields. I go to a church group on Wednesdays, and I used to practice with my dance troupe a few nights each week, but I had to stop dancing last year because I was too busy with the farm. I attend Mass on Sunday. Any free time I have, I spend with my family. I help my younger sisters with homework, take them to their own lessons, and just play with them.”
“You’re amazing, you know that, right?” He leaned over and kissed her when they were briefly stopped for some road construction. “I’d love for you to visit me in San Diego someday.”
She pursed her lips and remained silent. The best she could force out was a head nod. Elation burst in her chest for him mentioning some type of future with her, but fear resided right next to that emotion. He had specifically said that he did not want a long-distance relationship. Had that changed? If so, what did she want?
And what if she did fall for him? Badly? Like head over heels obsessed with him, checking her cell phone at all hours of the night waiting for texts from him obsessed? She had no idea how she would actually handle her emotions in a relationship. What if she lost her mind?
All she knew was that meeting him had given her feelings and glimpses of dreams that she didn’t even know she had. She didn’t want him to go.
But she had no choice. He was leaving; she was staying in Santa Maria.
A few hours later, they arrived in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Enrique parked several blocks away from the town square in front of the cutest storybook cottage. The thatched roof and pastel pink shingles made Carolina feel like she was in her own fairy tale.
Maybe she was.
Enrique took her hand and led her down the wide, sandy-colored cobblestone streets toward downtown. The streetlights were wrapped with Christmas bows, and the store windows were decorated with fake snow, bright lights, and holly.
He pointed at a brown brick building. “Let’s go in here really quick.”
It was the city hall. What did they need there? A marriage license? Ha—definitely not.
They walked in. A lady with gray hair and bright pink lipstick greeted them. “How can I help you?”
Enrique grinned at the woman. “We’re here to get her a license for high heels.”
Carolina laughed. “What? I always thought that was an urban myth!”
The lady shook her head. “No. It isn’t. It’s actually against municipal code to wear high heels without a license in our town. Not that it’s seriously enforced these days, but the law is the law. What’s your name, darling?”
“Carolina Yvonne Flores.” She paused and looked at her boring, sensible tennis shoes. She hadn’t wanted to overdress for the date, and now she felt foolish. “But I don’t need a license. I don’t have any heels.”
Enrique winked at her. “Yet.”
Oh, this man.
The woman filled out a big certificate and presented it to Carolina.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She nodded at them and shuffled back to her seat behind the desk.
He led her outside. Carolina pulled on Enrique’s arm and kissed his cheek.
“How did you know about that? You’ve brought another woman here, haven’t you?” She gave him a playful side-eye.
He shook his head. “Yes, I have. My mom.”
“Ah, that’s so sweet.”
“Now let’s get you some heels.”
She looked down again at her sensible walking shoes. “Oh, I’m fine. Really. I don’t need anything.”
