Before long, she blinked one eye open, and then buried her head in the pillows.
He sat at the edge of the bed. “Morning, sunshine. How did you sleep?”
She stretched and smiled as she looked at him. “Great, actually.” She crawled out of bed, went to the bathroom, and then came back to sit on the bed.
Enrique handed her a water bottle from the mini refrigerator. “So, what do you want to do today?”
She took a swig of water, then grabbed her phone. Her eyes scanned the screen, and then her face fell. “We can stay around here if you want? I’m not welcome at home. Sorry to be such a burden.”
Ugh, his stomach coiled. This must be so hard for her. “Hey, I don’t mind at all. Are you sure you don’t want to go home?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
She checked her phone—again. And shook her head.
Enrique had to ask. “What did he say?”
“Nothing. But my mom told me not to come home.”
Enrique was surprised that she was shocked by their reactions. And as much as he wanted to be there for her, this was very intense for such a new relationship. “What do you expect? He’s pissed.”
She nodded. “Oh, I know. But radio silence is the worst. I’d almost feel better if he was yelling at me.”
He frowned at that.
She bit her lip. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.” He sat next to her.
“What’s going on between us? Are you really going to go back to San Diego and that’s it?” She fidgeted with the strap of her dress as she looked at the sheets.
Enrique exhaled. Though he was wrestling with these same thoughts, he didn’t know the answer. And he hated to be put on the spot. “I don’t know. I mean, maybe we don’t have to put a time limit on this. I like you. A lot.”
She met his eyes and smiled. “I like you, too. And to be honest, I want to see where this goes.”
Enrique gulped. Did he want that, too? He stared into her eyes and took her hand. He was certain he wasn’t ready to end this. But was that enough?
He took a calm, centering breath. And in that moment, it became clear.
He wanted that, too. “I do, too.”
She grinned. “Really?”
Was he doing this? Did he want to try a long-distance relationshipwith Carolina? Enrique hadn’t had an actual girlfriend in years. Friends with benefits, fuck buddies? Sure. But not girlfriends. He was open to seeing where this might go with Carolina, though. Committing to her didn’t scare him; if anything, it excited him. And maybe the security of being in a relationship would make her more comfortable. They could both give this a real chance of working out. They could see each other on the weekends. Perhaps once a month he could justify a weeklong trip out to this part of California as a part of his efforts to improve farmworkers’ rights, visiting his own farms.
“Really. Will you be my girlfriend?”
“Hmm,” she teased. “What does that entail?”
He softly pinched her arm. “Well, we’ll see where this goes. I won’t date anyone else, and neither will you.”
“That seems fair.” Her gaze lowered. “But you have the raw end of the deal. I’ve never datedanyone, so it’s not like I’m giving up anything. I’m sure you’ve been with hundreds of women.”
Enrique winced. He didn’t want to lie, but he also didn’t want to make her feel insecure. “Look, my past is my past. Right now, you’re the only woman on my mind.” He twirled a lock of her hair. “So, is that a yes?”
She wrapped her arms around him. “Yes!”
Enrique pushed her down on the bed and climbed on top of her, and they made out like teenagers.
