“Whatever, Carolina. I know what I want. Stop warning me. I’m not you.”
“Noted,” Carolina snapped back.
“Maybe you just need to stop worrying about how independent you are and take a chance and love someone. Loving means taking a risk. It means not knowing how things might work out. Sometimesit means moving somewhere else or doing something new. But change isn’t always bad. Worse things have happened, you know.”
“Got it.” Did her sister really see her like that? So desperate to always be in control? So resistant to change?
“I’m sorry, Cari.” Blanca sighed. “I just—I really wish you’d stop needling me about Tiburón. I know what I want. Respect that.”
“Okay.” Carolina’s hair blew in her face, momentarily blinding her. “Bye, Blanca.”
She hung up the phone, but Blanca’s words were ringing in Carolina’s ears. Was that the problem? Was she too afraid to take a chance on love?
She continued walking along the street, and after exploring the town, she checked into a small hotel. She needed to be alone. Not with Enrique. Not with her aunt.
Just her and her thoughts.
The walk in the park hadn’t been quite enough—she needed more.
She glanced at her phone.
Enrique:Hello?
Enrique:Are you alright?
Enrique:What’s wrong??
Enrique:Please answer the phone. Are you upset with me?
She hadn’t been in the mood to respond, which she knew was just plain awful of her. But she needed space.
She sat on her bed overlooking the ocean.
A few hours later, she finally texted Enrique back.
Carolina:Sorry. I just need some space. Don’t worry about me. I got a hotel room nearby.
Enrique:Wow. Okay. Wasn’t expecting that. I was worried about you, Carolina. Are you okay? What did I do?
Why did everyone always think that what she wanted had anything to do with them? Could she ever be selfish and just focus on herself? Not her mom, not her dad, not her sisters, not her employees, and not her new boyfriend?
Carolina:Nothing. You’re great. I’ll come by tomorrow.
Her phone rang. It was Enrique. She couldn’t ignore him anymore. She picked it up.
“Hey.”
“Hey? Please be honest with me. What’s going on?”
The tears started coming, cascading down her face.
“Are you okay? Talk to me, dammit.”
No, she wasn’t okay.
“I just... I just think we are too different. Like you want kids one day and I’m not sure I do.”
“I get that. But this is new. We don’t have to decide our lives. I just want to date you.”
