“Fine. You’re right. I’m going to ask him.”
Zoila high-fived Alma. “Deal. But no love, just great sex.”
Alma finished getting dressed, then they took Tequila for a short walk. Alma had the entire day off and she knew that Jaime was only a couple blocks away at his hotel. She resisted the urge to text him. She would see how she felt in a week and possibly ask him to join her in Jalisco when she saw him at the Cinco festival.
She tucked herself under a blanket, pulled Tequila beside her on the sofa, and settled in to watch the latest true crime documentary on Netflix. Something about safely viewing these horrors from the comfort of her home calmed her.
Damn, she was so messed up.
Her phone rang. It was Chuy from work.
Oh no. This was her lone day off. She needed this break.
But as an owner of a small business, she was always plugged in.
“Chuy, this better be important. I’m watching that show aboutthe mom who vanished in the middle of the night but was found a month later with her ex.”
Chuy, one of her employees, chuckled. “Sorry, Alma. I wasn’t going to call you, but I thought you would like to know what is happening.”
“And what is that exactly?”
“The critic is here.”
Holy shit. “Are you sure? How do you know?”
“Evelyn recognized him as the guy who came in and left that night. I just wanted to let you know. We have it under control.”
Chuy was the best and Alma didn’t doubt his capabilities for a second. But this was her shot. “I know you do, but I’m on my way.”
She turned off her television, kissed Tequila before placing her on the ground, quickly freshened up, and darted out the door.
Why had he returned? Usually, critics gave one chance and one chance alone. She had already blown that by yelling at Jaime.
Jaime.
She stopped cold a few feet from the bar.
Had he actually come through for her and got the critic to come see her?
He was a man of his word, so she didn’t doubt that it was possible for Jaime to arrange it.
She exhaled and stepped into her bar.
Chuy greeted her and then pointed to the back of the restaurant.
And there, dressed in a black shirt and gray slacks, was the critic.
She gulped. Was it too obvious if she just walked over to him and gave him her best tequila?
Yes, yes it was.
“Chuy, did you take his order?”
Chuy nodded. “Yes, of course I did. And I prepared him his first drink. He sipped it and said it was wonderful.”
Alma bit her lip. “Good. I’m sure you did it perfectly.” Should she make the critic a flight? “Did he order anything else?”
Chuy scrunched up his face. “No, he didn’t.”
