Holly is still holding my hand.
It’s a start.
From here, I just need to convince her our relationship—our marriage—is worth fighting for, and that I’m worth keeping around.
Chapter 14
Couch Conversations
Mateo
We exit the courthouse, after our two obligatory pictures, and I put my hand on Holly’s back as we walk to her Lexus.
I had volunteered my rusty pickup truck as our get-away vehicle, but I was rejected. The suggestion did make Holly laugh for a second, so I guess it was a win. I’m ready to be back in my pickup again, which I left parked in Holly’s garage. I’m tired of being chauffeured around.
At least I’m driving, even if we’re riding off into the afternoon sun in her Lexus. It seems less romantic than my pickup truck, but maybe I’ve been listening to too many country songs about kissing in trucks.
I turn around and wave goodbye to my mami again, but she doesn’t seem to get the hint. She’s a few feet behind us. I thought when I charged Alex with making sure my family got to the airport for their evening flight, he understood that he was supposed to run some interference for me.
Guess my telepathic communication didn’t work.
How disappointing.
Holly and I might not be going on a honeymoon, but I am looking forward to spending the rest of the day with her. We need to talk about that kiss.
I open the white passenger door and Holly slips inside, tucking the skirt of her dress under her thighs. She doesn’t meet my eyes, only flashes a brief smile at me before staring down at her shoes. I close the door and walk back around the front of the car, which is where Mami catches me.
Mami’s arms wrap around me and I return her hug. “Love you, mijo. Don’t forget. Latin lover skills,” she whispers before patting my cheek and stepping out of our hug. She blows Holly a kiss and waves before walking back to my dad, who stands on the sidewalk by the building next to my sisters.
I open the driver’s door and slip into the seat.
“Love you, mijo!” Mami yells as if she hadn’t just said the same thing five seconds before. I chuckle and shake my head, waving at my family through the window.
I start the car, and I’m tempted to turn on my seat heater because where it was warm and loving outside of the car, it’s ice cold inside this metal box on wheels.
Holly won’t look at me but stares out the window.
I leave the car in park.
“Can you put in our address? I don’t have it memorized yet.”
She turns, tapping the screen to pull up the address to her house on the fancy iPad thingy. She doesn’t say a single word and turns back to her view of the packed parking lot.
Many people think I’m a total goofball. They’re about eighty percent right. The other twenty percent of me understands serious moments and the need for quiet. I might feel like talking because I know I messed up our kiss and the silent treatment hurts, but I will not be forcing any conversations on my new wife.
I can respect her need for silence and time to process.
On second thought. I think I might need some silence too.
I drive us through the hills and up to Holly’s house in the Palisades. It’s a beautiful area up here. I catch a glimpse of the ocean view out my window,and gratitude for God’s creations fills me. There’s something awe-inspiring about the ocean, and I can’t wait to look at it every day and have that reminder of God’s majesty.
I pull into Holly’s garage and park next to my pickup. Holly immediately unbuckles her seat belt and throws open her door, practically sprinting out of the car.
I lean my head on the steering wheel and let out a deep breath.
I need help. I can’t do this.
I sit up and bow my head.
