I face Mateo, but watch Cruz out of the corner of my eye. She’s looking at her dad and sipping from her cup.
Cruz glances down at her drink for a second before jerking the cup away from her mouth, Sprite spewing from her lips. An eardrum-piercing screech escapes her mouth as she hops out of her chair. Nadia studies her own cup before her eyes go wide. Unlike her sister, she calmly places the cup back on the table.
“You!” Cruz yells as she points at Mateo. “You put a bug in my cup!”
Mateo holds his hands up. “Why would I ever do that?”
“Because you’re the worst brother ever!” Cruz shouts.
I don’t know who to watch, Cruz or Nadia. Though Cruz is yelling at Mateo, Nadia’s smirk has caught my attention. She grabs her cup and slowly pushes back from her chair. I drop Mateo’s hand and scoot to the side. I catch Nadia’s eye, and I’m immensely grateful I didn’t partake in this prank.
Nadia’s arm swings forward, catapulting her drink into Mateo’s face. A half-melted ice cube with spider legs sticking out lands in Mateo’s curly hair.
I jump out of my chair before I can blink, and I’m suddenly five feet from Mateo.
I know the spider is dead. But it’s a spider. They gross me out, even when they’re dead.
No, thank you.
Mateo doesn’t react, even as Sprite drips down his face onto his half-wet shirt. He calmly turns to me, the ice cube finally falling from his hair. “Hey Buttercup, want to come give me a kiss?”
I let out an undignified snort. “Not on your life.”
He shoots from his chair and starts backing out of the room. “Byefamilia, can’t help clean up dinner tonight. Gotta go wash off so the chances of kissing my wife can be revived.” He darts through the doorway and the next thing I know I hear a door slam, and I see Mateo running down the path to the orchards with his suitcase over his head.
Chapter 35
Gettin’ Cozy
Mateo
Dinner went well even though I got Sprite and a spider thrown in my face. I honestly didn’t expect anything else. Cruz is all bark and no bite. It’s Nadia who you have to watch out for. She might be too much like me when it comes to revenge.
The quiet ache in my heart that’s been present during the past few weeks of being in California has eased tonight. Family dinner, having Holly fit right in, and being able to fulfill more of my responsibilities to my family’s farm this weekend has been relieving.
I think I also missed pranking my family. But I don’t really want to prank Holly, I just want to kiss her. One day I hope we’ll make our marriage real, but for now, I’m content with the pace of our relationship. Every day I learn something new about Holly, and fall more deeply in love with her.
I dry off my face and hands, but don’t move away from the sink.
I get to take Holly to my house. Holly is going to sleep in my house. In my room, in my bed, because it’s the best one there, and she deserves nothing less. I get to try out my guest bedroom for once and see if I got a good mattress.
Worries plague me.
I didn’t think twice about invading Holly’s space in her house. I wonder if she felt this intimidated and uncertain about me moving in. Is she going to like it? Is it big enough? Pretty enough?
Holly likes nice things. My house is new, and I’ve taken good care of it, but it isn’t anywhere near as high-end as her mansion of a house.
But it’s my home.
Man, do I hope she likes it.
I push off the counter and turn to face the gauntlet.
Time to retrieve my wife and bring her back tomyhome.
The walk to the farmhouse is quiet, and I take a moment to pray. I pray for guidance, for increased love, for patience toward my parents, and all the other things my mind can think of. I miss this about working on the farm, my prayer walks with God when no one is around.
I walk up the back steps and open the door, laughter ringing out through the halls. I follow the sound to the living room, where everyone lounges on couches. Cruz is animatedly telling a story that has Holly and Nadia in a fit of giggles.
