“You?” she half smiled. “I would have never imagined.”
“I know it’s hard to believe I wasn’t the crown jewel of high society, but it’s true. I have never felt comfortable around people. And when I am, my mouth takes on a mind of its own. I cannot tell you how many times I left a party early because I embarrassed myself in conversation. I haven’t…” He stopped. “Never mind…Are you feeling better?”
“You haven’t what, Lalo?”
“Nothing. You will probably just tease me for it.”
A smile pulled at her lips. “Now I must know.”
He turned his head back toward the barn. Even from this distance, the sound of slow music playing could be heard.
Lalo gulped. “I haven’t danced with anyone before.”
She was readying to tease him, but the pure mortification on his face had her schooling her features. “Why not? I’m certain every young person at those parties wished for you to ask them.”
“I guess I was afraid of coming off as silly or getting laughed at. But mostly because…I don’t like people.”
A wholehearted laugh escaped her. “You and I are much more alike than I originally thought.”
He chuckled, and her body softened. She wondered what else she could say to lure that amusement out.
Stop that,she snapped. Their courtship was not real.
Carolina changed the subject. “What were you and Nena speaking about before I made a fool of myself?”
He toed the dirt with his boot. “She was reminding me how special you are. She told me any man would be lucky to have you, even if you are a torment at times.”
“And what did you say?” Her eyes traced over Lalo. With the candlelight of the barn and the torches flickering in the breeze behind him, he looked like he was made from the night itself. She liked watching him in any light, but here, away from the crowd, with only the stars and the moon spectating, Carolina found Lalo to be the most beautiful person in all the world.
“I agreed with her,” he said, slowly shifting his body closer to hers. “You are exceptional.”
Carolina held his gaze. She was good at running from her emotions or things that made her feel vulnerable. But after speaking to Tía Sofía, after feeling raw in her spirit but powerful too, she realized she didn’t want to hide herself from him.
“Lalo, you told me you’ve never asked anyone to dance, right?”
His brows quirked.
“Well, that isn’t true. Youhaveasked someone to dance.” She gestured toward herself. “You asked me.”
“Sí. But I don’t recall receiving an answer.”
Dance with your love. Dance until your knees ache and your bones are brittle. Until your hair grows white. And when you find your love in el Cielo, dance some more.
—Pío Parra, “Lamentations of the Heart”
CHAPTER 31
Lalo
“Yes,” she said.
He gulped. “Yes?”
She rolled her eyes. Carolina swept forward and rested a hand on his chest. His body shuddered in response. “My answer is yes. I will dance with you.”
“Here?” He gestured toward their surroundings. They were alone, save for the chickens sleeping on their perches in the coop nearest to them. And the dogs. Those blasted dogs always seemed to be nearby.
“Why not? We can still hear the music. And everyone believes we are in love.”
