I’m not a relationship kind of girl. I’ve done my best to avoid them. I went with Emmanuel for the week because I told myself it was onlya week. Prior to that, when we were talking daily through messages and phone calls, it was new friends chatting. Or at least that’s what I like to tell myself. Now, I can’t seem to go an hour without thinking about the man…
“Do you regret it?” Rachel asks after we squeeze into our favorite booth.
“Regret what?”
“The week you spent in Vegas with him?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Well, there are parts I’d like to change, but I can’t.”Like the fact that he killed his mother to protect me. Or that he admitted that he’d killed his girlfriend.“But also, I think spending time in Vegas has been therapeutic. I put so much on that city when really I should have dumped all of it on the people who did it, not the place where it happened.”
“That’s something to take away then, I guess, along with all the orgasms that man gave you.”
“How do you know he gave me orgasms?” I raise a brow at her.
“Because only an idiot would go back for more if he didn’t deliver the first time. And you, my friend, are no idiot.” Rachel smirks.
“Why thank you, Doctor.” I smile at my friend. “How’s everything at the hospital?” I ask, because I don’t want this whole lunch to be about me.
“I thought I knew tired. Then I became a resident. It’s busy, so busy. But…” She pauses.
“But what?” I urge her.
“I’ve applied for a position in Seattle,” she says quietly.
“What? Seattle? Why? That’s so far away. First Charlotte and now you. I’m going to die old and alone,” I groan.
“Don’t be so dramatic. You’re going to end up with Emmanuel. We both know that man is not leaving you alone. And you love him. Whatever he’s done to make you want a break, I’m sure it will work itself out,” she tells me.
I wonder what she’d say if I told her I watched him kill his own mother? That’s out of the question, though.
“Maybe you should talk to Charlotte about him? She just married one of his friends.”
“I’m not bothering her with my relationship—or should I say non-relationship? She’s enjoying her time being a new wife, and I want her to be happy and carefree,” I say.
“It’s your choice, but I would not want to be you when she finds out you’re hiding this from her.” Rachel laughs.
“Pfft, I’ve got a bodyguard hanging around me 24/7. Not even Charlotte could penetrate that.” I gesture a thumb over my shoulder towards Enrique.
“Maybe, but I bet she’d give it her all,” Rachel counters, and we both laugh out loud, picturing our friend going berserk on a Mexican cartel member.
“I think it will all blow over soon,” I say at the same time my phone starts ringing from inside my purse. I frown when I pull it out and see Amy’s name on the screen. “Amy?” I answer.
She never calls. I always tell her to call if she needs me but she never does.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to do!” she shrieks.
“It’s okay. What’s happening?” I ask her.
“I was steaming some dresses. One of them caught fire and I couldn’t stop it. I’m so sorry. I ranout of the store,” she explains, and I hear fire trucks zooming past the diner.
I look up to Rachel, and without a word, I pick up my purse and run for the door. Before I can get there, Enrique is blocking the entrance. “Why are you running?” he asks me.
“Get out of my way!” I yell at him. “My store is on fire. I need to go.” I shove at his chest, but he doesn’t budge.
“What do you mean on fire?” Enrique grabs my wrist. He’s holding a pistol in his other hand, and then he’s dragging me out of the diner.
“Put that thing away. You’re going to draw unwanted attention to us. And let go of me!” I hiss. The moment I walk outside, I can spot the smoke billowing in the sky.
“Stay behind me. We need to get you out of here,” Enrique says.
