“Oh my god, Manny,” Isa says, walking toward me. She’s wearing a black dress that shows off her perfect curves and tanned legs.
“Hey,” I say, disappointed.
Not to see her, but just at the timing. I had planned this whole thing in my head on how I would surprise her with the car. It may have involved her jumping up and kissing me, but that was probably not where it’d go now. Her eyes widen, and she looks over the car.
“You did all this?” she asks.
“I was going to surprise you.”
“I can’t believe it.” She touches the car, and her eyes look up at me, still full of awe. “How? Why? I mean, did you do all this?”
“I should have asked, but I figured you’d want the car reupholstered and then, after that, I just got into the painting. I can undo it if you want.” I lie.
I had spent the last week throwing myself into working on the car. The car became a passion project, while I avoided my obsession, which was now standing before me. When shedoesn’t say anything, my heart falls into a panic. Greñas had said the bright pink was over the top.
She moves to the back of the car and gasps. I close my eyes and swallow down the thickness in my throat.
“Isa, I should have asked before-”
“No. No. It’s... I mean, this is amazing.” She holds out a hand to the design I had done on the back of the car.
“It was Greñas’s idea to add the Virgencita,” I explain, moving next to her and staring down at the work.
“Manny, I love it. I just don’t know how I’m going to be able to pay you back for it.”
“You don’t have to pay me, Isa. I know things have been tight, and I thought maybe you could put the car into the Hillcrest Super Show? This year, the grand prize for the best in design is $10,000. We could split the money if that makes you feel better.”
I’d just put it into the savings account I started for Junior, but she didn’t need to know that. She’s too prideful to just take the gift, and I’m too lovestruck to tell her the real reason I worked fourteen-hour days all this week.
It is for the way she’s looking at me right now. The way her brown eyes search mine, filled with gratitude. It’s the way everything inside of me wants to hug her, to shower her with all the love I have to give inside me. As if my heart had only ever belonged to her.
“Are those for Junior?” I ask. She follows my eyes to the bag clenched in her hand.
“No. Um, Junior asked me already if he could go to Darius’s house. I brought these for you. As a peace offering.”
“A peace offering? For what?”
“I just, um.. Can I use your washing machine?” she asks.
“Ya, sure. Come inside.”
Three swipes of deodorant and a spritz of body spray, I pray like hell I don’t smell like sweat. I walk out and find Isa plating the tacos.
“Those smell good,” I say, walking in.
“Much better than the last time I was here,” she jokes.
“Were you able to get your clothes in the washer?” I ask.
“Um. Ya. About that. I was lying.” She bites down on the bottom of her lip. “It would have been believable too if I hadn’t forgotten actual laundry to wash. I came by to see if you were avoiding me.”
“No. Why would you think I was avoiding you?”
“I didn’t see you all week at practice. I wasn’t sure if maybe I did something wrong.”
“No. I just got really into the car, and—I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d even notice.” I admit.
Her brows bunch, but she doesn’t say anything.
