“Okay, woah.” I pat her hands before disentangling my body from hers. “I came to work through some edits with Jessie, and also escape the office, and have the best brew in town.” I gesture toward Jessie.
“Black?” he asks, whipping a towel over his shoulder.
“Always.” I sigh contently, in preparation for the caffeine juice of the gods to inject into my body and make me come alive again. “And to answer your other questions, I’ve just been really busy. I want this promotion so bad. I’ve been working with another author too. Her book is amazing, and I think it’s really going to hit the charts. Between that and Jessie’s, I know the job is mine, I just don’t want to drop the ball and let anything get in the way.” She nods in understanding and we take a seat together at the table I’ve claimed as my own. “Plus, you leftmeand moved in with your lumberjack lover, so don’t blame me for not being around,” I joke playfully, but I can see the accusation hit across her face and I have instant regret.
“I would offer to move back in, but I…reallydon’t want to. I love being with Jay.” She smiles, nervously playing with her hands in her lap. I ignore the almost-adorable blush that hits Jessie’s cheeks at hearing Casey’s nickname for him, and I reach across and rest a hand on Casey’s arm.
“Awh, Case, that was selfish and so non–people pleaser of you. I’m so proud.” She shakes me off, rolling her eyes at me.
“Ha-ha.”
“I wouldn’t let you leave, anyway, sunshine.” Jessie gives her a gentle kiss on the head as he places my coffee in front of me.
“Please leave the PDA at home, I’d like to finish my coffee and not barf.”
“You were not hugged enough as a child, Garcia.”
“I wasn’t hugged,period,caveman.” I smirk at him, knowing I just made him uncomfortable, and Casey smacks my arm, shaking her head at Jessie, telling him to ignore me.
“How’s Addy, I haven’t been very good at catching up with her either.”
“Noah’s back for a couple of weeks before he heads back to Chicago again. I assume they are spending a lot of time ‘catching up.’” I’d seen Noah last week at Pucks with the guys, which makes sense why she hasn’t followed up on her request for coffee.
“We sho—” The sound of my phone buzzing interrupts us and I see my father’s name pop up on my screen.
“Oh, you get that, I need to finish helping Jay with the stock anyway.” She stands to leave the table, and I really wish she wasn’t so goddamn accommodating because I’ve been avoiding this call, and I don’t want an excuse to answer it.
“Don’t you have a studio to run, why are you working for him?”
“That’s what I keep telling her,” Jessie levels Casey with a begrudging scold that is full of love.
“He has an author signing this week and he doesn’t know how to make things pretty.” She chuckles, knowing Jessie heard the insult, but he just smirks at her, with literal heart eyes as he watches her head back up the stairs.
“Who knew you were such a sap,” I say in Jessie’s direction and he just shakes his head at me, finishing off a coffee order.
“Let me know when you’re ready and I’ll come over.” He gestures to my phone, which is now ringingagain. I sigh dramatically, once again reevaluating all my life choices before answering the phone.
“Hola, Padré.”
“Rosita, finally, you grace us with your voice. Why did it take you so long to answer.”Maybe because I have a life, one I am desperately trying to forget that you’re a part of.Of course I don’t say that.
“I’ve just been swamped with work. About to head into a meeting. What do you need?” I force through gritted teeth, trying my best not to draw attention to me.
“The Castillos are having an opening night for one of their new hotels on Saturday. I will have a car sent to your apartment. It’s black tie, dress appropriately,” he says as though the fact he had to call and tell me is quite an inconvenience, rather than asking me, or even providing more notice. No, of course not. But this is what it’s been like my whole life. Just one demand after the other. Expectations upon expectations. And I’m supposed to be the dutiful daughter that is gentle, agreeable, and above all else, seen and not heard.
“I can’t. I have the charity gala for my job that night. I am up for a promotionandit is a part of their rebrand, I can’tmiss that.” I keep my voice steady, calm, and appeasing, both for the sake of the people in this café and my own; I don’t want to incite war.
“Rosita, this is important for your future.”As a trophy rather than a human. “If you cannot skip this gala, you can do both.” I choke on my words, standing from the table and exiting the café, needing to pace, or get air, or something.Is he serious?
“Padré, I cannot do both. I need to be there for the whole gala.”
“I have given you everything you’ve ever asked for, Rosita. The apartment you live in and the clothes on your back. I never ask you for anything.” It is astounding that lies spill from his mouth like air rather than the poison that they are. “Youwilldo this, or you’ll realize just how muchfreedomyou really have with your little job.”
“Wha—”
“The car will arrive at six. Be on time, and be presentable.” He disconnects the call and I’m left standing outside Jessie’s café, staring at my phone.
I can’t hear anything over the sound of blood rushing through my head, the feel of my heart beating so hard and fast in my chest it feels like it’s going to fall out. Every time I feel like I have some semblance of control in my life, it is yanked out from under me, showing me how little this life is mine. It’s a humbling experience, like existing on the outside of my body looking in. The threat continues to ring in my ear. I thought I had created a life separate from my father, but really, how separate am I? Is there truly nowhere I could go that he can’t reach me? I was under the impression I obtained my job without the use of my last name…but am I wrong?
