“Back to texting each other?” I mumble to myself. “Fuck that.”
I turn back in my seat with new determination.
I order amorir soñando,a non-alcoholic Dominican drink, to help keep me fueled. I need all my wits if I’m going to do this right.
I’m finally coming clean.
I’m laying all the cards on the table.
And all I can hope is that by the end of it, he’ll still want to call me his girl.
23
Antonio
I needto catch a fucking break.
I’m still fuming at the memory of seeing that guy sleazing over Nikki by the bar. My brain didn’t even conjure a single thought before I realized I was sprinting my ass toward them, dropping the heavy weights I was using in the dust.
And then I had to go ahead and add the cherry on top by calling her “my girl.”
The anger and humiliation I felt were enough to make me steer clear of her for the rest of the day. When I saw her by the pool, I took off toward the beach. When I spotted her approaching me at lunch by the pool restaurant, I left my meal half eaten and ordered more food to be delivered to the bungalow.
I don’t trust myself around her right now. So the space is very much necessary.
She holds the power to drive me mad, and I need to get my head on straight if I plan on leaving this island with Nikki firmly planted by my side.
My girl.
My Nicolette.
Mi corazón.
But a part of my mind can’t help harping on today’s date. Our morbid anniversary. Seven years ago, to the day, I fell in love with this woman at first sight, only for her to forget me the next day. As hard as I try, I can’t help reliving the week that followed. When she left me, and my bleeding heart, on the dirty New York City sidewalk.
24
Antonio
SEVEN YEARS AGO – DÍA DE LOS REYES MAGO
New York City
I’ve been itching to talk to her all night. But I know if I make a move for her here, all the women’s antenna’s will be up. And the last thing I need is to rope Nicolette into some juicy chisme on her first night with my family. As if my stupid heart wasn’t a goner for her already, seeing her fit perfectly with my loved ones just sealed the deal for me.
I see her grab her coat and take it as my cue to exit as well.
“Are you sure you don’t want to spend the night here? We can share the guest room,” Amelia suggests to Nicolette.
“No, it’s all right. I have work in the morning, and it would be easier to just get ready for the day from our place.” She puts on her coat.
“I’m actually leaving too.” I quickly shrug on my coat before I get pulled into the Hispanic forty-five-minute goodbye cycle. “I’ll walk you home. It’s late.”
Nicolette looks my way but doesn’t meet my eyes. “No, that’s okay. It’s just a couple of blocks.” She walks to move past me, but I step ahead and open the door for her. “No worries. It’s on the way to my place.”
She gives me a weak smile and yells goodbye to everyone. The choir of voices and music quiet down immediately after I close the door behind me.
“Tony, it’s fine. You really don’t have to walk me.”
