Our moms have been best friends for almost a decade, yet besides the New Year’s Eve trip, I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve met him in person. Mostly by my own design, but that’s partly due to the tiny bit of self-preservation in me that’s still activated.
Because, you see, Mateo isn’t just impressive on the baseball field.
Nope, God clearly has favorites.
He’s also insanely attractive. Like wipe the drool off your chin hot. And it only gets worse when you see him interact with hisdaughter. The man has heart eyes when it comes to her, and it turns the entire human population into putty in his hands.
And that’s great if you’re into really tall men with muscles designed to throw balls close to one hundred miles per hour. Men with short, brown hair and light hazel eyes. Along with a plump bottom lip and straight white teeth designed for toothpaste commercials. And while we’re at it, let’s not forget the perfectly trimmed beard that must be tended to by the people who keep the Versailles garden impeccable. I have seen that man up close and in HD, and not a single hair is out of place, not even an ingrown in sight.
Ugh, I can’t believe I’ve stooped low enough to wish an ingrown hair on someone’s face.
But truth be told, even if he didn’t have a reserved exterior when it came to everyone besides his mother and his daughter, and if he were certifiable enough to bypass all the stunning women on the planet who would gladly throw themselves at his feet, then decide that I, Isabella, were someone he would be interested in… yeah it would still be a hard no for me.
Because not only have I sworn off men, but even more so a specific breed.
Baseball players.
“Isabella Marie Morales. Por favor, no seas tan dramática.” My mother disrupts my thoughts. “Just give it a chance, for Anna’s sake. You know that Bethzaida can no longer run after her after she got that hip replacement that made her miss the New Year’s Eve trip. And Anna is starting school for the very first time. La pobrecita, she must be so excited and nervous.”
The mention of Anna makes me smile, because she is quite possibly the funniest kid I’ve ever met. I swear, if we were the same age, we’d be best friends.
The thought quickly sours in my stomach and makes me feel pathetic, since a kindergartener is the coolest person I’ve hung out with in a while.
“And all the perks, Isa. You know that man will be paying a pretty penny for whoever takes care of his little girl.”
“Mami, it’s not always about the money,” I grumble as I take a bite out of an organic apple, one that I most certainly did not pay for when I went grocery shopping with my mom earlier this week.
Mami stares at my apple as if she’s recalling that fact as well, then continues. “Are you listening to me? That little girl will be going to school, so for eight hours a day, you will be getting paid for doing absolutely nothing. Plus, we’re already in August. The season ends in October, and that’s only if they make it to the World Series.”
I slow my chewing as I think that nugget over. Eight hours of uninterrupted paid alone time means I’d have time to dedicate to my book cover design business and work on marketing myself better, as well as work on premade covers.
I try to keep my face impassive as my mom stares me down. I know she’s capable of sniffing out any scent of interest, and I’m not ready to show her my cards quite yet.
She finally turns her head and gives a sigh worthy of a telenovela award. “Okay, well, I tried.” My mom starts spraying down the counter in front of her. “I guess you really must love living here with your Papi and me. I mean, I really can’t blame you. We are fun to be around.” She begins to wipe down the counter like she doesn’t have a single care in the world until she spins quickly, facing me. “Although, if I were you, I would jump at the chance to live in a beautiful high-rise apartment that overlooks Central Park and is within walking distance of all your favorite restaurants…” She dreamily looks up at the ceiling.
I look up as well, wondering if there’s a mystery stain up there I should be worried about, until I realize I have no idea what she was referring to. “Why would I suddenly be living in a fancy apartment by Central Park?”
My mother’s smile unfurls slowly as she tilts her head. “Oh, did I forget to mention that the job comes with your own room in their apartment? Well, practically a whole floor since their rooms are on the second floor and the guest room is on the first.” She nods to herself. “And Mateo would be away half the time anyway. So the lucky person who manages to snag that dream job will not only get paid spectacularly for a few hours of work, but she’ll also get to live in the lap of luxury.”
A tiny squeak escapes my tight-lipped mouth.
Shit.
I’d be lying if I said still waking up in my childhood bedroom while listening to my mother unmercifully blast old-school bachata while vacuuming at an ungodly hour wasn’t making a good argument for me to get off my ass and finally put on my big girl panties.
My resolve is slowly crumbling, but there’s still something holding me back.
My mom moves closer to me, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder as her eyes soften.
She knows what’s holding me back.
“This isn’t the same thing, Isa. The world has moved on, and you deserve to as well. You need to start putting yourself first and stop focusing on what others may think about you.”
My eyes threaten to fill with tears, so I quickly hug my mom around her middle while she’s still holding her cleaning supplies.
I release her, then take a step back, nodding. “Okay. I think I can do this.”
She smiles brightly. “Yes, you can do this, mija.”
