Page 39 of Out of Office
“I want it to work out.” I confessed all the fears and hopes of my relationship with Gen in a simple sentence.
“And it will. Because you deserve love.”
The burn behind my eyes sneaked up on me, and her hug lingered as I walked out to find Julín waiting by the car.
“Ready?” he asked and jumped in the car before I had more to say.
“Yeah. You sure you don’t wanna stop by your mom’s before we head out?” I backed out, the gravel and dust picking up as we left Villa Bonita behind.
“No. What for? She’s gonna try to pray the gay away again. Thanks for letting me stay in one of the cabanas,” he said, subdued.
“Listen, I—”
“Nah, it’s good. I get it. I get that you think you love the woman,” he said, cutting me off.
“Don’t get twisted. I don’t think. I know. The only reason I haven’t asked her for more is because of Claudia and the kids and you and LasDell.” I tried not to let the annoyance bleed into my tone.
He waved his hand like he was swatting away my thoughts.
“Listen, you don’t owe me explanations. If you are happy, I’m happy. But make sure you are happy...that you are doing this for yourself.”
Talk about whiplash. Just a few minutes ago, Claudia urged me to do this for myself, and now Julín implied I was considering proposing for other reasons besides my own.
I wouldn’t let this exasperation win; I couldn’t wait to see Genevieve, who was probably in her meetings right now with Anita. She had arrived last night, and I wanted to greet her at the airport, but she’d known I’d driven to Aguimar three days ago to help Claudia and Mario after the entire family went down with the flu. They were finally on the mend, so Claudia had finally convinced us to head to the city to meet Genevieve.
Last night I’d struggled to fall asleep with the knowledge that only fifty-eight kilometers separated us.
The drive to the city flew by in tense silence. Julín and I hashed out how to move forward with the business if things worked out with Genevieve and things went the way I expected them to go. A cautious excitement built as the busy lights of the early evening sped by us, the afternoon rush of drivers fighting to get home.
“So you’re gonna ask this weekend?”
“If things go well...there are a few things she and I have to discuss first...”
“What things?”
I shrugged, not wanting to get into it. Julín wasn’t thrilled about my decision, so sharing felt off.
“You and your mystery. Just head on to your house. I can walk from there,” Julín offered as he lived nearby in another efficiency.
“I can drop you off, man.”
“I feel like walking.”
We spotted a vehicle waiting in the driveway with the lights on as we approached my apartment.
“Did the owner of your rental get a new car?” Julín asked curiously.
“No, not that I know of...”
As I parked my SUV next to the awaiting car, Genevieve descended from the vehicle, a vision in a blue wrap dress, a cautious smile as she swiped her straight ebony strands back from her face, and Anita followed behind with a wide grin.
The balmy evening was no match for the heat bursting inside of me. Every muscle in my body vibrated, and lightness crept up as Gen waited as I parked the car.
“Preciosa? I thought we were meeting in your hotel?”
“I know, but I figured I’d come over tonight, and then we could move to the Casco hotel tomorrow as planned...”
“Oh damn, you have money like that? Staying in Casco, huh,” Julín mumbled, and I ignored his comment, the same as I ignored the dent on my credit card. Gen was worth the expense.