Kaya

On Tuesday when Alejandro came home from work we went bowling in Santa Monica. I hadn’t bowled in forever and had forgotten just how fun it was, but it all came rushing back when the two of us faced off trying to best each other. I liked that he didn’t go easy on me and I loved that no matter how hard he tried, I still beat him. Even better than that—he didn’t pout when he lost.

Paul had been one to throw a fit about everything. If he wasn’t number one, he was a prick. Although we’d dated when I was sixteen and he’d been twenty, I felt pretty confident that his personality likely hadn’t changed in the intervening years.

For the first time in my life, I was experiencing what it felt like to be with someone who treated me well. I’d avoided men for a reason, but with Alejandro, I was feeling more and more confident every day.

We stopped and picked up Chinese food on the way home. Once back at Emery's we set up at the kitchen table and ate while he answered my questions about his family. I was a little nervous about meeting all of them, but he went out of his way to reassure me that they'd love me.

I set my fork down onto my empty plate and pushed it away. "You mean as much as Rafe does?" I asked dryly.

He grimaced as he finished chewing his final bite. "I know he's a pain in the ass, but I promise you underneath the gruff exterior he's got a heart of gold. He just needs to remember that. The chip on his shoulder enters a room before he does. Like I told you before—it isn't you that he doesn't like. It's all women. It isn't personal, but I understand that it's frustrating. I'm sorry, Belleza. You shouldn't have to deal with this."

"Stop," I said firmly. "I shouldn't have said anything. I was just nervous that the rest of the family would be like him."

That made him laugh. "No. Most of the rest of my family is affectionate and friendly. My brother Mateo is a little slower to warm up, but that's because he's extremely overprotective of his wife. He worries about everything— and I have to admit that after what happened, it makes sense."

I cocked my head to the side. "Can you tell me what happened or is it something you'd prefer not to talk about?"

"I probably should've explained before now since it will also explain what's wrong with Rafael," he mused.

I admit that my curiosity was piqued. "How do the two things relate?"

He groaned as he leaned forward and started twirling a piece of my hair between his fingers. It was something he did often, and every time it made me feel all melty inside. The story he told me was heartbreaking for everyone involved except for Rafe's former girlfriend, Francesca. She was, without a doubt, related to the devil.

By the time Alejandro was finished filling me in, I had a whole new outlook about Rafael Cruz because I understood exactly why he had the chip on his shoulder. Like me, he'd been hurt by a decision he'd made that had affected the people around him negatively.

“I feel a lot better now that I know why he is the way he is,” I said.

“I should’ve told you before. My only excuse is that I hate talking about it,” Alejandro said as he picked up our dishes and carried them to the sink.

I shrugged as I pushed in the chairs at the island. “No, I get it. It's unpleasant to think about things like that. I've got issues of my own that I don't like bringing up."

Alejandro turned after putting the dishes down in the sink and walked back to me. Wrapping his arms around my middle, he stared down at me. "We all do, Belleza. I never want to push you to do anything you don't feel ready for, and this is one of those times where I know you don't want to go there. Anytime you want to talk about it; I'm here."

I had to pinpoint the exact moment I realized I was falling in love with him, that was it. He was rock steady, and he never pushed, all while making certain that I felt desired and valued.

* * *

That Thursday while Alejandro was at work and I was busy answering comments on my latest YouTube video, Dean and Gigi called with an update on their progress. They were at an RV Park in Texas that they’d been to before and they’d be spending another two nights there having a reunion with some of their RV travel club friends. I loved how much fun they had while they were out exploring.

We talked about the usual—their route, how the RV life was treating them—before they turned the conversation to me. Since they had me on speaker, I was able to speak to them both at the same time., When they asked me what was new, I took a deep breath and blurted, “I met a guy.”

I’d avoided telling them before because I was still feeling tentative about it. After the night we had Chinese food, I knew the way I felt about Alejandro Cruz was bigger than I’d prepared for—but I didn’t want to turn back. That being the case, I’d known I needed to fill Gigi and Dean in.

There were about two seconds of absolute silence as they digested what I’d said. Gigi reacted first. “This is real? You met a guy?”

I laughed, happy we weren’t FaceTiming since I was busy blushing to the roots of my hair. “Yes, I did. You’ll meet him when you’re here.”

“We’re going to need more detail than that, Sunshine,” Dean said. “Who is he and where did you meet him?”

I told them everything about the day we’d met, including my near-death fall from the top of the Cruz family compound gate.

“Jesus, Sunshine,” Dean grumbled, “you could’ve been hurt. Even thinking of you falling makes me nauseous.”

“I’m okay,” I reminded him. “Alejandro caught me and things haven’t been the same since.”

“Tell us what happened next,” Gigi demanded excitedly.

I went on, filling them in on everything from our first outing to the Farmer’s Market to our dinner date at Ocean and Vine.

“I can’t wait to meet the man who finally turned your head,” Dean said cheerfully.

I’d neglected to tell them one critical detail, but I knew it was time to fill them in. “I can’t wait for you to meet Alejandro either but there’s one more thing I need to tell you,” I said slowly.

“Oh no, Sunshine,” Gigi said anxiously. “Please tell us he isn’t married.”

I groaned. “No! Of course not. There is a problem with him though. He doesn’t live in America full time. His home is in Barcelona. If this goes any further, I’ll only be able to see him when he’s in the states. He mentioned once before that he’s in America for about four months a year.”

A few seconds passed before Dean spoke. “We don’t want you to get hurt, Kaya. I’m glad you’re open to dating but I know you—we know you. If you fall in love with this man not being able to see him for months at a time will break your heart. Have you talked to him about this? If so, what are his thoughts? If he’s okay with it, I probably won’t be okay with him. I knew from the get go that I’d never be able to be separated from Gigi for any length of time. I won’t give my seal of approval for anyone that doesn’t feel just as passionately about you.”

I chewed on my lip as I considered what they’d said. I knew they were right and I also knew that I had already fallen for him. There was no turning back, and I knew it.

“We haven’t talked about it yet but we will,” I said firmly. “Now that I’ve said it to you I know I need to follow through and discuss it with him soon.”

“Don’t wait, Sunshine. Better you prepare yourself to nip it in the bud now if it isn’t going anywhere.”

I frowned, my knee jiggling as I swallowed past the lump in my throat. It was far too late to nip anything with Alejandro in the bud. In all honesty, I suspected it was too late the minute I toppled off the gate into his arms.

I wrapped up my conversation with Dean and Gigi with assurances that I knew what I was doing—even though I wasn’t certain that I did. It hadn’t been their intention to hurt me but even thinking about Alejandro leaving me for months at a time made me anxious. I spent the remainder of the afternoon worrying myself into a state of panic about the future.

What if I was head over heels for someone who only saw me as a vacation romance?