Chapter 7
The next morning, I hurried downstairs to catch my father before he left for work. “Good morning, Dad.”
“Good morning, sweetheart.”
“Can we use the car tonight?”
“Where to this time?”
“Same place, and same people as last Friday. It was fun and they invited us again.”
He looked at me for a moment. Was he considering saying no?
My heart raced and a feeling of dread and disappointment spread over me.
“Okay, but I get nervous with you two walking around in Mexico at night. You know how those people can be.”
His comment puzzled and annoyed me, but I decided not to go there. “That’s why we go with a group.” I placed my hand on his arm to reassure him. “Really, Dad, don’t worry. We’ll be safe. I promise.”
“Just stick together.” He looked serious.
“We will, Dad. Thanks.” I kissed his cheek and darted off for the kitchen to get some breakfast. Dawn came in a couple of minutes behind me and I gave her thumbs-up, letting her know it was a go for tonight.
~ ~ ~
The day took forever. Our interior design presentation went well, since it was far more detailed and laid out better than any of the other projects. It helped because I had subject matter experts in my family that told me what they liked and didn’t like in fancy office spaces. We’d even added a wet bar to the space. I’m sure the teacher wasn’t super impressed by that, but we thought it was brilliant.
Overall, I figured ours was the best but then again, I was biased and very competitive. After the presentation, I just wanted the day to be done. Each class seemed to take longer than usual and I found myself daydreaming about what the evening would bring.
Finally, the last bell rang. I found Dawn and we walked out together. As we headed toward where Diego waited for us, a yellow Camaro pulled up beside us. I stopped walking and looked at it. Nobody else had the same car as Javier, but I couldn’t see him through the tinted windows.
“Is that who I think it is?” Dawn asked.
The passenger window rolled down and Javier leaned across the seats. “You need a ride home?”
“That’d be great.” I started to open the door.
Dawn stood for a minute, clearly not expecting me to jump into his car, but she didn’t say anything to stop me.
“Will you tell Diego I got a ride home?”
She nodded. “What do you want me to tell Mom?”
“Just tell her I’m right behind you.”
“Okay.” Dawn agreed, with a worried expression.
Javier pulled away from the curb as soon as I buckled my seatbelt. “How was school?”
“Long and boring. How was your day?”
“Long and boring as well.” He grinned a little when he said that.
As we drove, I realized he hadn’t asked me for directions. “Do you need me to tell you where my house is?”
“No. I know where it is.”
“Really,” I said, with my own sarcasm this time. “How is it you know where I live?”
“I know a lot of things.”
“That is kind of stalkerish, don’t you think?”
“Stalkerish? Is that a real word?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t think it is.” Then he laughed, “So, tell me Kayla, how do you like Nogales so far?”
“I’m getting used to it.”
“I assume it’s a lot different than Harrisburg.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Have you ever been to a Mexican wedding?”
“No. Is it different in some way from an American wedding?”
He smiled. “I think so. My cousin is getting married in two weeks in Nogales, Mexico. Would you like to go with me?”
I glanced at him as he continued to drive. Had he really just invited me to a family wedding? I tried to sound calm when I answered, but inside I was screaming YES! “I’d love to.”
He smiled. Once again, it melted me and I took a minute to drink it in.
“Good. It'll be fun.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and handed it to me. “Put your number in here so I can call you with the date and time. Or, just to call you.”
“What? You don’t already have my number? What kind of stalker are you anyway?”
I took the phone and entered my contact information. I handed it back to him, took out my cell and asked, "What’s your number?”
He took the phone out of my hands and put in his number while he was driving.
“I could’ve entered it, you know.”
“I have two cell phone numbers, one for here and one for Mexico. I put them both in your phone in case you need me.”
“Why a separate phone for Mexico?”
“They block the service to us in the States so instead of having international service my uncle gives us all phones with service in Mexico that he gets for less money.”
“So, my phone won’t work once I cross into Mexico?”
“Not unless you have international service.”
“Good to know. My parents would freak if they knew that.”
He pulled up in front of my house. “What’s the code?”
All of the sudden I didn’t know what to do. Should I give him the code to punch in? My parents would kill me if they learned I gave the code to someone I really didn’t know very well. Do I get out and walk around the car to punch in the code, or do I lean over him and punch in the code?
“I won’t assault you. I promise.”
I laughed. He’d been watching me sit here and have a mental argument about what to do. I decided to lean over him and punch in the code. I smelled his cologne, which I recognized from Ambercromie with its deep woody aroma. As I brushed up against him, my skin felt like it was being ignited. I concentrated on putting in the number and not on reaching out to touch him.
The gates opened. I sat back in my seat as Javier drove up to the front door. Smiling at him, I reached for the door to get out of the car. “Thank you for the ride home.”
“Thank you for saying you'll go to the wedding with me.” Javier got out of the car. I panicked, worried he expected to come into the house or something, but he made his way to my side of the car and opened the door.
His smile revealed his dimple. “Will I see you tonight?”
I nodded. “In a couple of hours.”
I got out of his car. I watched as he pulled away and disappeared out the gates. I turned and went into the house, floating rather than walking.
“Where have you been?” Mom came to meet me in the entry way, glaring at me. “Why didn’t you come home with Diego?”
“I came right home. Didn’t Dawn tell you that I got a ride?” Why was Mom so mad at me? What was the big deal?
“It isn’t appropriate for you to be riding in cars with people we don’t know.”
“Mom, this is someone I know and I came right home.”
Planting her hands on her hips, she continued to frown at me.
I hoped she wasn't going to say I couldn’t go out tonight. Tears welled up in my eyes at the thought of not being able to go to the pub and see Javier. “Mom, please. I’m sorry. I didn’t know it’d upset you so much. It wasn’t a big deal when I had friends in Harrisburg. Why is it different here? Why do I have to be alone or with Dawn all the time?”
“Honey, you don’t.” Mom immediately looked less angry. “I’m sorry too. I just got scared. We haven’t been here more than a couple weeks. I haven’t met your friends or their parents yet.”
“I didn’t mean to make you mad. Veronica’s cousin, Javier gave me a ride home and we came straight here. He’s nice and I really like him.”
“I don’t think I like the sound of that.”
“What? That I really like him?” My voice started to rise. “Mom, I’m a senior in high school for God’s sake. I’m eighteen. You and Dad were planning your wedding when you were my age.”
“What’s with that dreamy sound of head over heels? Don't throw away your future on some boy.”
“I’m not throwing away my future because I met a boy, Mom! I had a boyfriend in Harrisburg, and that was acceptable. Why is this different? Besides, Javier isn’t even my boyfriend yet. He’s just a friend!”
There’s no way I’d even ask to go to the wedding with him now since she’d freaked out because he gave me a ride home. I needed to devise plan B. Sure it was sneaky, but what choice had she given me?
“Brett’s mother and I were friends since elementary school. I knew he was a good boy. I know nothing about this kid.”
I couldn’t think of anything more to say to placate her. Furious, I stormed up to my room without another word and threw myself on my bed. I pulled out my phone and sent a text to Veronica.
Are you going to your cousin’s wedding?
Of course. Why?
Said I’d go with Javier, but my mom will probably say no.
Easy. Ask your mom if you can stay at my house that weekend. These weddings go on for days, and if you’re not really here, well…
Really? You’d let me stay with you all weekend?
Yeah, but I doubt you’ll be here. We’ll be partying at my aunt and uncle’s in Mexico.
Thanks, girl! See you soon.
I tossed my phone on my pillow and stared up at the ceiling. I heard a knock on my door, but didn’t answer.
“It’s me, sis.” Dawn said quietly, sliding inside.
“Hey.”
She closed the door and flopped down on the bed next to me. She poked me in the ribs. “So? How was the ride home?”
I rolled on my side, propping my head on my hand. “Fabulous and worth it.”
She rolled toward me, propping her head on her hand too. “Did he kiss you?”
“No, but he gave me his number and invited me to go to his cousin’s wedding with him.”
“You said yes, right?”
“Yeah, but when Mom got all snarky about the ride home, I almost died. She isn’t going to let me go anywhere with him and she doesn’t even know him.”
“Well, you don’t know if you don’t ask.”
“I'm going to stay at Veronica’s that weekend. Then, Mom won’t ever know.” I gave Dawn a devious smile, before I covered her hand with mine. “Please keep this between us. I really want to go.”
“I will. Don’t worry. I’m jealous I can’t go too.” Dawn made a pouty face exaggerating her disappointment.
“Want to go to Tucson with me to find a dress to wear?”
“Shopping? You had to ask?”
I laughed. She loved to shop and had great taste, better than me. “We should start getting ready to go to the pub.”
“We need to have dinner with Mom and Dad first. If we go down there ready to leave, they’ll change their minds for sure.”
It was hard to believe Dawn was my younger sister sometimes. She was so much better at playing our parents than me.
“Good call.”
Dinner was quiet since Mom was still mad. It was unfair when she acted so unreasonable. Dawn and I always had to start over. I’d have thought Mom would be happy for us when we made friends and found people we wanted to be around, even when they were boys, but it never seemed to work out that way.
“So, your mother told me you got a ride home today, Kayla,” Dad finally said.
“Yeah.” I looked down at my plate and pushed my peas into my mashed potatoes.
“Who’s the young man?”
“Javier.”
“Javier who?”
“Javier Fuentes, Veronica’s cousin.”
Dad just stared at me. “I don’t want you to get distracted with boys. Especially these boys. They aren’t like us. There's plenty of time for that after you graduate from college and have your own career.”
There it is again. What does that mean ‘not like us’? “I understand.”
I really didn’t get why they thought I should live like a nun, but I wasn’t about to argue. I wanted to leave as soon as possible.
My dad continued to stare at me. “Will he be with you girls tonight?”
I thought Dawn’s eyes would pop out of her head and I nudged her under the table to stop it. I shrugged. “I don’t know where he’ll be tonight. We’re going with Veronica and her friends. They’re all girls.”
Dad kept his attention on me, trying to see if I was lying or not. I’d every intention of seeing Javier with his consent or without it, but I certainly wouldn’t say so.
“Okay, be safe and don’t be out too late.” Dad finally said, after what felt like a forever pause of silence.
“Okay. Can I be excused?”
“Yes, you can be excused.”
I got up from the table and returned to my room. I started changing to go out, still mad that my parents were being so possessive. They didn’t even know Javier and they acted like I was throwing away my future. They’d always been protective, but this felt way over the top. Were they afraid something bad might happen to Dawn or me? Why? What made Nogales so different from any other place?
Was it really because they didn’t know Javier? Maybe it was because I didn’t have any boyfriends before Brett, and they didn’t feel they needed to put the reins on that hard since they knew his family. Was it because we’d never lived in a border town before or is there something else?
Who knew, but I deserved to have a life. I never had any close friends because we moved around so much. At least I’d learned I can be alone and be okay, but that’s not what made me happy. I wanted to have people in my life. I liked the friend I had in Veronica and I wanted Javier to be more. It’s crazy. My parents picked this place and now they’re afraid of us interacting with anyone.
The door cracked open and Dawn poked her head inside. “You okay?”
I continued to stare into my closet. “I'm fine. Mad, but fine. I’m so tired of being cooped up.”
She walked in and closed the door behind her, coming to stand beside me. “I guess we shouldn’t look too sexy tonight, or Mom and Dad will put us in a convent. Do they have convents here?”
“I'm sure they do in Mexico.”
“Well, if they stick you in a convent in Mexico, Javier probably has family nearby and will break you out.”
I had to laugh. She was right. The Fuentes family undoubtedly had a nun in the family.
“I’d settle for him breaking me out of here.”
Dawn changed the subject. “I think we wear jeans again. How about this top?” She pulled out a strapless cheetah-print, tank-top.
“Dad will flip because I’m for sure going to see a guy if I wear it.” I oozed sarcasm.
“That’s why you use this as a cover-up until you get to McDonald’s.” She handed me a black, long-sleeved blouse.
I finally cracked a smile. I took the shirt from her hands and gave her a hug. “You’re brilliant.”
We went to work making ourselves beautiful. I felt nervous not knowing what I expected tonight. When we were finally ready, I decided to let Dawn do all the talking. I couldn’t hide my anger with our parents and didn’t want to blow this.
We walked downstairs and I stayed slightly behind my sister. While, she went to the kitchen and got the keys from Dad and said good-bye, I waited at the front door. They followed her, probably to make sure that I wasn’t dressed to go see a boy. God forbid I ruin my future. Maybe, they regretted getting married so young. It might freak them out if they thought I could do the same. I still didn’t think I should be locked up and never allowed to date.
My mom kissed my cheek. “Have fun and be safe.”
I hoped my smile didn’t look as fake as it felt. “Thanks.” The less I said, the better off I’d be.
I opened the front door and walked out. My dad didn’t say a word. Dawn babbled something to them as I left. I’m sure she intended to distract them from my less than friendly behavior. I got in the passenger side of the Honda. I didn’t feel like driving anyway. Let Dawn do it.
When she started the car, she said, “You need to do better than that, or you’ll ruin your chances of being able to see him.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I just needed to cool off.”
“Well, cool off tonight and get it together for tomorrow.”
“I will, sis. I promise.”
We pulled into McDonald’s and parked. Just like last week the same group of people gathered. I shed the button-up black shirt and got out of the car. We walked up and I spotted Veronica.
“Hey, girl.” I hugged her.
“Hey, chica,” Veronica said, hugging me back. “Let’s go party."
We made our way across the border and to the pub. We approached the line and stood talking and laughing while waiting our turn. Glad to have the distraction, my bad mood dissipated. I suddenly felt two hands on my waist and I was slightly pulled back against a hard lean body. Shivers ran through me.
“Come with me,” Javier whispered in my ear.
I turned my head to the side to look up at him, smiling. “With my friends and your family of course.”
“Of course.”
This time it was me motioning to everyone to follow us up to the door. Veronica grinned and in we went. Javier shook the doorman’s hand and he may have slipped him some money for letting us all in. He took my hand and we went right to the bar.
“What will you ladies have tonight?” Javier asked.
I looked at Veronica. “Margaritas?”
She nodded and I turned back to Javier. “We’ll have Margaritas.”
Javier motioned to the bartender and ordered a pitcher of Margaritas and a pitcher of beer for him and his friends. I took out my wallet and he put his hand over mine.
“Your money isn’t any good here.”
“Why is that?” I asked, unable to stop smiling.
“Because you’re with me and it isn’t very gentlemanly to let the lady pay.”
“I see. Will you be retreating to your usual corner?”
“For a little while.” He handed me the cups and picked up the pitchers. I followed him over to the table we sat at last week and he put down our drinks. He walked over to his friends without another word. A little disappointed by his departure, I sat down.
Veronica leaned over. “I’ve never seen him allow one of his girls in here, let alone buy drinks and show affection in public.”
“One of his girls? Is that what I am and how many are there?” I must have looked horrified.
It made Veronica laugh. “I didn’t mean it like that. I meant in comparison to old girlfriends.”
“Well, maybe that’s because I am not his girlfriend.”
“Oh, I think you are.” Veronica shot back and raised her glass to me. I reciprocated and we drank up.
A couple of hours went by and a few more pitchers of Margaritas disappeared at our table. Javier hadn’t approached all night but I saw him keeping an eye on us as we danced and drank.
It approached midnight and right on cue, Javier gave the nod for his sister to leave. I watched as she obediently got up with her friends and headed for the doors. I didn’t think I’d ever like being told what to do by a boyfriend, or even an older brother. My parents were bad enough.
Veronica tugged on my arm. “Come on, I love this song.”
We went back out to the dance floor. We were dancing in our usual group when I suddenly felt someone behind me dancing in sync with me. I looked over to Javier’s table and nobody was there. I spun around and it was him.
All of his friends were out here with us. I slid my hands up over his shoulders and eased nearer as we moved to the music. He grabbed me by the hips and pulled me closer. One song merged into the other and everyone kept moving.
Javier pulled me to him and said, “Let’s go.”