Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 134830 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134830 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Why did I get this for her, anyway? I should’ve known she wouldn’t wear it. I yank the tag off and pull it over my head, staring at myself in the mirror again.
“He’s here,” Mama whispers through the thin door.
“Let’s get this over with,” I tell my reflection.
“Ah, perfecto!” Mama declares when I come into the living room, smiling widely. “This is my Daniela. Daniela, this is Nick. Go, go, you two have fun, and mijo, make sure to get her home early like a good boy!”
“Yes, Mrs. Becerra,” Nick says, and I can hear it in his voice. He’s saying yes, but he’s not going to take me home until he wants to.
“He can drop me off here after dinner,” I say through clenched teeth that I’m baring in what I hope looks like a passable version of a smile. “My car is here.”
Mama waves her hand. “No, no… we’ll take your car to your house. It’s all arranged with Xavier.” I take a breath, ready to argue, but Mama interrupts me. “A drive would be good for him, you know?” She points at Papa with pursed lips. He’s still sleeping, or feigning sleep so he doesn’t get involved in her scheming, but either way, there’s no point in arguing.
With that, she pushes us out the door, smiling like she’s a magical fairy godmother who’s going to find her wayward daughter a prince or die trying.
Out front, Nick boldly looks me up and down as Mama closes the door. I know she’s still peeking out the curtain, so I try to maintain some semblance of manners even though I want to tell him to keep his eyes above my shoulders or I’ll be forced to poke them out with my thumbs. “Hi.”
“Hi,” Nick says, sticking a hand in his pocket. “So, you’re the girl my mom was telling me about, huh?”
“Guess so. I just heard about you ten minutes ago,” I say flatly.
“Oh, guess that explains…” He looks me up and down again, and when his eyes come back to mine, I’m glaring hard, daring him to say one single fucking word about my appearance. Granted, he’s in baggy khakis and his short-sleeved button down is tucked in behind his belt, showing some effort, but it’s not like I’m in grungy sweats or work clothes. He doesn’t flinch, which I guess is some sort of point in his favor. “Let’s get this over with.”
Good, sounds like we’re on the same page.
Nick walks to the curb, where there’s a late-model SUV parked. It looks clean and well-cared for, and when he pulls a fob out of his pocket, it beeps, unlocking the doors.
I glance longingly at my own car, wishing I could make a run for it, but this truly is for the best. An hour at dinner, tops, and then I can tell Mama that there was no chemistry, which will buy me a few weeks at least until she rounds up some other suitable potential suitor.
So I follow Nick. He walks around the back of the SUV, not opening my door or anything. I’m no princess, but considering that Kyle was more of a gentleman on an ad-hoc non-date, I’m not impressed. Still, I get in and buckle up.
As he starts the car, the radio blares and he’s slow to turn it down. “It’s my favorite song,” he says as he pulls away from the curb and starts down my parents’ street. I nod, not knowing the song at all and not liking it any more when Nick starts singing along.
Once the song’s over, he pushes the button, shutting off the music entirely. “My mother says you’re a good cook?”
“Yes, I run a lunch service out of my home kitchen.”
I’m about to say how much I enjoy it despite how hard the work is, but I don’t get a chance because Nick interrupts me. “I’m an assistant manager at Walmart.” He proudly puffs out his less-than-impressive chest. “In the next year or two, I’ll be a full manager, and that’s a six-figure gig, easy. Even if they stick me in a bad area, I’ll be making bank, so you wouldn’t have to do the lunch thing or whatever.”
I blink. He did not just assume that our future is some version of me quitting my job while he works. Hell, is he assuming that this is some done deal already? That I’m a done deal?
Fuck that.
“I think there’s been some misunderstanding—”
He cuts me off again. “There’s a place up here I like. They have good mole. Maybe you can figure out their recipe.” He tells me about his favorite foods until he’s whipping the SUV into a parking lot. All the while, I grit my teeth.
Just get through it, Dani. Keep your mouth shut for a change and get through it.