“Good.” Azucena patted her hand and gave them both an indulgent smile. “It’s good to see you two back together. Have fun.”
As they left the store and stepped onto the sidewalk, Carlos tangled his fingers in hers. Walking beside him made Carmen feel as if she were walking on clouds.
“Your mother is still your biggest fan.” She gazed up at him.
“I thought you were my biggest fan,” he teased.
“Nothing beats a mother as a cheerleader. And what was she talking about, giving you credit for the fact that she was able to open the store?”
“She likes to give me more credit than I deserve. I encouraged her to open the store, and I guess she appreciates it.”
Carmen suspected there was more to his mother’s comment than what Carlos admitted but knew he wouldn’t elaborate, his humble nature keeping him from providing more details.
“Where are we headed?” she asked, as they strolled along the sidewalk.
“I was thinking a board game spot,” Carlos replied.
Carmen did a little shimmy. “Woo-hoo! I feel like kicking some butt tonight. Let’s do it.”
He laughed at her.
“Are you laughing at me or with me?” she asked.
“At you, because you haven’t changed. You always talk as if you’re the baddest thing to hit board games, but you suck at playing them.”
“Oh really? When was the last time you saw me play a game, huh?” she asked.
He thoughtfully frowned at her. “I guess it’s been about three years.”
“Exactly. I assure you, my abilities have improved.”
“We’ll see about that,” Carlos said ominously.
“Yes, we will.”
Carlos had to give Carmen credit for her braggadocio. After three games of Monopoly where Carlos won one game and their opponents won one game each, a hilarious game of Go Fish, and a particularly sad moment when Carmen failed within three minutes of playing Operation, his suspicions were confirmed. Nothing had change. She still sucked at games.
“I don’t know what happened,” she said glumly as they left the restaurant.
“Uh-huh.”
“I’m serious.” She looked so hurt, arms crossed, lips downturned.
Carlos chuckled. “It’s okay to suck, mi amor.” He opened the car, and she glared at him.
“You make me so sick.” She climbed into the SUV and slammed the door without waiting for him to close it.
Carlos climbed in the driver’s side and closed the door. “How about a kiss,” he whispered, leaning closer.
Carmen jerked back. “Nope.”
“Come on. Why are you punishing me?”
“Because you’re making fun of me and don’t believe that I’ve improved.”
“I do believe you. Now can I have a kiss?”
“You’re lying.”
“Maybe a little bit.” He held his forefinger and thumb close together.
She took his hand. “You’re not supposed to lie to me. Not even a little bit.”
Carlos paused. Her words pricked his conscience, but he hid his reaction. “You’re right,” he said softly.
“Of course I am. I always am, and you’ll do good to remember that,” Carmen said haughtily.
“I’ll try.”
By the time they arrived at her apartment, they were both silent because the reality of him going back to Atlanta the next day loomed before them. They remained silent while they undressed and changed into nightclothes in Carmen’s bedroom. Carlos didn’t want to say goodbye, but he had to. He also needed to have a serious talk with her. He needed to tell her everything about what he’d done and how sorry he was that he’d done it.
He stuffed folded clothes in his bag on the bed in a disorderly fashion, snapped the suitcase shut, and set it on the floor. Carmen looped her arms around his waist from behind and rested her cheek against his back.
“I don’t want you to go,” she moaned.
Carlos’s shoulders slumped. He didn’t want to leave, either, and the burden of keeping the secret from her ate at him even more. He should tell her now, but the timing didn’t feel right, and his heavy heart needed a pick-me-up. He needed her and her love for a little bit longer, because everything would change once he opened up.
He turned and pulled her into his embrace. “I don’t want to go, either.” Weeks, possibly months, would pass before they saw each other again.
Carmen sighed. “I wish…”
“You wish what?”
She shrugged. “Nothing.”
“Tell me,” Carlos said.
She swallowed. “I’m not trying to make you feel guilty or influence you in any way, but…I wish we could live in the same city. Have you ever considered moving back to Toronto?” She asked the question tentatively.
“I’ve thought about it a lot since you and I reconnected.”
“So it’s a possibility? I know you’ve established yourself in Atlanta, but…being away from you is so hard.”
“Being away from you is harder.” He folded her in his arms and sighed. “Let me think about it and see what I can do, okay?”
“Okay.” Carmen shifted her hands underneath his shirt and caressed his sides and back. Nothing felt as good as her soft hands on his skin.
He kissed her deeply and thoroughly as he pushed the panties down her hips and then lifted her onto the bed. Her nipples tightened against his chest as she wrapped her arms around his torso and welcomed him on top of her and then finally inside of her soft, wet body.
Something was wrong.
As Carmen slowly woke up, she realized what was wrong. Carlos was not in bed with her. She flicked on the bedside lamp and squinted as her eyes adjusted to the light. Her ears picked up what sounded like talking. She raised up on her elbows and tilted her head to hear better but couldn’t discern any words—only the low murmur of Carlos’s voice.
She slid off the mattress, slipped on the nightshirt that had been discarded when they made love earlier, and tiptoed to the door. She heard him better now, and he sounded agitated, frustrated.
Easing open the door, she winced, hoping the hinges didn’t make a sound. Luckily, they didn’t. She peered out and saw Carlos at the far end of the living room, his muscular body mostly a shadow against the curtained windows.
“No, I don’t have all of the money right now. I—” He paused. Even in the darkness, she saw the taut way he held his body as he listened to the person on the other end of the line.
A thread of unease filtered into her sleep-addled brain and made her more alert. Who was he talking to?
“Tell me how much interest you want.” Pause. “You’re being unreasonable. Just give me a... Why are you doing this?”
The rest of the words were cut off as he dropped his voice into an even fiercer whisper, shoulders rounded as he hunched over the phone. Steeped in worry, Carmen took a step into the room, ears straining to hear. She thought she’d been quiet but wasn’t as quiet as she should have been because Carlos swung in her direction.
She stared at him in the darkness. She couldn’t see his features, but considering the circumstances, she sensed he was not pleased to see her standing there.