Claiming Carlos

by Rachelle Ayala

  “But Hilda might be drowning and dragged Carlos under. Hilda’s huge.” Julia wipes her eyes. “After losing Steve I can’t lose Carlos too.”

  “Oh, gawd, Julia, are you in love with him?” I whip my head back and stare at her.

  She twists her fingers and nods. “He’s the most wonderful man ever. I can’t thank you enough for setting me up with him. I can’t lose him now.”

  I can’t either. But I’ve already lost him. I can never be friends with him again. Tears slide down my face as I huddle with Julia, waiting and worrying for a man who can never be mine.

  Part IV – Carlos / Chapter 23

  Carlos collapsed on his knees on the marshy bank, his arms still wrapped around the big, wet dog. The sight of Julia and Choco hugging and weeping tore his heart and clawed at his throat.

  They weren’t crying over Hilda, that was for sure, not with his name spilling from their lips, and Julia wailing on how she couldn’t lose him now. But what really killed him was the stoic expression on Choco’s face as if she’d given him up for dead.

  “They’re back.” Genie’s voice alerted everyone.

  “Oh, man, what happened?” Brian was the first to race over.

  Hilda whined and lunged for Brian, but her feet were still tangled in fishing line and she flopped to her side, thumping her tail into him.

  Carlos’s arms were cut and bleeding, and his shirt was torn. Choco got to him first and threw her arms around him. “What happened to you?”

  “Hilda was tangled in fishing line. I had a heck of a time getting her loose.”

  “Oh, Carlos.” Julia tucked her face to his neck. “I was so scared when you didn’t return.”

  “I knew you’d come back,” Choco said, wiping her eyes. “I kept telling her you’d be okay.”

  He wrapped one arm around Choco and the other around Julia.

  Two women. One acted like she wasn’t worried, and the other was trembling and shaking, needing him more.

  And she was kissing him now. Her mouth demanding a response since she was officially his girlfriend.

  But the other wasn’t giving in. She clutched him around his shoulders, her fingernails digging in as if trying to control herself as the other one gained his lips. He kissed Julia lightly, but she latched on, forcing him to deepen the kiss.

  Above him, he heard voices. Genie was explaining to the rangers what happened. Brian and Livy were laughing and joking around. But the woman in his left arm was silent, probably seeking an escape.

  He broke the kiss from Julia and turned toward Choco. “Hey, you okay?”

  She didn’t reply. Her shoulders were stiff and she covered her eyes, but he could see the tension in her jaw as she tried to suppress the hiccups that bubbled up intermittently.

  “You were right.” Julia patted Choco. “He’s fine, except for some cuts. Happy?”

  Choco nodded and when Genie walked by, she removed herself from his side and followed her sister in the direction of the parking area.

  Carlos’s clothes were soaked and the side Choco vacated drew a chill. He ached to run after her, to comfort her and let her know he cared, but he couldn’t. She’d really skewered him good when she’d kissed him and told him she was thinking of someone else, most likely the Tesla-driving girly-man. He never thought her to be a fool before, but like they said, fool in love.

  Julia renewed her affections on him, and Carlos settled back to enjoy her tender ministrations. Her lips were soft and yielding, her tongue shy, like a kitty cleaning her paws. Nice, if a little bland.

  “Wow, what was that for?” He moved his fingers down the side of her face.

  “I’m your girlfriend, remember?” Julia helped him to his feet. “Let’s get you out of those wet clothes, and I’ll tend to your cuts.”

  “They’re nothing.” He brushed off a strand of sea grass.

  “I’m not a nurse for nothing,” Julia said. “It’ll be my privilege to nurse you back to health. Come on, let’s go to my apartment.”

  “Wait, wait.” Livy stepped forward and tugged his sleeve. “You promised me you’d show me how to hit a ball. Please, please, please take me to the batting cage?”

  Brian had one arm around Livy. “Hey, Livs, let them be. Can’t you tell they want to be alone?”

  “Kuya, please? You said the batting cages threw pitches that are easy to hit.”

  Livy’s persistence reminded him of Choco. In fact, she had her spunk, something that was missing from Choco at the moment. What the hell had changed his friend? Oh, right, that plastic Johnny Dee.

  Carlos fist bumped Livy. “Work out a time with Choco, and we’re on.”

  “Yay! I will.” Livy waved goodbye and pranced up the hill holding hands with Brian. Those two made a cute couple, so innocent and young.

  Julia leaned in and kissed Carlos again. “You’re my hero. You saved Hilda, and no one thanked you.”

  “It’s all right.” He wiped his face, looking after Choco, but she was already at the parking lot. “I want to get this swamp water off me first, and then we can talk about the wedding plans.”

  “Carlos,” she sighed. “You really are a lifesaver.”

  # # #

  On the way to Julia’s apartment, Carlos texted Choco: Thanks for helping Julia. She was really worried about me.

  “Texting my cousin?” Julia peeked over from the steering wheel.

  “Yeah, I’m glad she was there.”

  “Sure, right, you’re just trying to make her jealous.” Julia covered her mouth and stifled a giggle.

  “Was she?” He slipped the phone into his pocket, not expecting a response. “Why were you two bawling your eyes out? I wasn’t gone that long.”

  She swirled her tongue inside her cheek and flashed him a teasing smile. “Look at you, back to your cocky self. Would it make your head blow up if I told you we’re both in love with you?”

  “Oh really?”

  “Which we’re not.” She quickly added. “But at least I’m willing to go as far as you are.”

  Whoa. The way she said that, all suggestive, made his blood run hot. He swallowed and cleared his throat. “Nice suggestion. How far do you think your cousin would go? Let’s see if she objects at the wedding ceremony.”

  Julia rolled her head back and laughed. “I can see her doing it too. She’s so brave and feisty, bull headed too. She’ll swing her fists and stomp down the aisle, yank the veil off me and marry you herself.”

  “Don’t count your Chocos before they hatch,” Carlos said. “What if she doesn’t get there in time and we end up married for good?”

  “Would that be so bad?” Julia removed one hand from the steering wheel and rubbed his forearm. “This fake wedding is going to be so much fun.”

  Yeah, fun. Carlos’s stomach did a guilty cringe. The hurt look on Choco’s face had nearly did him in. But she’d asked for it, parading that annoying excuse for a man around the restaurant, encouraging him and his menu changes, and to top it off, holding his hand and singing that sappy Frozen song and calling herself Concha.

  They arrived at Julia’s apartment, and Carlos realized he should have gone home instead.

  “I don’t have any dry clothes.” His shoes squeezed water on each step. “Maybe we should go to my place.”

  Julia took off her soggy sneakers and set them on the doormat. “You’re about the same size as Steve. Besides, trust me. You have to be seen coming out of my apartment.”

  “Why? Are you going to let her know where we are?”

  “No need to. Remember my niece, Livy? She was staring at us the whole time.”

  “Oh, that’s right …” A cold chill shimmied down Carlos’s spine. Livy had taken in the extensive PDA Julia had inflicted on him. Not that it didn’t feel good to have a woman pawing all over him, showering him with worry and attention.

  Julia unlocked the door and led him inside. “I clearly enunciated that we’d be coming to my apartment.”

  As soon as she shut the door, sh
e was on him again, her arms like tendrils of a vine, entwined around his neck and her breasts pressed against his chest. She kissed him, long and drawn out and when he sucked on her lower lip, she moaned and ran her hands under his wet shirt, raising goose bumps.

  “Let’s get you out of these clothes and into the shower,” she said breathlessly.

  Wait. What was going on? They were only supposed to put on an act for Choco. Surely no one could see them inside.

  Julia seemed undeterred by the lack of witnesses. One by one, she unbuttoned his wet shirt, her eyes lingering on his chest. Blood rushed and thundered around his body, and he took her wrists, moving her hands away. This could be a test, a double-edged sword, with Julia reporting to her cousin every detail.

  “Dear Julia, we had an agreement.” He smiled to take the edge off his words. “Choco can’t see us in here, so there’s no need.”

  Julia loosened her hands from his grasp and swept her hair back. “There may not be a need, but, don’t you want? When was the last time you had sex?”

  “Come again?”

  “That’s what I mean to do, come again and again and again.” She unbuttoned the halter top holding her dress up and let it fall to the ground. Her slender physique, pert breasts hidden by a lacy bra, and a dainty pair of panties barely clinging to her hips sent the blood straight to his cock.

  No man alive could be unresponsive to such a sight. But this was Julia, the saintly Julia who attended Mass with his mother. Julia, his mother’s ideal daughter-in-law, the one who could do no wrong. What the hell was she doing undressing in front of him?

  Carlos swept a hand over his head and warded her off with the other. “I, I’m flattered. And God knows, I’m tempted. But … I can’t.”

  He had nothing against women expressing their sexuality. In fact, it enticed him. And even if he wasn’t going to partake, he appreciated her sticking her neck out.

  Julia’s eyes popped wide, and she gave a little shriek. Quickly, she picked up her dress and hid herself. “You, you should leave. What were you doing coming on to me?”

  “Wait. What?” He held his hands out in an appeasing manner. The thing about Julia? She was so unstable he didn’t know which side of the manic meter she was on. He backed slowly away from her. “Let’s forget this happened, okay? I’ll borrow some of Steve’s clothes and then you can drop me off at my apartment.”

  Not having a car was really sucky at times like this.

  “Sorry, sorry, I’m so embarrassed, mortified.” Julia covered herself with her dress. “I’ll get some clean clothes and we can work out the wedding details.”

  # # #

  Later that evening, Carlos and Julia arrived at the ballpark for the Monday softball game. The Barrio Barracudas were scheduled to play Barry Estates, a team of Irish realtors from Rancho Santa Fe.

  Carlos escorted Julia to the bleachers and gave her a kiss. They’d agreed to display affection in public for believability, but only when Choco or someone close to her was around to witness them. No more private, indoor shenanigans.

  “Go get them, big boy.” Julia kissed him softly, purring and rubbing herself against him. “If you win, I have a little surprise for you.”

  Oh, her voice gave him the shivers, and he basked at her obvious delight in being with him. If only she weren’t so crazy and unpredictable. He spied Choco, her mother, and his mother at the bottom of the bleachers. Closing his eyes, he grasped Julia’s neck and pressed her tightly against him.

  She moaned and her breasts jiggled as she bounced happily, ending with a series of pecks. “Hit them out of the park, slugger.”

  A girl like her could give a man a serious superiority complex. He blew her another kiss, winked, and swaggered down the steps of the bleachers to the dugout, fully confident that Choco had seen the entire act.

  He set his bag in the dugout and fist bumped his teammates. They selected positions. Susie, the waitress with the metal piercings on her face, was set to pitch. He’d play his usual catcher spot, but no one wanted right field, Choco’s position.

  “We’re one short,” Jake said. “Maybe Johnny can play for our team instead of Castleton.”

  He looked across the field at the other diamond where the Castleton Crooks, er, Consultants or Cougars were lined up against Sammy’s Sportfishers.

  “Uh, no, I think Choco should play,” Mr. Sánchez stuck his head into the dugout. “Why don’t you ask her?”

  Carlos glanced left and right, then realized Rey was speaking to him. Why couldn’t he ask his daughter himself? Something didn’t seem quite right. Rey hadn’t greeted his wife and was still dressed in a suit, having just returned from his business trip.

  Carlos had picked him up from the airport earlier. Instead of asking to be dropped off at his home in Rancho Santa Fe, he’d asked Carlos to take him to a hotel close to the restaurant.

  Was there trouble in paradise?

  “Carlos, did you hear me?” Rey slapped his shoulder. “Tell my daughter to put on her uniform and come down here. She’s been holed up with her mother and up to no good.”

  “I can’t,” Carlos said, aware of all eyes on him. “Choco and I are no longer friends.”

  “Really? What did you do?” Rey advanced on him with a menacing expression.

  “Nothing, we don’t see eye to eye.”

  “About what?”

  Carlos tugged at his collar. Now was not the time to debate the menu changes and Choco’s strange behavior around Johnny Dee.

  “Let’s ask Sarah to play,” Jake said. “Choco’s always striking out.”

  “Yeah, or let me get my wife,” Victor cut in. “At least she can hit the ball.”

  “No!” Rey bellowed. “I want my daughter in the dugout in fifteen minutes. Carlos, bring her down.”

  There was no escape. Carlos felt the sweat staining his uniform, and the game hadn’t even started. The rest of the team jogged onto the field to warm up.

  “What if Choco doesn’t have her uniform?” Carlos gave one last plea.

  “She plays in what she’s wearing. I see she’s in her usual jeans and sneakers and not that glamour girl stuff.”

  “Sure, I’ll try.” Carlos trudged up the steps of the bleachers and glanced at Julia. She was sitting with his mother. The two of them had their Bibles out, their faces deep in devotional prayer.

  Each step Carlos took was heavier than the last. What was he going to say to Choco? And why was Mr. Sánchez forcing him to speak to her?

  Tita Anna caught sight of him and waved him over. “Carlos, I hear congratulations are in order.”

  “Thank you, Tita.” He leaned toward her and kissed her cheek.

  “When will you be going to the Philippines for the formal proposal?”

  “We haven’t thought that far ahead.” Carlos squirmed under the fading sunlight. To do this properly, he and his parents were supposed to visit Julia’s parents for the parental marriage proposal.

  “You know your mother’s going to have a big production. You’re the oldest son of the oldest son. Imagine how many relatives you and Julia will have to visit.”

  “I can’t take that much time away from the job, especially with all of the Manila Cloud menu changes going on.”

  “Not to worry.” Tita Anna patted his hand. “Rey and I would like to be one of the sponsors, have you picked the location? I know Gloria dreamed of marrying at San Augustin in Manila. Do you know how far in advance you’d have to book?”

  Seriously, what was with the twenty questions? And why hadn’t Choco said anything?

  “Tita, I actually came to speak to Choco.”

  “Oh? Do you want me to leave?” Tita Anna slid off the bench.

  “No, it’s okay. Rey wants Choco to play tonight.”

  Choco tapped her mother’s shoulder and whispered in her ear. Without waiting for a response, she stood and clambered down the bleachers.

  “Wait. Choke.” Carlos ran after her.

  She jogged down the stairs and he
aded for the exit. Carlos trapped her in the tunnel. “Your father asked you to play. Maybe you’ll get a hit tonight. If you don’t try, how will you ever hit the ball?”

  “Shut it.” She kicked dirt at him. “I hate you with a perfect hatred.”

  “Why?” He closed in. Maybe now she’d admit she had feelings for him—that seeing him with Julia had an effect on her.

  “Because you’re a creep.”

  “Creep? Come on, I’m not the one hanging out with Johnny Jumpster.”

  “No, you’re a lying traitor, a low down horn dog. Leave me alone. I never want to speak to you again.”

  “Wait, what have I done?” He pulled her arm. “I saved your dog, and do I get any thanks? I’m always helping your family. I picked your father up from the airport, and I drove you and Livy home the other night. What have I ever done to deserve this hatred?”

  “You’re dating Julia.” She sneered at him as if he were Hannibal Lecter caught gnawing a thighbone.

  “Something you told me to do. Why?”

  “Because it’ll make your mother happy,” she said.

  “Why do you care about my mother?”

  Choco bent double and grabbed the chain link fence, her shoulders heaving. “I’m happy for you and Julia. Leave me alone.”

  He knew he was pushing it, but dammit, the woman was too stubborn. “Okay, you get your wish. Forgive me if I don’t hand deliver your wedding invitation.”

  Chapter 24

  Carlos kissed his mother at the airport with Julia at his side. “We’re going to miss you.”

  “I’m so happy for the two of you.” Tita Gloria wiped tears from her eyes. “Once I’ve gathered all the sponsors, we can put the money down for the church.”

  “Take your time,” Carlos said. “There’s no hurry. Julia and I wish for a long engagement.”

  “Ah, but that is a temptation from the devil.” Gloria shook her finger at them. “I will raise the money to put the deposit down. You, boy, better get her a proper ring.”

  “Tita, you’re the best.” Julia exchanged kisses with his mother. “But seriously, don’t stress yourself. I don’t need a ring. Having Carlos as my fiancé is a dream come true. Now hurry so you don’t miss your flight.”