Just a Kiss

by Bonnie S. Mata

  Xavier took a deep breath and swallowed hard. He was completely mesmerized by what he had heard. It was obvious to him that she did like him, but was turned off by the fact that he was married. He slowly walked backwards, opened the door and left the room.

  He paused and stood still, when a mental image of yesterday exploded in his head. The image of them tangled together, skin to skin in the barn. “Oh, Celina baby.” He had a smile from ear to ear and wished that he could have taken her up on what she had just said. But she wouldn’t have remembered anything in the morning, about how he got there. He just didn’t want to risk it.

  At least I know she likes me, but she regrets that I’m married. Need to work on that this week.

  Chapter 13

  Lunch

  Celina was quiet and in her own world, as she drove. I can't keep my mind clear about me and this new life of mine, now with my doomsday list with Valeria. I feel like this is a movie. Every day it's something new with me.

  It was lunch rush hour, and she waited for a break in traffic. She needed to turn into the parking lot at Danny's Mexican Food Restaurant, where they were going to eat.

  Valeria brought her out of her thoughts. “Celina, I forgot to tell you that I asked Rebecca to join us for lunch.”

  She stepped on the accelerator, cutting it close in front of a UPS truck, zooming into a full parking lot. “Who’s Rebecca?” asked Celina, parking her car at the restaurant, getting ready to get out.

  “You remember her. She’s the one that presented the Silpada Jewelry party, at my house, a few weeks ago. Valeria rushed out of the car, trying to keep up with Celina.

  “Oh, I thought that was Sandra.”

  “No, Sandra Ortiz is from Passion Parties. That’s why I asked her to come, so I can turn some more orders in. I picked up a few more orders from salon customers,” she answered her, as they walked into the noisy restaurant of pink walls and smells of fried Mexican food.

  “Okay, I remember her. That’s cool with me. You guys can talk all you want, while I stuff my face, because I’m super hungry.” Her bracelets dangled on her wrists, as she waved her hand in front of her.

  They stood in line waiting for their turn to be seated. “Girl, I’m going to hand her the money, the order slips, and let her look it over while I eat, ‘cuz I’m starving too. It must have been that pot that we smoked last night.”

  Celina gave her a quick elbow. “Shut up, people might hear you,” she whispered, then turned to give her a death stare.

  She rolled her eyes dismissively, “¿Y que? Isn't it normal living along the Mexican border?”

  “Uh, I don’t think so. We are also owners of a respectable business.”

  She switched conversations. “Man, why is it that all of these restaurants are always full of people,” said Valeria, looking around to see if Rebecca was inside.

  “Maybe because the food is super good and cheap,” replied Celina, looking at her freshly manicured nails, polished a hot pink color.

  “Look, Cel.” She pointed. “Rebecca is here already. Girl, we are lucky,” said Valeria, cutting through the line with her plus-sized body, leading the way.

  “Hey there, ladies,” said Rebecca, with a smile, waving to them.

  Greetings were exchanged, with air kisses among all of the girls.

  “I hope you weren’t waiting too long,” commented Valeria, looking to see which chair she was going to sit on, then put her purse on an empty chair.

  “Hey there, Rebecca.” Celina greeted her, sitting down too, placing her purse strap on the chair. “Oh, look at this! The chips are on the table already,” said Celina, taking a corn chip, dipping it in the salsa. She was extremely hungry, having had no breakfast this morning, not even at the salon. She had overslept and had been running late.

  The server stopped by, took their orders, and left. Valeria pulled out the order forms and handed them to Rebecca.

  “Okay, Rebecca, here are the extra orders that I picked up, and here is the envelope with the money,” she said, quickly handing them over. “Celina, save some chips for the rest of us, girlfriend.” She quickly dipped a corn chip in the salsa, licking her lips from the salsa drippings.

  “Thank you, Valeria, but we’ll go over these orders after we eat, if that’s okay with you?” she said, putting them aside. “The chips do look good, don’t they?” She was eyeing the red basket and the little black plastic salsa bowl in shape of a molcajete.

  “They sure are good,” agreed Valeria, holding one in each hand, dipping simultaneously.

  Celina then looked up to see Rebecca, who was trying to get her hands on a chip. “Valeria, stop hogging the chips, and let Rebecca get some.” Celina then looked at Rebecca and politely said, “I’m sorry, we probably look like two wetbacks that haven't eaten in days… in reality we really haven’t,--we didn’t have breakfast this morning, so we’re pretty hungry. Maybe we should ask for more.”

  Rebecca nodded. “That's okay. Look, there’s our food.”

  “Boy, that was fast,” smiled Valeria, looking at the plates. “Now, this is what I call service. Remind me to tell the manager, and while I’m at it, I’ll leave some of our business cards at the counter.”

  Celina shook her head with a smile, because it was so like her to do something like that.

  “I ordered the flautas,” said Rebecca looking at the waitress.

  “And I ordered the chile relleños,” waved Valeria, moving her tongue over her lips, savoring her food.

  “The tacos with the enchiladas are mine,” smiled Celina. “And can we please have more chips and salsa?” She didn't hesitate to ask.

  The server left and the girls began to eat, with not much conversation made until several minutes later, after they had eaten a good portion of their food, satisfying the ache in their stomachs.

  “Hey, look at my taco, it just fell through. Who was looking at my taco,” asked Celina, with a smile on her face, and then began to giggle, with the double entendre referring to her private part.

  Valeria wiped her mouth with a paper napkin, and said, shaking her new layered-bob hairstyle, “Maybe it was that gringo trucker sitting in the corner booth over there.”

  “Where?” asked Celina and Rebecca, both glancing over.

  “That one. The one that’s looking over here.” She used head motions and eye gestures to point.

  Celina quickly lowered her eyes and took a sip of her tea. “Stop it.” She gave Valeria a disapproving eye roll.

  Valeria moved her fork around her plate of food, and right before putting the fork in her mouth, loaded with beans and rice, said, “Maybe he can take you in his big eighteen wheeler, and show you all of the states, before 2012 ends. You guys can take long naps at those rest stops, and rock the trailer in the little cab they have for sleeping.”

  “Shut up!” exclaimed Celina. “You don’t even know if he is a trucker or not.”

  Rebecca covered her mouth with a paper napkin and busted up laughing.

  “So, what are my two favorite ladies up to?” said Xavier, who appeared standing between Valeria and Celina.

  Celina swallowed hard upon hearing his voice.

  “How are you feeling this morning?” He asked, raising his eyebrows up and down, looking at both of them. “That was some phone call last night.”

  “Hey, brother dear, we didn’t see you here. What a surprise.” She wiped her mouth.

  “I’ve been sitting over there the entire time, watching you ladies,” he pointed to a pink booth along the wall. “My partner is up front paying for our food.”

  “Xavier, I’d like for you to meet a friend of mine. This is Rebecca.”

  “Hello, Rebecca,” he smiled, at her politely waving his hand at her.

  Rebecca smiled back and said, “Hello.”

  “So, tell me about last night,” he teased them, moving his eyes back and forth between Valeria and Celina.

  Celina shook her head at Valeria, giving her the death stare.

  V
aleria, put her fork down, looked up at her brother with a sarcastic smile and said, “Well, we survived, and here we are, hungry as ever. Celina did tell me earlier at the salon that this, uh…” she hesitated, “well, let's call it a vitamin, you know which one I’m referring to,” she eyed him, “made her have some realistic dreams, and I’m so wondering why I didn’t have one of those dreams that she did.” Curiosity filled her voice.

  “Valeria.” Celina protested with a frown.

  Xavier threw his head back and started to laugh. “What kind of dream was it?” he turned to look at Celina with a cynical smile.

  “I’d prefer not to discuss it here,” she blushed, with the raw urge to scream crawled up in her throat. She kicked Valeria under the table with her new clear six-inch wedge platform slip on heel.

  Valeria yelled, “Ouch,” and stared at Celina. She then looked at her brother and said, “Well, I can tell you that she did tell me that if those were the dreams that she was going to be having, that she would want to… uh, uh, take that vitamin every night.”

  Celina looked down and shook her head. “Stop talking about me as if I wasn't here.” She attempted to get up, but Xavier put his hand on her shoulder.

  Xavier let out a big chuckle and said, “Well, I’m happy that everything went well last night, because y'all had me worried.” He kept his strong hand on Celina’s shoulder, and squeezed it. “Well, I must be going. You ladies enjoy your meal.” He kissed both of them on their cheek and walked away.

  He then stopped abruptly, came back and whispered in Celina’s ear softly, “I was the one looking at your taco, because it sure looked good.” He then straightened up and bent back down and whispered again, “Oh, by the way, I just wanted to tell you, that you look very sexy. I mean very sexy in pink. And I'll be your papi anytime. My offer from the barn still stands, so think about it. I'd like to see you again tonight, Cel.” He raked his hand under her long hair, stroking it quickly and straightened up. “Okay, ladies until later. Oh, Valeria, you may want to check your iPhone pictures.”

  Celina’s face turned from blushed red to faint pale white. She took her glass of tea and began to empty the glass in a matter of seconds. She wasn’t wearing pink right now. She was wearing black pencil jeans with a white fitted lace off-the-shoulder scalloped top.

  She turned around to see him walking away. He then turned, winked at her, and tipped his cowboy hat.

  “Girl, what did my brother tell you?” Valeria's eyes were wide.

  Celina looked at Valeria in a daze. The mental fog started to lift and bam, she remembered. She was forcing her brain into recall action. She collected bits and pieces of data from last night. She then looked at Rebecca and said, “I’m sorry, but this is something that I can’t repeat. So, I hope you don’t mind me whispering to Valeria.”

  “Of course not,” she shook her head side to side.

  Celina quickly whispered in her ear, about her looking sexy in pink. Valeria then pulled back, and looked at her with her mouth partially open. She quickly pulled her cell phone from her purse and started to go through the pictures. She paused when she looked at the picture of them together.

  “That jerk,” said Valeria. She then leaned into Celina’s ear and whispered, “Girl, I know you know now, that wasn’t no dream last night. My brother has the hots for you. Oh, my God.”

  Celina then rolled her big hazel eyeballs in a circle, grabbed the glass of tea and took a big gulp. She then turned around and called the server that was taking an order next to their table. “Excuse me, but when you have time, I’d like some more tea, please.” That explains why I woke up with no underwear. Oh my God. He sucked on my pussy. She rested her elbows on the table and placed both hands on the sides of her forehead.

  Valeria and Rebecca continued to eat their food.

  Then Celina stared out the window that was a few yards away, tuning out the Mexican music playing in the background, the dishes clanking next to their table as a busboy cleaned up, and the TV in the corner set on CNN. Celina was in her own world again, wondering what she had started with Xavier, and wondering what she was going to do. She then realized that someone was staring at her, so she moved her eyes in the direction where she sensed, and sure enough, there was a guy staring at her.

  Rebecca asked, “Why is that guy staring at you?”

  “He is, isn't he? I thought it was only me,” Celina replied.

  “Who is staring at who?” asked Valeria, moving her head back and forth, swinging her hairdo.

  “That one over there, with the black shirt and gold necklace,” said Rebecca, looking at Valeria trying hard not to make it that obvious. “Do you guys know him?”

  Celina's heart raced. “That's not Homer. Right, Valeria? Please tell me it isn't.” She felt warmth over her body.

  Valeria, zoomed in on him and said, “No, it's not Homer. I’ve never seen him, either.”

  She then gave him the mean girl stare, wrinkling her eyebrows. He immediately looked away, realizing that he had been spotted. He pulled a paper from his front pocket and began to look at it, then showed it to the other guy that was with him. They then got up and left.

  “They were probably checking out Miss Thing here, Rebecca. Her in her skinny jeans and her big J-Lo bubble butt,” said Valeria. She spooned the last bit of her food in her mouth.

  “Hey, Rebecca do you mind giving Valeria a ride back to the salon?”

  “You know I was just joking, Celina.” She leaned her face into Celina's cheek.

  “Oh, I know, it’s just that I’m done, and I know that you guys are going to go over the jewelry stuff, and I’d like to take a trip to the mall real quick,” she smiled, batting her eyes at Valeria.

  “Girl, I bet I can guess what store you’re going to.” She sat back in her seat, giving her the eyes up and down her body. She then pulled on her arm, and whispered in Celina's ear, “Are you getting sexy for my brother?” Then raised her eyebrows with a surprised look.

  Celina shook her head and raised her shoulders. She whispered back in her ear, “I don't know, but I'm going to think about it. He did tell me that he wanted me and for me to just say the word, and Ana Laura would be history.”

  “Oh my God!” exclaimed Valeria, with pure happiness.

  Celina smiled, looking around the restaurant as people were leaving, and others were coming.

  Valeria looked at Rebecca, not knowing what to say and said, “She’s going to Victoria’s Secret, and yes, I’m jealous. I wish that I could pack all of these beautiful, voluptuous curves of mine in some of those sexy lacy nightgowns, but I can’t. I have to settle for what they sell at Lane Bryant or at Big and Tall.” She moved her hand over her sides. “But, I can tell you, that I do use their lotions and perfumes. See, this one here is one of their new fragrances, called Pink.” She put her wrist to Rebecca’s nose, so she could smell it.

  Celina shook her head, rolled her eyes and got up. “Alright, I’ll see you later at the salon. And Rebecca, I’ll see you sometime soon. Maybe you can come to the salon and hang out there. We like when friends stop by and visit.”

  “Thank you, Celina.” She flashed her a warm smile.

  “Get that purse out of my face. I hate when you swing that thing around so carelessly. You know I’m scared of your purse,” she said, angrily pushing the purse away with her fingertips.

  “You two are so funny. Why would you be scared of her purse?”

  “Because, she’s got Hey Joe in there, that’s why. I’ll tell you in a minute girlfriend.”

  “Celina, I'm so happy.” Valeria looked at Celina and waved her goodbye.

  “I'm just thinking about it Valeria. I haven't decided anything yet.”

  Chapter 14

  Is it for sale?

  Celina walked out to her car, thinking about what Xavier had told her. She did one more lap around her brain, searching for anything that led her to believe she'd given into temptation. She shook her head and smiled, realizing that she had. Shit, that wasn'
t a dream last night, it was for real. That's why I woke up with no underwear. He was in my room feeling me out. Shit, I think he even licked my pussy. Damn it, he did! Everything was in slow motion, but I remembered enjoying it so much. I remember wanting him to make love to me. But did I just enjoy it, or did I want Xavier? Damn it, should I be pissed because he abused me? Is it considered abuse or not if I had asked him to fuck me the day before? Oh man, I'm so confused! She looked at her cell phone, trying to concentrate on reading the incoming text messages.

  When she approached her car, she looked up, startled, when she heard someone talking.

  “Yes, excuse me. Is this your car?” asked a man.

  She looked up to see the same man who was staring at her inside the restaurant, the one wearing the black shirt. Except for now, she could see how tall and thin he was.

  Celina didn’t smile, because this guy made her nervous. He was obviously a lowlife. “Yes, it is,” she answered, putting her oversized black Chanel sunglasses with thick acetate rims on.

  “Is this a ‘68?” he ran his fingers along the hood of the car.

  “Yes.” She removed her sunglasses. Her eyes tightened, and her right eyebrow arched slightly. “Please don't touch my car.” She said, with a disapproving glare that was downright daunting. She did not like the fact that he was touching her car.

  “So sorry. I was just wondering if it was for sale?” he walked around, looking at the body of the car.

  “No, I’m sorry. I would never think of selling this car.” She held on tight to her purse.

  “Not even if the price was right?” he smiled, exposing golden grills on his teeth.

  She cringed when she saw them. This creep made her feel very uncomfortable. “No, not even for a million dollars. It was my father's car, you see.”

  “Oh, I get it. It has a lot of sentimental value.” He stared at her for a few seconds. “Okay, well, thank you, Miss,” he spoke with a heavy Mexican accent, then walked away.