Beat of the Heart

by Katie Ashley

  “Yeah, I’m sure they do back in the old country, but not in Atlanta.”

  When my stomach rumbled between us, AJ grinned. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

  “Would they be really offended if I went to lie down instead of being at the tongue table?”

  AJ shook his head. “No, I mean, let’s really get out of here. I’m getting my Baby Mama some American food.”

  “But I don’t want—”

  AJ silenced me by bringing his lips to mine. When he pulled away, he cupped my cheeks in his hands. “Quit worrying about pissing off my family. They love you just for having my baby.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest. “Your illegitimate baby.”

  “Hey, we can always legitimize her while we’re down here.”

  “If that’s a proposal, you need to step up your game.”

  AJ laughed. “Come on, let’s go.”

  When we stepped back onto the roof, everyone’s gaze honed in on me. I tried not to blush and cower behind AJ. He held up a hand. “She’s fine. I’m going to take her for some fresh air.”

  His mom nodded and then translated for his relatives. “Sorry,” I said.

  She smiled. “Don’t worry about it, honey. It happens to all of us. Just feel better.”

  “Thank you.”

  I let AJ lead me over to the stairs. Once we were back on the main floor, he grabbed a set of keys off the hook. I followed him out the front door as he popped the lock on one of the cars on the street. After we buckled up, he floored the engine, and we pealed out of the spot.

  “Um, are you insane?” I asked as we flew around the narrow streets.

  “Sorry, amorcito mio, but this is how we drive down here.”

  “And I thought Atlanta was bad,” I muttered as I cringed.

  At the sight of the Golden Arches a few minutes down the road, I gasped in pleasure. “You guys have McDonalds?”

  AJ chuckled. “Contrary to popular opinion, this isn’t some third world country. We even have a Wal-Mart.”

  “Everywhere has a Wally World.”

  “Whatever,” AJ replied as he eased up to the drive thru.

  I longingly eyed the burgers and fries on the menu. Still worried about gaining too much weight and being undesirable to AJ, I knew I shouldn’t get anything really fattening. With regret, I said, “I’ll have the chicken salad.

  AJ rolled his eyes and ordered us both double cheeseburger meals and fries. He had them add an apple pie as well. “What was that about?” I demanded as he began to pull forward.

  “That’s about you and your neurotic weight shit.” He cut his eyes over to me. “I want you to eat what you want to eat.”

  I snorted. “Fine. When I get as big as Shamu—”

  “I’ll love every inch of you,” AJ countered, with a determined look in his dark eyes.

  My heart melted at his words, even though it was hard to believe him. “Whatever,” I mumbled, but I did lean over and kiss him. After we got the food, he pulled the car into a parking space and left it running. After he handed me my burger, I hurriedly unwrapped it and shoved in a bite. “Augh, this is terrible for me, but so fucking good,” I murmured through my mouthful.

  AJ laughed. “I’m just glad to see you’re eating for you and Bella.”

  “Hey, as long as you don’t give me tongue, I’ll be fine.”

  “We’ll get you some ‘Mia friendly food’ later at the local market.”

  After wiping my mouth with my napkin, I planted a kiss on AJ’s cheek. “My hero.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  When we were finished, AJ tossed the trash bag in the back seat and cranked up the car. “Come on, let me show you my city.”

  “But what about your family? Won’t they be mad at me for keeping you gone so long?”

  He shook his head. “Once I tell them you wanted nothing more than to learn everything you could about your second home, Guadalajara, you’ll be putty in their hands.”

  I laughed. “If you say so.”

  “We have two weeks with my family, Mia. Stop worrying.”

  “Okay,” I said with a smile.

  Once we got to the historic downtown part, we abandoned the car in a parking deck, and AJ began his tour on foot. At the sight of an empty horse drawn carriage on the street corner, a thought popped into my mind. After everything we had been through, we needed a little romance, and what could be more romantic than a carriage ride?

  “Can we do this?”

  AJ eyed the white and pink carriage with disdain. I guess the fact the overhanging had pink fringe didn’t help matters. “Seriously?”

  “Please.”

  “I’m going to look like a fucking pansy tourist in that thing.”

  I poked my bottom lip out. “Do it for me and Bella.”

  He snorted. “Like she gives two shits about a Pepto Bismol covered carriage ride.” But even as he was arguing, he was getting his wallet out. He stepped forward and spoke to the driver. Taking my hand, he helped me inside before hopping in to sit beside me. On the back of the carriage, there were two heart-shaped cut-outs for windows. I nestled closer to him before jerking my head back. “Oh, look. It’s all romantic.”

  AJ shifted in his seat. “Let’s not mention romantic shit, okay?”

  My anxiety at his comment kicked into overdrive. “But I thought we could use a little romance.”

  He grinned. “I’m all for romance, but considering I won’t get to have sex with you as long as we’re at Abuela’s, I think we need to nix anything that might make me even more sexually frustrated.”

  Relief flooded me at his real reason for shooting down my romantic vibe. As I gazed out the carriage, I peered at the surroundings. “Then I think we better find a hotel that we can duck into from time to time.”

  He arched his eyebrows in surprise. “Really?”

  “Mmm, hmm. Pregnancy makes you really horny—or at least it has me.”

  He laughed. “Let me guess. You need a stud like me to take care of your needs?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Fuck yeah,” he muttered before kissing me on the lips. Considering we kept making out, I didn’t see much of the ride before AJ called the driver to stop and let us get out in the city center. AJ helped me down, and then proceeded to give me an official tour, including historical information.

  As I gazed around at the architecture, I said, “This is really beautiful—it reminds me a little of Italy.”

  “A lot of the design is in the similar neoclassic style.”

  An imposing cathedral caught my eye. “Wow, that is breathtaking.”

  “That’s the Catedral de Guadalajara or Catedral de la Asunción de María Santísima.”

  “I want to go to mass there.”

  “Sure, we can come back any day you want.”

  “Thank you.”

  He nudged me playfully. “You’ll make a big impression on Abuela waning to go to mass.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep. She goes every day. Usually to a smaller church close to the house.”

  A tug pulled at my heart. “She sounds just like Mama Sofia. She went every day, too. She’d give me such grief when I only made it on Sunday.” I smiled at the memory.

  As if sensing my grief, AJ wrapped an arm around my waist. “Speaking your Italian heritage, I bet you’d like the Degollado Theater.” He motioned across the plaza.

  “Yes, I do,” I murmured as my gaze took in the intricate details of the building that looked somewhat like a replica of the Parthenon. “Do they have operas?”

  He winced. “You like opera, huh?”

  I grinned. “I’m Italian. The great tenors are a part of my heritage.”

  “Yeah, they do. Maybe we’ll go one night we’re here.”

  My brows rose in surprise. “You in a tux?”

  “Hell yeah.”

  “Very tempting, Resendiz. Very, very tempting.”

  He laughed. “I’ll have my Tio Diego to get us some
tickets.”

  “That would be very sweet of him.”

  “I can’t wait to introduce you to him at the Quinceañera.”

  “I look forward to it.” Deep down, my feelings betrayed the enthusiasm in my voice. Although I was used to a huge family, it was a little overwhelming meeting all of AJ’s, especially since most of them here didn’t speak English. So far, even with the language barrier, they’d all been so nice and welcoming. It made me grateful that Bella would have so many people to love her.

  We strolled along the streets, taking in the sights and sounds, until AJ came to a building that looked like a giant warehouse. “What’s this place?”

  “San Juan De Dios—a shopper’s paradise.”

  “Ooh, yes, please.”

  AJ groaned. “I knew you would want to go in there.”

  “I’ll make it quick, I promise. I’m getting tired anyway.”

  “Okay.” As we stepped inside, AJ said, “Actually I need to make a stop while we’re here too.” He then steered me toward a jewelry counter, which caused my throat to close up. Surely, after what I had said in the bathroom he wasn’t bringing me to look at rings. This trip was about taking it slow and getting to know each other. He must’ve noticed my stricken expression because he chuckled. “Easy girl. I’m just here to pick up a present for my goddaughter. I thought with you being a chick, you might be able to help me out.”

  “Oh,” I replied, before the breath I’d been holding was exhaled in relief. As we surveyed the contents inside the glass case, I peppered AJ with questions about his goddaughter’s likes and dislikes. Surprisingly, he knew more than I thought he would, and once he told me her favorite color was purple, I picked out a bracelet and earring set.

  “Damn, you have expensive taste,” AJ muttered, as he jerked his wallet out his pocket.

  “Come on, your goddaughter only has a Quinceañera once.” I nudged his arm. “Besides, you’re a famous musician. You don’t want to come off as cheap, do you?”

  “No,” he replied, as he took his change. After we waited for them to gift-wrap the boxes, we started making our way through the stalls of clothing and blankets. “I think I’ll get a sombrero for my dad.”

  AJ snickered. “Yeah, I can see him styling that at Mama Sofia’s.”

  “That’s the point,” I replied with a grin.

  When I bought some other small souvenirs for Dee, Shannon, and some of my cousins, AJ insisted he pay for them. When he started to take the packages from me, I held them back. “I think I can carry a few bags in my ‘delicate condition’.”

  He shook his head. “It’s not about you being pregnant. It’s a customary thing here in Mexico.” When I opened my mouth to protest, he replied, “Get your feminist panties out of a twist, Mia, and let me do something chivalrous, okay?”

  “Fine,” I grumbled, before handing over the bags.

  We were on our way out when AJ stopped at a barrel of jewelry. He fished something out and paid the lady. He then took my hand in his and slid a black, metal bracelet on my arm. I glanced down at it before shooting him a look. “You’re kidding me, right?”

  “What? It’s a Saint’s bracelet.”

  “Duh, I know what it is. I’m Catholic too, remember?”

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  I shrugged. “They’re kinda hokey now because Bella wears one of them in the Twilight movie.”

  “I don’t give a shit what they wore in some sparkly vampire movie. They’re for protection.” AJ brought his hand to my stomach. “I pray for the saints to watch over you and Bella. If anything, wear it to humor me, okay?”

  I fought to catch my breath at his words. Even though we were in a crowded market, I’d never felt more connected to AJ in my life. “Okay, I will,” I whispered.

  “Ready to head back?”

  I nodded in reply. As we started back to the car, I stared down at my bracelet. From time to time, I let my fingers graze over the saint’s pictures.

  “Wait just a sec, okay?”

  Before I could ask him what he was doing, AJ had crossed the parking lot to where a woman and her son sat. Shielding my eyes from the blazing sun, I saw the sign in her hand. Although it was in Spanish, I knew it must be asking for help. AJ reached in his pocket and took out a wad of money. She smiled and ducked her head at his gesture. The boy, who couldn’t have been more than seven, pointed at AJ’s head. I saw AJ grin before he took off the Braves baseball cap he’d been sporting since we left Atlanta. He placed it on the boy’s head, which caused him to beam with pleasure.

  And in that moment of AJ’s kindness—when there was no paparazzi or fans to impress—I knew what a truly decent and honorable man he was. But more than anything, I knew how much I truly loved him and wanted to be with him. In that moment any doubt I had about him or about us instantly evaporated.

  As he walked up to me, his smiled faded, and concern lined his brow. “Amorcito mio, why are you crying?”

  “What you just did…” I said between my hiccupping cries.

  “Oh that. Yeah, I—” I silenced him by throwing my arms around his neck and pressing myself tight against him. “Hey, hey, what’s this?”

  I pulled away to stare into his eyes. “I love what you just did—for the mother and for the boy. I love that you pray for me and Bella. I love that you won’t give up on me, and you keep pushing me to see beyond my past. I love that as hard as I try to make you just like all the other men out there, you keep proving me wrong. I love that you wanted to bring me here to meet your family…” My lip quivered harder. “I even love that you got me fatty American food to eat.”

  AJ smiled. “You’re welcome.” With his thumb, he brushed away some of the tears streaming down my cheeks. “I do all those things because I love you. You know that right?”

  “I do.” I leaned over and brought my lips to his. When he tried to deepen the kiss, I eased back. “I love you, too,” I murmured against his lips.

  AJ’s closed eyes popped open. “What did you say?”

  I laughed. “I said, I love you, too.” At his expression of disbelief, I cupped his face in my hands. “I know without a shadow of a doubt that I love you.” Tears continued to spill from my eyes onto his shirt. “You’re my anema e core.”

  AJ’s lips were warm and tender against mine. When he pulled away, he tugged my bottom lip between his teeth for a second. “You make me really happy, you know that?”

  He sank down to where he was on eye-level with my belly. “You hear that, Bella? Your stubborn-ass mom finally told your old man she loves him.”

  “We gotta work on your mouth before she gets here.”

  He grinned up at me before pressing a tender kiss on my stomach. I brought my hands up to cup his cheeks. As the beads on my Saint’s bracelet caught the sunlight, I knew I was truly blessed.

  “Oh my God, that was amazing!” Mia exclaimed as we excited the Degollado Theater. Since I begged to differ, I kept my lips pinched shut. I’d almost dozed off twice. Okay, so maybe I did fall asleep since Mia elbowed me because I was snoring. I’d even drooled a little on her arm. Thankfully, she was so fucking stoked to be seeing her favorite opera, La Bohème, that she could have cared less about what I was doing.

  But I still felt like an ass because tonight was all part of a very strategic romantic plan. It had started off this morning with a Mariachi band serenade. When she and Abby had staggered out onto the rooftop at six am to find a full ensemble of musicians and singers belting our anthem of Guadalajara, she had stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed at me like I had totally lost my mind. To me, the Mariachi band was an obvious choice. I mean, Guadalajara is where Mariachi originated. But I guess Mia felt a little ridiculous in her pajama pants and bed hair in front of a bunch of strange men in glittering suits.

  But that all changed when I led her out to the chair waiting for her in the center of the roof. Then I took my place among the singers. I’d been practicing secretly for days while she was spending time with my fa
mily. In perfect Spanish, I began singing Aneme e Core to her. As the sun began to rise over the city, tears glistened in her eyes as I knelt before her and took her hands in mine.

  When I finished the song, she dove into my arms, smothering my face with kisses before bringing her lips to mine. “I love you so much,” she murmured against my mouth.

  “I love you, too.”

  The band stayed on, and while they sang Amorcito Mio, Mia and I danced together. That’s when I surprised her with tickets to the opera. She had squealed with delight and squeezed me harder. When everyone had started heading back to bed, I kept Mia out on the rooftop. Pressed into an alcove where no one could see us, I’d spun her around, pressed her palms against the wall, and then jerked her pajama pants down. The more I pumped furiously into her, the more vocal she got.

  Even though I didn’t give a shit if Jake heard us in the bedroom, I didn’t want the neighbors or worst of all Abuela to hear. I covered Mia’s mouth with my hand. “You make me so fucking hot with those sounds, but someone is going to catch us,” I whispered into her ear. She bobbed her head, and almost made me blow my load by flicking her tongue against my hand in time with my thrusts. When she came, she bit down onto my fingers. I followed quickly after her.

  Now everything was going according to the plan I had in my mind. Well, except for the fact I found opera boring as hell and with a full stomach from our romantic dinner, I had made an ass of myself falling asleep.

  Staring up at the starry sky, Mia gasped. “Look at the moon, AJ!” she exclaimed.

  As I peeked up at the rounded, full moon, I shrugged. “What about it?”

  Spinning around, Mia practically glowed with happiness. “It’s a bella luna just like in Moonstruck, my most favorite movie ever. And we just went to the same opera in the movie, too.”

  Since I had no idea what the hell she was talking about, I merely smiled and took her hand. “Let’s go there,” I motioned to what looked like a carousel without the animals. It was perfect not just because it looked incredibly romantic all lit-up in glittering, white lights with an excellent view of the city. But to me, a Merry-Go-Round was so symbolic of mine and Mia’s relationship so far.