Rhiannon wrapped her arm around Carmela’s waist as they walked toward the sea wall. “You deserve a hell of a lot more than this.”
With Carmela’s arm draped over her shoulders, Rhiannon led them through the crowd and toward the massive lit fountain in front of an old ocean side fort, a remnant of wars long past but whose scars marred the face of the enchanting island.
The trumpets that started playing as soon as they neared the fountain forced Rhiannon’s heart to skip a beat. Thanks to the cool night and bright, full moon, there were more people milling about than she expected. As the three trumpet players marched toward the fountain, they were followed by two guitar players and six more musicians playing various conga drums and other handheld percussion instruments typical in Salsa music.
As the band congregated around the fountain to play, it was apparent a performance was about to start.
“What’s this?” Carmela asked, struggling to recognize the familiar song played in a completely di erent style of music.
Rhiannon grinned; it was the most played song in Carmela’s music app, but she hadn’t figured that out yet. As soon as a woman in a red dress emerged from around the massive fountain and started singing, Carmela’s eyes widened. She registered that it was no coincidence this salsa band would start playing her favorite Paula Abdul song from the 80s.
“How did you do this?” Carmela asked, stunned at the display while strangers started dancing to the music and recording the spectacle on their phones.
Rhiannon’s response was an outstretched hand. “Who cares? Straight up now tell me,” she sang the lyrics, “are you
gonna dance with me?”
Carmela tossed her head back and laughed as she accepted her hand and tried her best to follow Rhiannon’s lead. Salsa dancing was obviously new for Carmela, but she managed to keep a rhythm. When the band broke into an actual salsa song and dozens more people joined them dancing in the street, Carmela was with it enough that Rhiannon twirled her and spun her around to the rhythm.
“I don’t know what to say about all of this,” Carmela replied as she wrapped her arms around Rhiannon’s neck, breathless after half an hour of nonstop dancing. “This isn’t just the best birthday I’ve ever had. It’s hands down the most beautiful night,” she confessed, her eyes glimmering like the dark ocean reflecting the full moon.
Rhiannon kissed her, much to the enjoyment of the crowd that started cheering and clapping. “You deserve this and so much more,” she replied when she finally released her lips.
“I know this sounds so corny, but you’ve been my gift.
There’s nothing I can do or plan that can match what you’ve given me.”
Carmela’s watery eyes matched the emotion welling in hers. “I’m so grateful you ruined that deal for me and gave me something so much better,” Carmela said with a grin before pulling her down into another kiss. “I never want to this to end. I don’t want to go back to reality.”
Rhiannon squeezed her tight against her body. She’d given voice to what neither of them had wanted to acknowledge. They only had one more day in paradise.
“Then it’s a good thing nothing is going to change when we get back,” Rhiannon whispered, caressing the shell of her ear before kissing her earlobe. “Except I’m sure you’ll have to turn your phone back on.”
Carmela chuckled as she wiped her face before looking at Rhiannon again. “You really think so?”
Rhiannon smiled as she took her face in her hands. “I swear it.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CARMELA’S second day as a forty-year-old woman started with a nude Rhiannon asleep on her bare chest. Her body was sore in ways it hadn’t been in years. . . or maybe ever. The dreams of a mind-blowing night were shattered by a shrill ringing a foot from her eardrum.
Reflexively, she reached for the phone on her nightstand while Rhiannon rolled away and pulled the covers over her head.
“Hello,” she muttered into the hotel phone receiver, her eyes still closed and her brain half asleep.
“Ay honey, I’m sorry to wake you, and we know you said not to call, but me and Papi just had to know you were okay,”
a woman said in a high-speed rush.
Before Carmela could tell her she had the wrong number, a man started speaking over the woman. “Rhi, I told her not to call you. She doesn’t understand what it takes to woo a woman, especially when you’re punching above your weight class, and that calls from Mami and Papi are not it.”
When they started bickering amongst themselves in Spanish, Carmela registered it was Rhiannon’s parents on the phone. In a panic, she nudged Rhiannon with her foot, but Rhiannon rolled to the edge of the large bed and out of her reach.
Damn it, Rhiannon! She slapped her hand against the mattress to rouse her, but she slept like the dead.
“Honey, what is that noise?” Rhiannon’s mother asked.
“Is something wrong? Are you signaling for help?”