“Really?” I said, and my brow arched.
“Why does that surprise you?”
“Doesn’t seem like you would enjoy being around . . .” I trailed off, unsure of how to remain politically correct.
“Aroundwhat? Humble people? Poor people? Hardworking people?”
“Yeah . . .”
“Why do you think I’m some pretentious ass on my high horse? I get that I have a bit of an ego, but—”
“Abit?” I laughed, and my eyes widened to the size of dinner plates when I realized the sound had escaped against my will.
He shook his head.
“Sure, Dr. Ramirez. I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth and rubbing shoulders with peasants offends me.” A tone of irritation laced his voice.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what I’m talking about. Just tired, I guess.”
“Apology accepted. Want to make it up to me?” His grin reappeared.
My eyebrows raised all the way to my hairline.
“Get your mind out of the gutter, Carolina. I only meant I need help shopping.”
“Shopping?”
“Yeah, shopping. I hate shopping, and my mother is coming to visit next weekend. I need—”
“Furniture?”
“Exactly.”
“A table, chairs, linens, towels, pillows? Hell, a second set of dishes?”
He groaned. “I knew there was stuff I hadn’t thought of. I need her to be comfortable, and I have no clue about any of that. I’ve never had to pick stuff out for a house before.”
“All right. I’ll help you if only because I’ve never seen a pathetic side to you, and I’m rather amused.”
Hector wasamazed when I told him we could order most of the things he needed online and have them delivered. I would still need to go over to his house again to take another look at the spaces and measure to make sure the furniture I selected would fit. He gave me a budget and told me to pick out everything.
“Thanks for agreeing to help,” he said as soon as I stepped foot in his home.
“No problem. Consider my assistance your house-warming gift.”
“I appreciate that.”
I set my laptop on the kitchen island and scrolled through a few online furniture stores. Hector wasn’t being much help and gave no indication as to his own personal taste.
“Look,” he said. “I really don’t care about any of this, but my Mom will. Just pick out what you like. I’m sure she’ll love it.”
“All right. Tell me a little bit about your Mom’s home in Mexico. Anything you remember that might give me an idea as to what she likes?”
“I really don’t know, Carolina. I don’t pay attention to that kind of stuff.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. This was going to be more difficult than I’d imagined.
“What about your old house before you moved here? What was that like?”