That warmed her up to me more than anything. Had I known, I would have given myself away sooner. But it also means Lola couldn’t keep working, not without being constantly hassled. Elena was more than understanding and released her of her duties. Lola will continue to stay on as an investor, but Elena will have to find someone else to partner with and train to manage the restaurant. She’s thinking of one of her cooks, Mariela, who is relatively young and has lofty culinary ambitions from what I understand.
It’s all working out fucking perfect—everything falling into place.
Tonight is our rehearsal dinner that Sofia has insisted on hosting at the villa she and Bren rented just down the beach from Lola and me. So everyone is here convening at her house early in the day. Lola insisted on showing up early to help, but Sofia won’t hear it, so she planted Lola, Adrian, Fritz, Addy, and me in front of the television with snacks.
Lola is nestled next to me, Addy in her lap. “Are you happy?” I ask her in a whisper only she can hear.
She nods, bouncing Addy on her lap. “I’m only sad Ileana and Isa couldn’t be here. But her brother is in town, which is really rare, and she treasures that time. It was just bad timing.”
“We’ll have her visit us after the honeymoon,” I say.
“I’d like that.”
The cartoon Addy was watching ends, and Adrian changes the channel. He perks up when he lands on a soap opera. “Whois that?” Adrian asks, elbows pressed to thighs as he leans toward the television with a little too much interest. Next to him, Fritz stiffens, and I think I see his jaw twitch.
“That’s Erica Moran,” Lola explains. “She’s probably the most popular telenovela actress in Mexico at the moment. Oh, this one’s good. It’s calledCurvas Peligrosas. Dangerous Curves. She’s the antihero. They call her a man-eater because she uses men to get ahead, outsmarts them, and steals their fortunes. It’s really good.”
Adrian obviously can’t understand what the characters are saying, but he’s fixated on the gorgeous woman on the screen, and I can’t blame him. The actress, Erica, is curvy, soft perfection, with huge knockers.
“Hot, isn’t she?” Lola asks pointedly. Adrian is so stunned, he might be drooling soon. I laugh. “Get in line,” Lola tells him, and he blinks at her, finally peeling his attention away from the screen.
“What?”
“They say she’s a man-eater in real life too. She dates the wealthiest celebrities and businessmen in Mexico, as well as powerful politicians, leads them on, and every single one of them ends up with a broken heart. She’s gotten like five proposals, diamonds you can see from space, and she always says no. She’s notorious.” Lola laughs. “Some tabloids even claim she has a magical vagina that bewitches men. Ridiculous,” she scoffs, amused at Adrian’s stunned expression.
“No way,” Adrian says, looking back at the curvy actress.
“Even during my few months in Mexico,” Lola explains, “I’ve come to understand that Erica Moran took the television industry by storm here. Until her, there had never been a plus-sized main character in a major telenovela, from what I understand—at least not one depicted as sexy. And the fact that they hyper-sexualized her character and played off her real-life reputation makes her one of the most desired women in the country. Though if I think about it, youarethe drummer forIndustrial November. You could potentially have a shot with her if you wanted it. You’re famous enough—”
“Will you change the channel!?” Fritz barks, and we all turn to look at him.
Huh. The knuckles wrapped around his beer bottle are white, and his nostrils are flaring. He’s been a little jumpy lately, something I attributed to the bands extended downtime. He’s getting restless, and I know the second Lola and I get back from our honeymoon, we’ll be practicing, getting ready to record.
“What the f—” Adrian starts to say, then glances at Addy in Lola’s arms. “What’s your deal?” he asks instead.
“Just shut that shit off,” Fritz says.
“Language, man,” Adrian snaps, pointing at Addy. “We got a kid now.”
Lola and I glance at each other, and I know what she’s thinking.What’s up Fritz’s ass now?I shrug.Hell, if I know,I answer her telepathically.
I love our little silent conversations that are happening more and more now.
I can already picture us getting old and gray together. When my mind starts to go, she will finish my sentences for me. We have a great life ahead of us—I can feel it.
* * *
Sofia comesin and shuts off the TV before the argument goes any further.
“Lola, can I have a chat with you?” she asks. “Sure,” Lola says, and Sofia whisks away my bride-to-be.
Sofia takes Addy and hands her to Lupe, who will be helping with Addy during the ceremony tomorrow night.
Bren joins us as the women leave and whips out a humidor filled with Cuban cigars.
“Now that’s what I’m talking about,” Fritz says, looking more relaxed now.
We all light up and sit back to enjoy.