“I lost the bet,” Brenda says. “We had a pretty steep pool going.”
“Glad my life is a game to you,” I say dryly.
“You know Dec is the only woman out there good enough for my baby bro.” She winks, and I roll my eyes.
“No respect.” I shake my head.
“Oh, there’s plenty of respect. I just happen to be older and wiser, so I know best.”
“You really think that, too.” I resist rolling my eyes. No one can get under my skin or make me forget I’m almost thirty, like my siblings.
“I’m certain of it. You know you’re screwed, right? Because I’m not the only one who saw you. I was having lunch with mom. She stayed behind to pay the bill.”
“Emanuele Jose Perez! You have some serious explaining to do.” My mother’s dark brown eyes flash with irritation and a bit of hurt.
“It’s my fault, Mrs. Perez.” Dec steps in front of me slightly. “I didn’t want to tell you until we settled in. I was worried about hurting our families if we decided we were better off as friends.”
“Sweet girl. The two of you were always meant to be.” My mom cups her face. “Nice job putting her feelings and wants first, Manny. You’ll be happier doing this.”
“I noticed,” I say sarcastically, thinking of the misery that was the doghouse for my father.
“You learned from your father. He’s a smart man.” My dad was tough, but we all knew who ran the family with an iron fist.
“As much as we’d love to stay and chat. I have to get Dec back to change in time for the tree lighting ceremony tonight.” Kissing mom on the cheek, I hug my sister and whisk December away before they can give her the third degree.
“Coward,” Dec whispers.
“And here I thought I was your rescuer.”
“You’re only prolonging the inevitable.”
“Good. We still have a back story to create.”And I need more time to figure out how I’ll separate fact from fiction.
Three hours later
I can’t keepmy eyes off Dec's form-fitting red sweater dress with knee-high black boots. Her hair is down and tumbles around her shoulders like a coppery cloud in perfect spirals.
My fingers itch to hold her and familiarize myself with every dip and valley. We’re downtown for the official tree lighting ceremony, and I can barely keep things PG.
“You ready to deliver your pitch for the farm?” I glance over at the microphone set up by the large tree donated by her family and take a step away to put distance between us.
“Are you kidding me? I can do this in my sleep by now. Share.” She makes a gimmie gesture to the cup of cider we spiked with rum from my flask. I hand over the warm cup, and she takes a long pull.
“Careful. I wouldn’t want you to slur.” I take the Styrofoam cylinder back.
“You know I’m not a lightweight.” She pokes my chest.
“I do,” I wind one of her curls around my finger, pull it down, and release it. “I love how bouncy your hair is when you wear it in spirals.”
“I know you do. I, however, hate how long it takes to tame them.”
“I never mind helping you on wash day.” Bending down, I nuzzle the area beneath her ear.
She shivers, and I offer her another sip of cider.
“Oh. Is this a thing now?” The sultry voice sends ice through my veins. I straighten and find my ex, Jennifer, approaching us.
The petite woman is clad in all white with a full face of make-up and perfectly styled stick straight hair. With her angular face and posh style, Jen couldn’t be more different from the woman beside me.