Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Soon, her whole life would be changing, and not for the better. I made that decision. No one else but me. Michael’s words haunted me with each step on the gravel that took me away from my own party. Not giving a fuck where I was going, just walking aimlessly. Trying, hoping, praying that I was doing the right thing.
That loving her wouldn’t be her destruction.
Never realizing that it might be mine.
I turned back around searching the wooded area that surrounded me, suddenly feeling the loss of her light she always brought into my life. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw shadows in the distance. It took me a second to realize it was my mom. She was standing in front of her bodyguard Roberto in a gazebo. I stepped closer to get a better view, and it was then I noticed she looked pissed.
Nothing like the vibrant, radiant woman she had been all night.
Gone was the smile and happy demeanor.
She threw her hands up in the air, furiously shaking her head. Pointing toward the hall, she exaggerated her words.
Saying something I couldn’t make out. The expression on her face had my mind racing. Roberto said something with a look of remorse, causing her to tense and turn her back to him. She stared off into the distance with her arms crossed over her chest.
I was about to make my way toward them when I heard Sophia calling my name. I turned around as she was walking up to me.
“Hey…” she breathed out. “I’ve been looking all over for you. I thought you had left me here.”
“Never.”
She smiled. “I’m sorry, Alejandro. I didn’t… I mean I wasn’t trying… it’s just…” she paused, sighing. Trying to gather her thoughts when mine were still on my mother.
“I guess I’m just learning my role in all this. In your life," she spoke, bringing my attention back to her.
“You’ll be my wife. The most important person in my life. Nothing will ever change that.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“You’re making it harder. Baby, we are different. What we have is different.” I stepped toward her, taking her face in my hands.
“I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want you to change. I love you. For the man you are now. Do you understand?” Tears threatened in her eyes.
“I don’t have a choice, Sophia. Do you understand?” I countered, letting her go.
She nodded, reaching up to wrap her arms around my neck. I leaned forward taking her into my arms.
“Yes. I don’t want to fight. You do enough of that for the both of us,” she chuckled, trying to break the tension between us. Our fight was over.
For now.
“Te amo,” I murmured against her ear, “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Come on. Let’s go back to our party.” She pulled away, grabbing my hand.
When I looked over my shoulder toward the gazebo, they were gone.
I spent the next week thinking about what I witnessed. Watching my mom walk around, going on with her daily life like nothing was wrong. Even though I knew otherwise. On several occasions, I walked in on her and my father whispering to each other, having intense conversations. They never fought. Something wasn't right, and they sure as hell weren’t telling Amari and me.
One afternoon Sophia, my mom, and Amari decided they were going to start looking around for wedding locations. I took the opportunity to talk to my father. Determined to get some answers to what the fuck was going on with my mom.
“Come in,” Dad announced after I knocked on his office door.
“Do you have a few minutes?” I asked, peeking my head inside.
He gestured with his hand for me to enter and for his bodyguard to step out. I closed the door behind him wanting some privacy. Taking a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk, where he was sitting with piles of paperwork in front of him.
“Everything go okay with the Italians?” he questioned, looking over the documents not paying me any mind.
“I handled it,” I simply stated, leaning back in the chair, eyeing him.
“Good. Then what’s this about?”
“Is there something you’re not telling me?”
He peered up from his paperwork, placing the stack back onto his desk. “Care to elaborate?”
“I saw Mom upset at the engagement party. What the hell is going on?”
He scoffed, “Your mother gets overwhelmed about everything. You’re getting married, Alejandro. It was a hard day for her. Her little boy is becoming a man. Accomplishing another major milestone. She knows you’re leaving soon. Amari will probably be next with how things seem to be going with her and Michael.”
“I’m not blind. I know what I saw. Has something happened? Is Mom in danger?”
“She’s always in danger. It’s part of being a Martinez.”
“No shit. I’ve seen you guys whispering. You’re hiding something. Is she sick? If she’s sick, you need to tell me. There—”