The room was deathly silent until Isabel spoke up. “Funny story.”
“Yeah, Isabel? Tell me about it.”
Uh, oh. What happened to Izzy? Romero looked anything but amused. He backed a step away from Isabel. Valerie still stood there clutching her cell trying to think of something to blurt out that might save the day. But her mind had gone blank.
“My sister set this up before I even met you—”
“You were on a date with this guy Friday night?” Romero’s voice rose slightly but his tone was definitely on the verge of erupting.
As if anyone had asked her anything or was even looking in her direction, Valerie shook her head violently.
“No, we just had dinner—”
“That’s a date,” Romero snapped. “What else did you just do with him huh?” His hands flew up in the air before she could answer. “You know what? I don’t wanna know.” He charged toward the bedroom. “Whatever you did, it was f**king fantastic.”
Isabel’s panicked eyes met Valerie’s as he fumed past her. Valerie gestured for Isabel to follow him. “Go! Explain!” She whispered loudly.
The bedroom door closed behind Isabel, and she could hear Isabel’s muffled voice plead her case. Romero’s voice boomed but she couldn’t make out all he said. One sentence came through very clear though, because it was the loudest. “You lied to me!”
Valerie had inched her way into the kitchen. She chewed the nail on her thumb wishing she could think of a way to help Isabel. The bedroom door flew open, and Romero stormed out wearing shoes now but holding his shirt. He glanced at Valerie. The anger in his eyes didn’t hide the hurt, and she felt for him, but not a word came to mind that she could say to fix this.
Isabel came after him, her eyes welled with tears. “Romero, I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, I am too.” He grabbed his keys and wallet off the counter. “Go call him back, Isabel. Make it happen.”
The door slammed shut behind him and Valerie rushed to Isabel. Not sure what else to do, she hugged her tight. Isabel cried softly on her shoulder, then Valerie heard her chuckle sarcastically. Valerie pulled back to look at her. Was she that hysterical?
“God, I’m stupid.” Isabel wiped her eyes. “This is all because I let my sister get to me about the kind of guys I should date. If I’d have had the backbone to tell her truth, that I was already dating someone—someone she wouldn’t approve of, this would’ve never happened.”
Valerie bit her lip. “Well, maybe when he calms down…”
Isabel looked at her exasperated, “It’s not even about the date, Valerie. I think he’s madder about the fact that I haven’t told my family about him. He asked me in there why my sister hadn’t just cancelled the date since I was seeing someone already. When I didn’t answer he stormed out the door before he could even get his shirt on. He couldn’t stand to be in there with me another minute. He thinks I’m ashamed of him.”
Valerie felt so bad for both Isabel and Romero. “So, what are you gonna do?”
Isabel grabbed a napkin from the counter and wiped her face clean. She took a deep breath. “I’m gonna call my sister, then I’m going over to Romero’s. He has the whole day off. We were supposed to spend it together.” She scrunched her face. “Maybe if he’s not too mad, we can have lunch with my mom and my sister.”
Valerie patted her on the back. “Good, Isabel. The sooner you clear this up the better.” She tried to sound as optimistic as she could. “Everything will work out. You’ll see.”
She really hoped things would. Somehow, she got the feeling it wasn’t going to be so simple.
This was definitely not the time to fill Isabel in on her wonderful night with Alex. Isabel obviously knew she’d spent the night with him, so, she had to know things had changed. Valerie could give her the details later.
Isabel rushed to take a shower and Valerie went to call her dad. She could hardly wait to tell him the news.
*
Even after the night they’d had, Alex couldn’t wait to get home to be with Valerie again. He talked to her several times during the day. She mentioned her lease again and not being able to move in with him right away, but he’d figure something out. He wasted too much time already being away from her.
She also said she had something she wanted to talk to him about. He wondered how long it would be before he’d be all caught up with her life. He wanted to know everything.
Alex smiled when he saw her car was already in his driveway. He’d given her a key that morning and asked if she could be there when he got home. He could certainly get used to this. They still had a lot to talk about, but mostly he just wanted to be with her, as much as possible.
She was in the kitchen preparing something when he walked in.
“Hey,” she said over her shoulder. “I hope you’re in the mood for tuna salad. You know me, I’m no cook.”
Alex wrapped his arms around her small waist from behind and kissed the side of her face. He murmured in her ear, “That’s not what I’m in the mood for eating.”
Valerie smiled and turned around and kissed him. He kissed her with the hunger he’d felt all the way home. She pulled away.
“Alex,” she was breathless already. “Let’s eat first. We have a lot to talk about.”
She turned around and grabbed the bowls of tuna salad off the counter and he followed right behind her. He had to control himself at least until after they settled this whole thing about her moving in.