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“I don't know.” The line moves and so does he. I step forward, pretending to graze his fingers by accident.
“Then I don't know if what you're suggesting is true.”
He looks to the side, opening his mouth and closing it again. His mom is back in her seat, wrapped in conversation with her sister and her husband. Mateo moves forward again, not saying another word. When he's standing in front of the priest, he receives the wafer and wine. Instead of returning to his seat, he heads out toward the back doors and whispers something in his guard’s ear. Instead of going out the same doors he does, I slip out the one on the side, earning me a few looks from church goes and none from the guard keeping his eyes on the doors Mateo went out.
I walk around the building and before I can reach the front, someone grabs my hand. I turn around and Mateo’s eyes pierce mine before he drags me into the church garden. He lowers me with him on the bench behind a shed. “I shouldn't be out here with you.”
“Probably not. Your guard will wonder where you are soon.”
“I told him I needed to use the restroom and that my mother needs him more than I do.”
“I think you went through the wrong door.” I smirk. “And yet you're still not going to the bathroom like you said you would.”
“I wanted to see if you'd leave when I did.”
“Could be pure coincidence.”
He shakes his head and the sun leaves a soft glow in his cheek. “Why me?”
“Why not you?”
He releases a drawn out sigh. “Why do you insist on asking a question with a question.”
I stroke his soft cheek with the edge of my fingers. “You want to really know why you?”
“Yes.”
“Because I saw something I wanted and now I can't stop going after it.”
His chest heavily rises and falls. “You're not an old friend of the family, are you? You wouldn't have to keep sneaking around if you were.”
“No. But I'd like to be your friend. Will you let me be your friend, Mateo?” I trace the seam of his lips and he tenses.
“I…have to go back inside. I think you dropped these.” He hands me the roses and I shove them away.
“No. Those are for you. Until next time.” I brush my lips over his cheek and leave him alone in the garden. I don't drive off until he's safely back inside.
Nine
Mateo
I haven't had any more run-ins with the stranger in over a week but the white, stemless roses left for me almost everywhere I go tell me he hasn't been far. Under the car, in my office chair, by the fountain I once met him at and on the steps leading to my balcony.
I'm starting to think I will never see him again, but I thought that before too. He's following me. He's really following me. Chills climb up my spine as I remember one of the last things he told me.
“Because I saw something I wanted and now I can't stop going after it.”
Shaking off my thoughts, I walk into the tux shop and the seamstress is already holding my suit in her hands. It's black and plain. It's an unspecial ensemble for an even less special day. The only good thing about coming here is my father allowed me to come without him or my mother accompanying me.
I made the guard remain in the car with the driver. There's no reason for him to be inside with me. I have a gun on me in case something were to go wrong during the short time I'm trying on clothes. My dad ensures I carry it with me everywhere I go lately and I hate having it. I hate knowing how to use it because I'm tempted to put a bullet in Santiago's head everyday. His death would cause the death of many, though. Me and my whole family. Everyone I've ever known and loved. It's what's kept my finger off the trigger every time I've been alone with him.
I grab the tux from her hands and look it over one more time, as if it would look any better in my hand than it did hers. As if my eyes have the power to change the reason for me having to try it on.
She points to a back dressing room. “You can try it on in there,” she says in Spanish. I nod and when I turn around to ask her if anyone else is here, she is already gone. I pull back the curtains and there are more curtains separating me from the other dressing rooms. I bend down to untie my shoes and set them to the side, freezing when I see a pair of shoes behind me that aren't mine. I swallow hard, slowly standing up. A familiar scent fills the air, one I've been in the company of more than once. Peppermint. I undo my belt and pants, letting them slip down to the floor. I kick them to the side as soon as they're pooling around my ankles. When I turn around, I freeze.
“Hello again, Mateo. I thought you could use some help trying that on.” His gaze falls to the tux.
I bite my lower lip and snatch my slacks from his hands. “I wasn't aware that was a service this place offered.”
