She groaned in frustration and shooed him out. “Tiburón. Just go.” She grabbed her tomatillos and threw them on the comal to roast.
“Prima, just don’t fall in love with him.”
Julieta ignored her cousin and drowned herself in her salsa.
As happy as she had been that morning, doubt seeped back. There were no good outcomes for this romance. He would either dump her and leave her brokenhearted, or they would fall madly in love and be torn apart by their families. Her family saw his as the enemy, and Julieta was certain that his family would never accept her.
And Julieta didn’t want tension. She never wanted to be in a relationship where she had to choose between her family and her man.
She should end it now with her dignity intact.
But she couldn’t reason with her stubborn heart.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ramón called out to his brothers. “Let’s go. I don’t want to be late.” Hecouldn’t wait for the car cruise. Why had he never gone to one? Ramón never missed the yearly La Jolla Concours d’Elegance, a luxury and classic car event in his hometown, but La Vuelta had never even been on his radar. Even his cousin Benicio had never invited him.
But Tiburón had. And dammit, Ramón was going to go and soak up every bit of his culture until he was deemed a traitor and banned from Barrio Logan forever.
Enrique and Jaime followed Ramón to the garage. Ramón ran his fingers over the lime-green McLaren.
Enrique slid next to Ramón. “You gonna hop in that car or just feel her up?”
Smart-ass. “You jealous?”
Enrique shook his head. “No, but let me take her. You can take Abuelo’s Mustang.”
That was actually a great idea. Ramón never drove that car anymore. “Sounds like a plan.” He tossed Enrique the keys.
“Can we go?” Jaime rolled his eyes as he started his Lambo. Ramón and Enrique followed him out of the garage.
Ramón had become used to his regular drive to Barrio Logan, but the journey felt different driving Abuelo’s car. His grandfather would be so proud of him for all his accomplishments. He stroked the tan leather on the seat and blasted the music as he looked out over Mission Bay.
By the time they arrived in Barrio Logan, the evening was already in full swing. Candy-colored lowriders were parked along the side streets, displayed for the crowds to enjoy. Hoods were popped open to show off the shiny engines. There were lifted cars and low cars, old cars and new cars, expensive cars and beaters. And every one of them was glorious.
Ramón and his brothers parked diagonally in front of Las Pescas in three spaces Julieta had reserved for them.
Jaime walked to Ramón’s door. “Man, this place is sick.” He pulled out his phone to start taking a video. “Why haven’t we ever been to this event?”
Ramón threw up his hands. “No clue. We’re idiots. I didn’t even know about it.”
Enrique joined them. “I’m in heaven. Benicio is a punk for never inviting us.”
Ramón agreed. Julieta was so close to her cousins. Why weren’t Ramón and his brothers close to theirs?
“Maybe he’s here.” Ramón took out his phone and shot off a text to Benicio.
Ramón was staring at his phone, hoping for a reply from Benicio, when Julieta and Rosa appeared in the doorway in front of Las Pescas.
Guau. Heat flooded Ramón. Julieta looked fantastic. Her hair was curled, and there was a red rose pinned behind her ear. She worea low-cut white top, a skintight pencil skirt that hugged her incredible ass, and super high black heels.
“Damn, you’re a knockout.” Ramón couldn’t help himself. He moved toward Julieta, cradled her cheek in his hand, and planted a possessive kiss on her bright pink lips.
“Thanks. So glad you came. These are my cousin Rosa’s clothes, actually. She’s great with hair and makeup.”
Enrique waved at Julieta and Rosa.
Ramón said hi to Rosa, whose hair was in a pompadour. She was dressed in a fifties pinup-style vintage dress with bright red cherries on it. “Julieta and Rosa, I’d like you to meet my brother Jaime.”
