And they had even said they loved each other. Julieta couldn’t believe it.
Sheknewhe loved her. And she loved him, too.
But back home, Julieta started getting nervous about the opening of Taco King. Ramón told her that his father wanted to close Las Pescas at the end of the month. Julieta still hadn’t told anyone on the street that her restaurant was about to become a Taco King. When Ramón told her they would need to start going over the menus, her heart raced.
Julieta would become a pariah, and her community would turn its back on her. She was already seen by some as a traitor for sleeping with the enemy. It was all heartbreaking.
And she didn’t know if she would have it in her to pass theprotesters every day and continue to work in the restaurant. If it was any other business,shewould be the one protesting.
Julieta herself had organized a protest when the last remaining gallery closed in Barrio Logan. She’d stood there side by side with Tiburón, holding signs. She’d fed the protesters. Now, she would be on the other side of the fight. She would be called a Coconut Barbie. She would be ostracized from her community.
Ugh. Julieta couldn’t think about that now.
Tonight, Ramón had invited her over to a place he’d rented in Coronado, since he still hadn’t found a new home he liked enough to purchase.
The Uber dropped her off, and the doorman let Julieta into Ramón’s building.
Ramón grinned. “Wow, you look nice. Too bad we aren’t going out.”
She bit her bottom lip. “I thought you said you were taking me to dinner. Did you eat? We can go to the store, and I can cook something really quick.”
Ramón laughed. “No, I’m playing with you. It’s my turn to spoil you. I’m cooking.”
Julieta pulled on his arm. “Are you sure about that? Do you know what you’re doing?”
Ramón picked her up and placed her on the kitchen counter. She wanted him to throw her up against the wall and fuck her right then and there. Who needed to eat, anyway?
“Yes, I make a mean steak. Relax and make yourself at home. Dinner will be done in twenty minutes.” He pushed a glass toward her. “Your paloma is ready.”
Julieta beamed. Ramón was just so incredible.
This condo also had a view of the beach, which clearly must be arequirement for all places Ramón lived in. Hey, her place had a view of the freeway.
The furniture was modern and masculine, which suited him perfectly.
“So, what’s on the menu tonight, Chef Ramón?”
“A salad with goat cheese, a New York strip steak with a beurre blanc glaze, sautéed asparagus, and roasted potatoes. For dessert, I made a chocolate cake.”
“That sounds great. Where did you get the recipes?”
He laughed. “YouTube.”
“That’s where most people learn how to cook now.”
“You should get a channel. Jaime could hook you up. You would make a killing.”
“Yeah, I don’t have time for that.” Though she might soon if she quit Taco King. “But I do think it’s a great way to make cooking accessible to so many people.”
“Right.” He paused, a worried look cast over his face. “Julieta, I need to talk to you about something.”
Julieta’s nerves spiked. “What?”
“Well, my father’s going to start raising the rent on all the places on the block.”
Her heart raced. “How much? I know Señora Flores can only pay a little bit more. That café is so essential to the community. She even found a village in Mexico to grow the coffee beans. And she sources them all from there.”
He touched his forehead. He seemed so confused. Julieta almost felt bad for him. “Great. Now my company is going to devastate an entire village of people?”
