“Did you have a quinceañera?”
Julieta shook her head. “No. We couldn’t afford it.”
Julieta had wanted to have a quinceañera more than anything. She’d spent months looking at an absolutely gorgeous, huge pink dress with a bunch of tulle under it. She’d dreamt of having her chambelánes, her damas, the dancing, the music, and the food. Celebrating becoming a woman. She choked up. It was even more bitter-sweet because she could’ve danced with Papá then. And now, she would never dance with her father at her wedding.
Julieta didn’t want to talk about it anymore.
Ramón turned up the music, grabbed her hand, and put his arms around her.
Lord, there was no place else she’d rather be—but how long would this last? How could they work when an entire neighborhood was about to turn against them?
“Remind me why you think this could really work out.”
Ramón loudly exhaled. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you took cotillion classes; you belong to two country clubs. I’m never going to feel comfortable around your world.”
“I don’t care about any of that. I care aboutyou.”
Julieta rested her head against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, and they danced in the moonlight on the deck. Julieta didn’t even know how to dance, but he guided her, his hand around her lower waist, her arms around his neck.
“Close your eyes. Just follow me.”
And Julieta did exactly that, as if she were blindfolded, which it felt like she was. She was so in love. She would follow Ramón to the ends of the earth.
But she would not go against Barrio Logan.
Chapter Thirty
Ramón wanted to blow off work all day and keep Julieta in bed, but his phone pinged.
He reached over. A text from his father.
Papá:We need to talk. Come to the office.
Great. Just what Ramón needed—Papá to ruin his day. Ramón couldn’t avoid him much longer. But he didn’t want to meet him in the office.
Ramón:Fine, meet me on the beach.
Papá:I’m serious, Ramón.
Ramón:Me too. See you at Windansea.
Ramón made coffee for Julieta. He considered making her breakfast, but whatever she could whip together was far superior to anything he could.
He didn’t want to leave with her still asleep. That would be awkward. So, he took a shower, threw on his board shorts, and sat at the edge of the bed. He brushed her hair out of her face and kissed her. “Babe, I have to go meet my dad.”
She rolled over and stretched. “Really? Now?”
“Yes, unfortunately. Look, I really want you to stay here with me. Please, make yourself at home.”
“I mean, of course I would rather stay here. I just didn’t want to impose. It’s all so new and—”
“Julieta, stop. I’m crazy about you. I want you to stay.” He kissed her on the forehead. “I’ll be back in a few hours. I’ll stop by Wayfarer and get some pastries and coffee.”
“Oh, I love that place. Okay. See you later. Love you.” She said it naturally, as if she had been saying it for a lifetime.
Her words filled Ramón with joy. “Love you, too.” Ramón went to the garage and got in his car. He headed for La Jolla.
