Alma’s jaw dropped. “What? I don’t remember this.”
Jaime burst out laughing. “Do I ever. I was dared to do it. I stole it from the mission.”
“Ay, Dios mío, Jaime. From the mission? Which one? San Francisco Solano?” Alma quickly did the sign of the cross.
“No, the one in Sonoma.”
She rolled her eyes. “Thatisthe one in Sonoma. Didn’t you take fourth-grade history?”
“Yeah, down in San Diego. I don’t remember much. Anyway, I went in the middle of the night with Carlos in my truck and we stole the donkey.”
Mamá swatted Carlos with her napkin. “You stole from the mission?”
“Relax, Mamá. We brought him back the next day. No one knew he was even gone.”
Jaime downed the rest of his margarita. “I thought about it the other day because Enrique conned me into doing this Las Posadas event with his now-girlfriend, Carolina, and they had a donkey strolling with them.”
Between bites of sumptuous food and sips of the spicy margaritas, the conversation flowed effortlessly, almost easier than it had in the past when they had actually been together. Alma’s knees brushed against Jaime’s leg more times than she would like to admit, and she wasn’t even sure herself if it was accidental on either of their parts. She couldn’t ignore their magnetic chemistry.
Memories from their past, holiday celebrations, and family chisme were shared with love. The awkwardness that Alma had expected at this dinner hadn’t happened, and it couldn’t have been a more lovely evening.
But that was the problem. It had been too normal. Almost like they were back together, which they certainly weren’t. Even thoughhe had changed, it could never work between them. Besides the long distance, which could possibly be resolved, they had a fundamental flaw. He didn’t want to settle down. And she couldn’t have a casual relationship with him.
Papá brought out Alma’s favorite dessert, tres leches cake. Alma was so grateful that her mom would take the time to make it for her, because Alma never baked herself. Moist with three different types of milk, it literally melted in her mouth. Jaime devoured his slice also and went back for seconds. How did he keep his eight-pack abs?
“I gotta go. Tequila needs me.”
Jaime looked perplexed. “Why didn’t you just bring her?”
Mamá stroked the fabric on her armrest. “I don’t want all that on my beautiful velvet sofa.”
“Wasn’t she here yesterday?”
“Yes! And I had to clean all day.”
Alma rolled her eyes. “What about you? Are you heading out?”
Jaime shook his head. “I drank a bit too much. I’ll wait until it wears off.”
Mamá’s eyes lit up. “You can stay here. I’ll prepare Alma’s room.”
Jaime turned to Alma. “Is that okay with you?”
Alma nodded. “Yeah. If you don’t feel safe to drive.”
“I don’t. But I can Uber.”
“No. Just stay here. I don’t mind.” She looked at her Apple Watch. “Okay, I’m off.”
Jaime stood up. “Let me walk you out.”
She hugged her parents then quickly embraced Carlos despite the smirk on his face.
Alma went outside onto the porch with Jaime.
He took her hand, an electric shock jolting through it. “That was fun. Better than I expected it would be.”
“Yeah, it was nice.” Her throat tightened. “Too nice.”
