Carlos beamed. “Thank you. I’d like to be the director if possible. I’m more than qualified.” He laughed. “And maybe, if you’re interested, I’ll hire you as a coach.”
Jaime smirked. “I’d like that.” And it would be one way for him to stay in town.
Near Alma.
“Night.”
“Good night. Thank you.”
Jaime got ready to sleep, lying down in Alma’s bed. He felt a sense of peace wash over him.
And for the first time in a long time, he was proud of himself.
He hadn’t always just been a vague pretty boy—once he’d had substance, he’d been someone others found friendly and nonjudgmental. That was worth being happy with, and he could make a difference in so many people’s lives.
—
Jaime smoothed the lapels of his black tuxedo. Tonight, he was hosting Leti and accompanying her to her dance.
He thought back to his own prom—which he didn’t even attend. He and a bunch of his buddies hijacked the limousine his dad had rented and headed to Mexico. They partied at this nightclub on an abandoned ship in Ensenada, dined on lobster in Puerto Nuevo, and then drank all night on the beach. His father was livid when he found out where they had gone. He’d grounded him for a month, but that didn’t stick. Jaime just waited for his dad’s next business trip and went back to his usual antics.
Man, his high school years were nothing like those of his friends in normal, stable families. What would his life have been like if he had ever been given rules and boundaries and had punishments enforced when he broke them? Maybe he wouldn’t have turned into such an entitled prick.
Maybe he never would’ve broken Alma’s heart.
But tonight he was going to this prom. He would make sure that Leti had a great time.
Jaime pulled up at Santi’s mother’s house, where she was standing outside with her son.
For a moment, Jaime imagined Santi’s dad standing with them. He would’ve loved to see his daughter go to prom. It was so unfair that cancer had taken him away from his family.
Jaime climbed out of his car and joined them, hugging Santi’s mother.
She hugged him back. “Jaime, you look so handsome. It’s been too long.”
“Yes, it has. I haven’t seen you since graduation.” Another milestone Jaime’s dad didn’t make it to. He was on a very important business trip. “How have you been?”
“Good, I guess.”
Santi slapped his hand, and they engaged in a bro hug. Santi held a fancy-looking camera. Jaime guessed his latest iPhone wasn’t going to cut it for tonight.
“Thanks again for doing this, man. She’s so excited.”
“My pleasure.” He clutched the sweet-smelling corsage he’d bought her, a mix of white roses and baby’s breath. “Where’s Leti?”
“Inside with her date, Ben. He’s a nice boy. She can’t wait.”
“Awesome.”
Jaime followed Santi and his mom into her home. She lived in a sprawling ranch in Sleepy Hollow, in San Anselmo. They had a stable full of horses that Leti loved to ride. Santi had actuallytaught Jaime how to ride during long weekends away from college.It was so peaceful and serene out here—definitely different from his San Diego beach house, where tourists, influencers, and grifters hung out on his front lawn.
A teen in his tux stepped into the hallway.
“Hi. I’m Ben.”
Leti’s date extended his hand to Jaime, who gave him a firm handshake. “Hi Ben. I’m Jaime. I’m an old friend of Santi’s. Are you excited?”
“Yes. It will be so fun.”
