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Lost in thought, I barely realized someone had joined me and took Juan’s spot on the round lounger.
“You American?” A six-foot-five hulk of a man nudged my arm, making me scrunch my nose in protest the second I detected a hint of putrid breath.
Sheesh. How did he have the audacity to spark a conversation when he could make people faint with a simple whiff of gingivitis?
“American girls are easy.” The burly ogre, red-eyed and sweaty showed me a maniacal grin.
American girls are easy, right.
“Does that line even apply to you? Because with that revolting breath,American or not,they’d run the other way.” I threw him a disgusted look before I staunchly got to my feet and began to make my way towards the same direction Juan had taken.
How long did it normally take to get a drink? Did he have to hike Mount Kilimanjaro to get them? He’d been gone about half an hour now. Where the heck was he?
Folks around the pool lounge area were the ones smoking the ganja. Everyone was lit and stoned out of their wits. Where in God’s name was Juan? My heart skipped a beat, wondering if the man hooked up with another woman and left me here to my own devices. My mind was busy conjuring up scenarios until my eyes landed on the backside of Juan conversing with another woman. And just then, the said woman flickered her gaze towards me, catching me intimately studying them. I supposed she mentioned something to Juan because he pivoted his body in my direction across the pool.
I would’ve left him alone with her, but the man encouraged me to join them.
Who was she? If she turned out to be his ex, it’d be an interesting evening.
Licking my lips, I strode in their direction.
“Cara, lo siento, I was about to come get you when I saw my sister. Juana, this is Cara. Cara, this is my stubborn sister, Juana.”
“I’ve been wanting to meet you,” Juana gushed as gave me a tight hug, catching me by surprise. “I’ve watched your show. I’m a fan.” Just like her brother, she had an expressive face and was blessed with the same laidback manner that put a new acquaintance at ease.
Juan apologized again as he handed me a berry champagne drink.
“Has my brother been a good boy?” Juana took a good whiff of her rolled joint before beaming at me while smoke billowed out of her pillowy lips. “He’s popular and loves women. Mama hates that her son is a playboy, but he’s not married, so I think that’s acceptable. Are you loving Spain? Is River Ellis planning to visit you? Oh, I’d love to meet him, please? I’m crazy for him.” she exclaimed with the same jovial energy, to which her brother chided her for being so insane.
“Estás loca, Juana. Por favor, no avergonzarme!”
Juan was red with embarrassment, but if I thought Juana was going to back down, I was proven wrong. The woman was a spitfire. She chewed her brother out, making him spin on his heels and murmur that he required more alcohol if he had to deal with a psychotic sister.
I snickered, watching them interact with fascination. So, this was how siblings interacted. I was amazed. Though it was glaringly obvious that they fought all the time, love could be detected between the harsh words they threw at each other.
Juana’s boyfriend, Silas, was due to arrive soon, but that didn’t stop her from grilling me about my love life, wondering if River really was amazing in person. I had nothing but great things to say about River, and the more I spoke about him, the heavier the pang in my chest grew. I realized just how much I missed my other half.
After her curiosity was quenched, Juana made me try weed. At first, I was reluctant, but after the third invitation, I folded and took a quick hit, which inevitably gave me a crazy bout of coughing fits.
“I think I’m good.” I tapped my chest a few times as smoke billowed from my lips, hoping to quell that weird stuck, itchy, burning feeling down my esophagus. “Why would you torture yourself like that?” I frowned as Juana tapped my cheek a few times.
“The only way to get rid of that is to smoke more and drink more!” she exclaimed as Juan appeared with a tray of alcoholic selection. “Good timing. Now we drink more, sí?”
“Sí, sure.” I reluctantly nodded while my eyes roved towards the tray, wondering which to drink first: Belvedere or Patron.
Two hours in, Juan was beyond intoxicated. I had a good buzz, quite at the tipping point, but not quite.
“Hand me the keys; I’m driving.” Without any form of identification or driver’s license, I knew I shouldn’t even consider going behind the wheel, but it was either that or wait for a cab. Since I was pressed for time, I’d rather take my chances.
Juan wasn’t entirely useless. At least he could still recall his address. So, I set the car’s navigation to take us back to the apartment.
At this time of night, there wasn’t much traffic. It made it easier for me to concentrate on driving.
Half an hour later, I was maneuvering the car into its proper parking spot in the garage.
“We’re here!” Journey accomplished without a hitch.
Shutting off the engine, my eyes landed on Juan, who I thought was sleeping, but I was sorely mistaken. He’d been staring at me the entire time with those dark I-want-to-fuck-you eyes.
