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My mouth watered. Mom knew how to get to my stomach. “Okay, okay, I’m up. I’ll be there in about forty-five minutes.”
When I arrived at their place, Mama gave me an adorable red dress suitable enough for work. And Papa gave me a box of chocolates. My parents really needed to let me grow up, but I didn’t mind their spoiling me. This was their way of being my protectors until they passed the baton and married me off. At least, they didn’t give me too much flack about living on my own.
Most of the women in my family lived with their parents until they actually got married, no matter how old they were before that happened. But then again, they worked small part-time jobs and didn’t even drive. I should count myself lucky my parents had moved away from some family traditions. Although, it would be nice if my parents trusted my brothers more and took some of the pressure off of me.
After my pit stop with my folks, my classes ran well but when I left for the day, a surprise awaited me I never expected. A peach rose rested under my windshield wiper. I took out my phone and quickly looked up the meaning from the chart Barbie had sent me. Appreciation.
Aw. I held it up to my nose and smelled the floral scent. In the middle of a cold, winter day, the peach was refreshing. I longed for spring . . . and for the one man who could have left this for me. Teddy. Wherever was he getting these roses?
Contemplating this mystery, the campus police car slowed in front of my car and the passenger window rolled down. I hid the rose behind my back.
Chad called to me. “Hey Mia. Everything okay?”
“Y-yeah, why?”
“I saw someone hanging around your car a while ago. But I was across the lot and by the time I got back here, no one was around. Be careful. We’ve had some reports of a stalker about.”
“Oh, okay.” Did he see Teddy leaving me the rose?
“If you’re ever worried about walking to your car after work, just call the campus security line. I’ll come escort you.”
“Sure thing, Chad. Thank you.” I quickly unlocked and practically dove into my car to avoid any further conversation with him. Since I discovered he worked on the same campus as I did, he frequently tried to engage me in conversation. I never wanted him to get any ideas, so I kept things cordial, not encouraging him.
I sat another minute watching Chad drive away when a knock at my window scared the living crap out of me.
“Cruz? Teddy? What the hell?”
“Let us in,” Cruz yelled. I unlocked the doors. Teddy sat beside me in the passenger seat. Cruz sat in the back behind my seat and flung his arms around me in front, giving me a big awkward hug. I saw the huge smile on his face in my rearview mirror. “There’s Bebita. How are you?”
“I’m shocked. When did you get back to town?”
“Just today. Thought I’d surprise everyone while I had a few days off-duty. And I ran into this guy at the store just now. Isn’t this the best reunion, the three of us like this?”
“I’m so happy to see you.” I clung to his forearms around my chest. While I would never admit it out loud, of my two brothers, Cruz was the best.
“What am I, chopped liver? You’re not happy to see me?” Teddy smiled with a crooked grin.
“Do you know how old that saying makes you sound?” I popped my head at him.
“So, I’m a few years older than you. Bet I could teach you a thing or two.” He waggled his eyebrows up and down. Thank God Cruz couldn’t see the looks passing between us. When I started laughing, though, he cranked his neck to look at Teddy.
“What’s so funny?”
Teddy morphed his face into a stoic look. “Nothing.”
“Anyway,” Cruz started. “We’re headed to Diego’s bar to chill, get some dinner, and hang out. Do you want to join us?”
“What, and be the third wheel little sister hanging around? No thanks.”
“Come on, grow up. I haven’t seen either of you in a while, or Diego. What else do you have to do for Valentine’s—or do you have a date tonight?” Cruz asked, pointing to the rose I’d set on the dashboard.
Teddy shot me a strange look, and I straightened. “Nope, no date. Fine, let’s go. I’ll go home and change, and then I’ll walk over and meet you.”
“Do you live far from the bar? Should we pick you up?” Teddy raced to ask, always concerned about my safety. Always my protector.
“No, it’s fine. Just down from Diego’s, only about a block’s distance to walk.”
“Well, if you’re sure,” he relented.
