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I smile and follow her into the small rustic restaurant. “I think my friend might already be here,” I tell her.
She looks up at me and shakes her head. “No. I don’t think so.”
She leads me to a small table in the corner and lights a candle while I glance around. The place is quiet and indeed, Kate is definitely not here yet.
I grab my phone and ring her, but she isn’t answering. Abuelita walks over with a bread basket and some dips and shoots me a concerned look. “You’re not being stood up, niñita?”
I blush and shake my head. God, that’s probably what it looks like, isn’t it? Abuelita frowns and walks off again, only to return with a glass of wine.
“Here, grape juice,” she says, winking. “You look like you need it, niñita.”
I gape at her, but she walks off again. I’m shocked she’d serve me wine without ID’ing me. I have a feeling she’s well aware I’m underage.
I take a sip of the wine and smile to myself. It tastes amazing. Abuelita just became my new favorite person. I take another sip as I try to ring Kate again, but she won’t pick up. I’m starting to get worried. Surely nothing happened to her?
I can feel my anxiety rise and bite down on my lip. I’m overthinking it. Surely she’s fine. I hesitate and then decide to text Carter.
Emilia: Hey, did you see Kate? She was supposed to meet me for an early dinner, but I can’t reach her.
Devil: No, but let me check if anyone in my group chats has seen her. Between all of them, someone will know where she is. Give me a couple of minutes, okay?
I exhale in relief. Of course, Carter will be able to figure out where she is in no time at all. He knows practically everyone, after all.
Devil: Where are you?
Emilia: a small restaurant called La Familia
Devil: Okay, don’t move. She’s fine.
Emilia: Is she on her way?
I fidget with my phone and finish my glass of wine quicker than I should. After fifteen minutes or so, I’m about ready to leave. Just as I raise my hand to request the bill from Abuelita, Carter walks in. Abuelita lights up when she sees him and he hugs her tightly, lifting her off the floor. I look at him in disbelief as he walks up to me. Carter leans in to kiss me on the cheek and then sits down opposite me. I blink in disbelief and he chuckles.
“What are you doing here?” I stammer.
Carter pouts and shoots me a wounded puppy look. “Don’t you want me here, Minx?”
I bite down on my lip to hide my smile, but my rapidly reddening cheeks still give away how flustered I feel. Abuelita approaches our table with a stern expression and stares Carter down.
“How can you make such a beautiful girl wait, Lindo?”
I raise my hands and shake my head. “Oh no, Abuelita, I wasn’t waiting for him. I didn’t expect him to come at all. I was waiting for my best friend — Carter’s sister.”
Carter leans back in his seat and spreads his arms. “Lita, the best things in life are worth waiting for,” he says, winking at her. She rolls her eyes and swats him with the menu.
“He didn’t make you wait?” she asks me again. I shake my head and smile at her. I adore her. She’s so cute and grandmotherly. I already know this place is going to become one of my regular joints.
Abuelita huffs and shoots Carter one more warning look. “Fine. You want the usual?”
Carter glances at me. “Trust me?” he asks. I nod, and Carter smiles at Abuelita. “Yes, please, Lita. The usual for both of us.”
She walks away and I lean in. “You haven’t told me what you’re doing here,” I murmur. Carter grins at me. “I was hungry and you happened to be at one of my favorite restaurants all by yourself.”
The way he’s looking at me makes my heart work overtime. “So where is Kate?”
Carter’s expression falls and he clenches his jaw. “One of my buddies texted to say she’s with him and a bunch of other people she has no business being with. I’ll need to talk to her about this. I can’t believe she stood you up to hang out with them.”
I exhale in relief. “At least she’s okay. I was worried.”
