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“My ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend are going to be there. I…” I take another deep breath before spitting the rest of it out before I change my mind. “I would normally go alone. It doesn’t really bother me; I’ve done it for years now. But I just didn’t want to be on my own while he’s…”
He puts up his hand, delivering me from further embarrassment. “Say no more, Miss… What’s your last name?”
“Ortega. Catalina Hernandez Ortega.”
“But you go by Cate?”
“That’s what they called me in the foster homes. I guess it kind of stuck.”
“I like Catalina.” The way he says my name makes me smile. “Does anyone call you Catalina?”
I shake my head. “No. Most people don’t even know that’s my full name.”
“Would you care if I called you Catalina?”
I suck in a breath.
“But only when I’m either really upset with you or really happy. My family is notorious for using full names for those two reasons. Otherwise, our names are shortened.”
Now I’m intrigued. “What is your full name then?”
“I’ll make a deal with you. If you guess right, I’ll buy you another cup of coffee.” He seems giddy, his eyebrows bouncing up and down issuing the challenge.
“Alright.”
“But,” he lifts a hand, “if you guess wrong…”
“What? I have to buy you a cup?”
“I’ll take my payment in the form of tacos.”
This is probably some sort of trick. The obvious answer to what his full name would be is Theodore. Maybe it is and he’s trying his best to throw me off, so I say something random. Or maybe it isn’t his name, and he knows I’ll never guess it. Call it a curse, but I am extremely competitive. I have no qualms in destroying friendships over a six-hour long game of Monopoly. I can’t seem to help myself when I nod and agree to the bet. We shake on it.
“Alright, Catalina,” his eyes sparkle, “What is my full name?”
I take a second before I answer. But I ultimately say, “Theodore.”
He makes an obnoxious buzzing noise and laughs. “Wrong. I guess you owe me some tacos.”
I am more upset I lost than the idea of spending more time with him eating tacos. “So,” I attempt to hide my irritation behind a chuckle. “What is your name?”
“Théoden.”
“Like theLord of the Ringscharacter?”
“The one and the same. My mother is a huge fan and from what I understand, she thought it sounded Greek enough. She’s from Santorini and wanted a strong name.”
“Your dad didn’t have a problem with her naming you Théoden?”
He laughs, “Are you trying to tell me you don’t like my name?”
“It’s…” I tilt my head to the side and smile, “different.”
His smile is so wide I think it’ll rip his face in half. “He lost a bet with her. We Bennetts are extremely competitive.”
Duly noted, I think to myself. “So, what would your dad have named you if he had won?”
“Joshua.”
