AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I find an elastic band and pull my hair into a bun on top of my head before dressing in high waist jean shorts and a tank top. I’m about to head downstairs when I stop and grab my phone, tucking it into my back pocket. I know now that Katalina and Alvaro were never going to marry, so it’s only right that I read his message…as soon as I find the courage.
In the kitchen, I spot Kat pouring herself a coffee and laugh when she turns around, startling when she spots me. Her light brown hair is in disarray as though she didn’t even bother with it when she woke up. On her face are the biggest, darkest sunglasses I’ve ever seen.
“A la verga!” She growls before moaning in pain and holding her head.
I chuckle and walk closer. “Hangover?”
She nods and winces.
I shake my head with a smile. “I’ll make you a Bloody Mary. It’ll do the trick. Do you want somecaldo de res?”
She pops open a pill bottle, taking two headache tablets before sighing. “Yes, please. I haven’t had that in years.”
I wrap my arm around her shoulders and guide her slowly to the sofa, helping her lay down, before grabbing a small trash can and placing it by her in case she needs to throw up. When I return to the kitchen, I notice the empty liquor bottle in the trash and wonder to myself how she’s even alive and how Vicente is faring.
Thinking of Romero’s mention of Tequila fields in his note, I grow curious and pick the bottle up and scan the label. Sure enough, I see it at the bottom:Product of Herrera Agave Fields, Acapulco, Mexico.
“What else does Romero do?” I ask myself aloud.
“What?” I hear Katalina ask before she hisses in pain. I shake my head.
Once I have her drink made and a cold rag pressed to her forehead, I start the soup.
I fill a large pot with water and beef broth before putting a whole onion, a head of garlic and a quarter cup of salt in. As I wait for the mixture to boil, I help myself to a cup of coffee and head out to the front porch where a swing hangs invitingly.
As I drink my coffee and watch the waves crashing in the distance, I spot my brother jogging up the drive. His brown hair hangs wet and his sleeveless shirt is soaked through. I guess he’s doing just fine if he’s going for a run.
“Should you be jogging on that leg?” I ask when he stops at the bottom of the steps with his hands on his hips as he breathes heavily.
Using the second step, he stretches his leg out. “It’s a little tight but I needed the jog; I haven’t been able to go for my runs in a while.” He nods toward the house. “Romero back?”
I shake my head. “No, but your girlfriend is in there dying. I saw the empty bottle; I can’t believe you let her drink so much.”
He rears back. “First of all,Idrank all that. She had like five more shots after we went to the pool house. Secondly, she’s definitely not my girl.”
I laugh with an eye roll. “Well, now you know her limit. You should go take care of her. I’m makingcaldo de res.”
He comes up the stairs, his arms wide. “What? No morning hug for your brother?”
I make a face. “Absolutely not. You smell, and I just showered.”
He flips me off before walking toward the door, but I stop him.
“If I give you a hug, will you cut the beef for me?Pleeeease?”
He gives me a sweet smile that I completely distrust. “Of course,mi hermana.”
I roll my eyes and stand, reminding myself that hugging his sweaty self is better than touching raw meat.
Just when I think he’s going to be considerate and only lightly hug me, he wraps his arms around me and bear hugs me, rubbing his wet hair all over the side of my face. I scream and pinch his ribs, shoving him away when he laughs at me.
“Best hug ever.”
“You’re a wet dog. Now go!”
He continues laughing as he walks into the house, yelling over his shoulder like an asshole.“But you love me!”
I stare down at myself, plucking the tank top from my body with a curled lip before sighing and heading back inside to change. Once I’ve washed my face and have a new outfit on, I lay on the bed and go through the texts from Lydia.
