Claiming Carlos

by Rachelle Ayala

  Of course I haven’t told my parents, but they’ll convince Tita Gloria not to carry out her threat. I can’t believe I took it so seriously. No matter how much she hates me, she doesn’t hate Livy. Besides, she would never want this scandal to come out now that I’m with Carlos.

  There’s a knock at my door, and I hurry to answer it. It’s Carlos, here to help me move.

  “Hey.” I give him a kiss on the lips.

  He ends the kiss and pushes his way into the apartment, his shoulders hunched. “My mother showed up this afternoon.”

  “Your mother. Why?”

  “She’s trying to get me and Julia back together. Apparently Julia called her and spilled everything. Told her I’m dating you.”

  “Oh, no! What’s she going to do?”

  “Nothing. I’m going to send her to a motel if she keeps up the nagging.”

  “Guess I’m no longer moving in.” I wring my hands, sweat moistening my forehead. “Should I stop by to say hi?”

  “No, she’s in a foul mood. I’m sorry, babe.” He tugs me into his arms. “I told her I’m in love with you, but she keeps sitting there with this smug expression on her face.”

  Not good at all. Who knows what wheels are turning in that mind of hers?

  “Well, then I better let you go.” I hurry him toward the door. “I guess I’m going back home.”

  He loops one of my duffle bags over his shoulder and picks up a suitcase. “Actually, let’s go to Vegas.”

  “Wh-what?”

  “I have a surprise for you in Vegas. Let’s go before my mother gets back from your parents’ house.”

  “Oh, I don’t know.”

  He walks out the door with my things without looking back.

  This is crazy, insane! But then, this is Carlos, it’s CARLOS, my best friend forever. I grab my purse and makeup bag. Wait, maybe we’re going to some fancy restaurants to research them. I’ll need some of those fancy outfits I’m still paying for.

  Loaded with garment bags, I stagger to the parking garage. Carlo’s in front of the Barrio XO van, the doors wide open. He makes no comments or snide remarks when he takes my load of garment bags and places them carefully over the luggage.

  He leads me to the passenger door as if helping me step into a horse-drawn carriage. “Your dad sold me the van. It’s ours now.”

  “You’re not changing the logo, right?”

  “Never. This is the Barrio-mobile. I’ll keep it running forever and drive it proudly wherever we go.”

  “Someday, we’ll have our own Barrio XO again.” Hearts and flowers flutter around my happy glow. Carlos is staying and we have a future together.

  He lifts me and gently places me in the passenger seat, then leans in and runs his fingers through my hair. “With you, everything’s possible.”

  His lips press over mine, and I open up to him, wrapping my arms around his strong, steady shoulders, drinking him in. I love this man so much. Nothing will stand in our way, not even Tita Gloria.

  Honk! Oops, it looks like we’re blocking traffic. The supervisor lowers his window and hoots, “Get a room, or did you forget your key again?”

  Part VIII - Carlos / Chapter 38

  Carlos sped down Highway 15 through the dark California desert. He had a wild, furious feeling in his veins. Every so often, he’d glance at Choco, take her hand and press it. He couldn’t believe she was sitting next to him, looking so pretty and natural, her hair flying with the wind. Of course with no air conditioning in the old van, he had to lower the windows.

  They’d both left their cell phones at home, told nobody. He’d withdrawn as much cash as he could. No sense leaving a credit card trail. Choco’s credit card was maxed out from her shopping trip, and she had a few hundred dollars in her purse. Not that he’d ask her to use any of it.

  Choco was dozing, so he pulled out his GPS navigator and set the directions. Instead of heading for the Strip, where all the hotels and casinos lay, he followed the directions to a dusty, vacant lot between warehouses and a strip mall. The sun hadn’t risen, but the sky already had that greyish tinge of dawn in the desert.

  Captain Jack, the pilot, was there with his crew, unrolling the hot air balloon. The basket they were going up in lay on its side. Carlos parked the van across the street.

  Choco woke as soon as he shut off the engine. She looked so damn cute, even groggy and rubbing her eyes. There would never be another morning where he wouldn’t be giving her the first kiss of the day. Just the slight pink blush on her cheeks and the way her eyelashes curled over her slanted eyes had heat waves welling from his groin. He’d hung back all these years, watching her from the background, joking and playing around with her as friends, listening to her dreams, sharing juicy gossip, and cutting each other down in fun. But now, she was his dream come true, and he was going to make everything right for her.

  “Where are …” she didn’t get to finish.

  He caught her in his arms and brushed a kiss over her lips. “Put on your sneakers. We’re going up.”

  She glanced out the window, and a smile lit her face. “We’re going in that?”

  “Yep, up in the sky. Let’s go.”

  While Choco put on her sneakers, Carlos arranged the surprise in his backpack. He’d alerted the balloon company while at a rest stop, and they had the champagne ready. Besides, they’d be thousands of feet up in the air. No room for rejection.

  # # #

  “This is awesome.” Choco’s face was lit bright, and she cuddled in his arms as the balloon rose into the air. Despite the chilly desert morning, the gondola was warm and toasty from the gas jets heating the air in the balloon.

  Taking off was a breeze. Once the crew untethered the basket, the hot air simply lifted them off. Mitch, the onboard bartender made jokes about taking last minute pictures as he passed them a shot glass of gin.

  “The sun will start rising in about half an hour,” Captain Jack said. “We should get a great view of it peeking over the aptly named Sunrise Mountains.”

  “Oh, wow, Carlos, this is on my bucket list. How did you know?”

  He tickled her under her chin. “I know everything about you.”

  “Even the embarrassing moments of my life.”

  “Yeah, being friends before lovers is the best.” He leaned in and graced her with a deep, long kiss.

  “Mmm, mmm …” Choco pushed away. She darted her eyes at the pilot and bartender. No one else was on board this private sunrise trip, so what was she worried about? Carlos was sure they’d seen much heavier action.

  Choco dug in her purse before remembering her phone was missing. “We shouldn’t have left our phones. What am I going to take pictures with?”

  “I’m always prepared.” Carlos handed her a small digital camera. “Shoot away.”

  “Oh, gosh. I haven’t used one of these in ages.” She giggled, but soon was overtaken by the awesome views. The city was spread out, almost like Los Angeles with fingers of housing developments creeping into the surrounding canyons. Reddish rock formations dotted the landscape. Captain Jack named the landmarks and talked about what Vegas was like in the 1960s, a small town surrounding the strip of casinos.

  The sun peeked from behind the mountains in a cloudless sky and gradually, the darkened city below came to life. There was the pyramid, the fake Eiffel Tower, and the space needle of the Stratosphere Tower. Once they reached cruising altitude, Captain Jack took a break from the narration. They floated in a peaceful, meditative silence.

  Bartender Mitch, who rode in the section opposite them gestured at the cold pack at his feet, indicating it was time to move forward. Carlos’s heart rate sped, and he eased Choco from his arms to reach into his backpack. Fortunately she was hanging over the edge and occasionally take a picture, so she didn’t notice what he was doing. He tucked the items into his jacket pocket and got on his knees.

  Mitch whooped and whipped out a small video camera. “About time, dude. Tell her why she’s up here.”


  Choco gasped, her eyes crinkled, smiling. He took her hand and kissed it, suddenly finding it hard to look at her. What happened to the speech he’d rehearsed the entire way over? All the flowery words he’d prepared and memorized?

  All out the window. In typical Carlos Caveman style, he took out the deck of cards and extracted the King of Diamonds and handed it to her.

  “My diamond?” She took it, turning it over.

  “That’s me, a diamond in the rough. I’m not the sharpest dresser or the smoothest talker. Heck, I’m only a cook, but I promise to treat you like a queen and dish yummy food for you the rest of my life.”

  “Awww, that’s so sweet.”

  “There’s more.” He brought out the crystal geode. “This is the biggest rock I have. It’s the size of my heart, and I give it to you because you have all of my heart.”

  “I did say I wanted a big rock.” She giggled. “I love it.”

  Clearly she thought he had more, so he dug and dug in his pockets. “Guess that’s it. Didn’t I make your dreams come true? The hot air balloon, the diamond, and huge rock?”

  She lifted the geode as if to bean him. Behind them, Mitch chuckled as he handed the video camera to Jack.

  But she didn’t hit him. She smiled sweetly, her face aglow. “You, Carlos, you’re my dream come true. I wish we could stay up here forever. I love you.”

  “Awww,” Captain Jack interjected. “Mitch, get ready with the champagne.”

  “Psst,” Mitch said. “He hasn’t popped the question yet.”

  “Don’t say popped on a balloon,” Captain Jack said. “Bad luck.”

  Sweat moistened the top of Carlos’s lip. Everything hung on the next few moments. He took the geode and card from Choco and put it back in his backpack. Lifting his face, he gazed lovingly into the depths of her gorgeous almond-shaped eyes.

  “You didn’t think I was only getting you a rock and a card, did you?”

  Nope, guess not. She was pressing her lips and blinking like one of those beauty contestant winners, at the moment the first runner up was announced.

  “Concepción Madalena Apostol Sánchez, I want to start a life with you, hold you tight every night before going to sleep, and wake up with you in my arms. I want to follow your dreams, give you every work of my hands and the love in my heart. Fry lumpia, lechón, and bangus for you, and share buko pie, halo halo, and especially champorado together.”

  “With whipped cream on top.”

  “Yeah, now, where was I?” Carlos wiped his forehead with the back of his arm. His hands shaking, he opened his fist and placed a small square box on her palm. “Open it.”

  She hesitated. “Promise no tricks, like roaches hopping out.”

  “Yer supposed to pop the question first before giving her whatever’s in the box,” Mitch said, his voice slurring from the shots he took on the way up.

  “Don’t say pop!” the captain grunted.

  “No tricks.” Carlos flipped the lid. “Choco, will you marry me?”

  Her eyes widened and she clasped her hands to her heart. “Yes. Yes, Carlos. I will.”

  The sweetest words he ever heard. Carlos’s heart expanded until he thought he’d float away like a balloon in the wind. He rose to his feet and placed the ring on her finger. She grabbed him around the neck and smashed her lips against his, bouncing on her toes. He picked her up in a bear hug and swung her from side to side, rocking the gondola.

  “Whoa there, we seem to be encountering unexpected turbulence,” Mitch announced. “And there, we have it. The future Mr. and Mrs. Carlos López. Thank you for flying Air Vegas with Captain Jack and Bartender Mitch. That’s me. And now, it’s time to break out the bubblies.”

  Chapter 39

  After the balloon landed, Carlos gave his email address to Bartender Mitch who promised to send him the pictures and the video of the proposal.

  “Promise you won’t upload it to the internet,” Carlos handed Mitch a tip while the ground crew rolled up the balloon.

  Mitch thumbed through the bills. “This is enough to keep it off Facebook, but YouTube? I’ll need another hundred.”

  “He’s just kidding,” Captain Jack said. “Don’t forget to write up a review.”

  He placed a lei around Choco’s neck and kissed her cheek. “Special compliments from the crew and best wishes. If you want a wedding chapel, I have a business card for you.”

  “Just zap it to their phone,” Mitch said. “Business cards are for old timers.”

  “Actually we don’t have our phones,” Choco said. “We left them in San Diego.”

  “For shame,” Mitch said, showing her his phone. “There’s a travel app that tells you all the sites when you walk by. It’s a great way to sightsee on the Strip.”

  “Really? Let me see.” Choco took his phone.

  “We’re not close to any attractions right now, but on the drive back, you can hold the phone and it’ll beep every time we pass something interesting.”

  “Cool, can I check my email while I’m here?” Choco asked.

  “Sure, go for it,” Mitch said. “Make sure to like us on Facebook too.”

  “Uh, Choke,” Carlos said. “You promised to stay off the grid. You know, we’re running away together?”

  He could imagine the frantic emails from her parents, fearing her death, demise, or kidnapping by hooded cult members or crazy cooks wielding chocolate sauce and buko pie.

  She shrugged. “We’re not doing anything but waiting. Besides, I promise my complete attention once we’re back to the launch site.”

  He kissed her. “Okay, you promised.”

  “I have a new and exciting gin drink,” Mitch said. “Try my matcha green tea gimlet.”

  “That sounds like quite a combo.” Carlos swiped his hair from his eyes, and followed Mitch to his portable drink cooler. Even though the dry wind whipped, it was going to be a hot August day.

  “Carlos! Come here,” Choco called, her eyes glued to the phone. “Livy’s belly button’s infected, and Kevin took her to the doctor. Shit. He’s pissed at me. Read this email.”

  Which was exactly why he didn’t want her to read her email.

  “I have to call. Mitch? Mitch?” Choco rushed toward the bartender. “Can I make a call?”

  “Sure, voice is free these day. Go ahead.” He handed her a drink. “Try the matcha gimlet.”

  The captain rubbed his white hair and slipped a business card for the wedding chapel to Carlos. “You can use my phone to call ahead. Tell them Captain Jack sent you.”

  “Gee, thanks.” Sweat broiled on the back of Carlos’s neck. He hadn’t planned on rushing to the chapel. They were supposed to check into the Stratosphere Hotel, get freshened up, and then go on the Thrill Rides Wedding, where they’d be thrown into the air, catapulted and spun on daredevil rides on top of the tower before tying the knot.

  “Oh, no! It can’t be. No, please, no. You can’t do this to me. You can’t.” Choco’s anguished voice cut his reverie.

  Carlos rushed to her side. “What happened?”

  “Please, don’t take her away from me. Please, Kevin, she means everything to me.”

  He’d take Livy away from Choco because of an infected belly button? Unbelievable.

  “Give me the phone. Let me speak to him,” Carlos said.

  “Oh, shit! How did she find out? Who told her?” Choco sagged to her knees on the dusty ground. She bent over, clutching her stomach. “Who would do a thing like this?”

  Her hands shaking she swiped the phone. “He says someone posted on Livy’s Facebook wall that I’m her mother.”

  “What?” Carlos’s head expanded as blood pounded his temples. “Who’d do a cruel thing like that?”

  “He won’t say, but I’m going to find out.” She typed and mistyped her password. “Shit. It’s going to lock me out.”

  “Calm down, deep breaths.” Carlos put his arms around her. “Let me try.”

  “He’s taking Livy away from me. He says
I can’t see her ever again. He’s getting a restraining order.”

  “But it’s not your fault.”

  “It’s part of the agreement for letting Livy be my little sister.” Choco slumped against his chest. “Here, you try logging in.”

  Carlos entered his password and tapped Livy’s avatar. His heart froze. The post came from his profile. Carlos López posted: Choco’s your mom. It’s best you knew.

  “This can’t be,” he muttered.

  “What, let me see.”

  “No, someone hacked my account.”

  A sharp kick on his shin bent him over. Choco scratched and pried the phone from his hand. “Carlos. You did it? How could you? I thought we talked about this.”

  “It wasn’t me. Check the time it was posted.”

  “It says twelve hours ago. That was before our trip. You could have posted it then. No wonder you didn’t want us to take our phones.” She threw Mitch’s phone at him. “Leave me alone.”

  “You can’t believe I’d do this,” Carlos grappled with her arms. “Someone must have hacked my account. Maybe I left myself logged in, or they found my phone.”

  “Then it’s your mom. It’s either you or your mom.”

  “My mom wouldn’t do something like this.”

  “Oh yeah?” She twisted her arms from his grasp. “She threatened me with Livy. She said if I didn’t keep my dirty claws off you, she’d tell Livy, and I’ll never get to see her again.”

  “I don’t believe it. Why would my mom threaten you? You’re her goddaughter.”

  “Of course, she’s a saint to you.” Choco twisted the ring from her finger. “Whether it’s your fault or not, I’ll never forget. I can’t marry you, Carlos. I can’t even look at your face.”

  To her credit, she didn’t throw the ring. She pressed it into his hand and ran into the desert, weeping.

  “Shit, man,” Mitch said, clapping his hand on Carlos’s shoulder. “I’ve seen some short engagements, but this one takes the cake.”

  Part IX – Choco / Chapter 40

  I hail a cab and head straight for Livy’s house. I didn’t even bother to stop at my apartment to pick up my phone. What’s the use? They’d ignore my calls and text messages. It’s better to surprise them.