Page 55 of Love is So Mean

Chapter 32

Enrique

We worked remotely the next day despite being above the company. I was not interested in dealing with all the stares from our subordinates. Yasmeena and I didn’t get a strategy together because I was too busy being scolded by my Amá. This is one of the reasons why I didn’t want the news to get out. I knew my family would be livid that I eloped.

¿Hijo, Por qué chingados tuve que enterarme de que te casarías en las noticias? ¿Estás intentando matar a tu madre?

After I assured her that I wasn't trying to kill her by eloping, I told her that I planned to tell her before the news blasted the story. The second part wasn’t true but it was far less depressing than the truth.

It didn’t help that Yasmeena isn’t the woman I’ve been with for three years. Not only did I have to explain my marriage as well as I could with a NDA, I had to explain why I didn’t elope with Emily.

My mom didn’t hate Emily but she didn’t love her. They got along with no drama but my sudden departure is still shockingto her. Then came the rebound questions. I was able to appease her by promising to fly her out soon.

None of this would have happened if Yasmeena didn’t want to have a child so badly. I get a nervous flutter in my stomach every time I think about her becoming pregnant. The reminder of why she’s getting pregnant fucks me up if I think about it too much.

Reminders of her mortality keep me up some nights but I wouldn’t tell her that, she’d just say not to worry. If her plan is successful and she doesn’t make it I’ll have to console our child while-it just hit me-I’m missing her as well.

I take the short ribs out of the oven and continue to work on the pasta. The food preparation busies my mind enough to get rid of the intrusive thoughts. Yasmeena is on her laptop making notes about God knows what.

”Dinner will be ready in 10 minutes,” I announce.

“Okay, I have get-to-know-each-other questions.”

“Didn’t think you’d ever need those, did you?”

“I don’t know every single thing about you, Enrique. These are questions you ask like on a first date.”

“I know you don’t know everything,” I responded as I mixed the sauce. “I don’t expect you to know anything. I’m saying you probably never thought you’d have to ask.”

After one more taste to make sure the flavors are correct, I start moving everything to the plates.

“Oh, that’s for sure. I didn’t even plan on asking whoever else I was going to marry.”

“Your family’s reaction was an unexpected variable?”

“They would’ve known. I had an entire plan but, you know, life.”

“Life? That sounds loaded. Do you want salad or just pasta?”

I pour myself a glass of wine but stop myself from pouring one for Yasmeena once I remember her restrictions due to her meds.

“Just pasta and yeah, I meant cancer but didn’t think it was a subject to bring up right now. Anyways, favorite color?”

“I don’t have one. If you must put something, go with…” I stop to think about some of the shit I chose for room design. “Just put gray. I guess. I’ve heard that wearing purple colors would enhance my eye color. Can’t say I’ve tried it.”

“Okay, gray,” she types it on her computer. “We’ll put that to a test so that way I can see if it’s true. Second question, what was your childhood dream job?”

“Are you going to answer any of these questions? I’m sure I said a lot of bullshit when I was little, might be a question for my mom. As far as I remember, it was about 1998 when saw the first episode of TRL-”

“TRL? What’s that?”

I chuckle since I forget about the age gap sometimes. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to forget that I’m constantly being bossed around by someone almost a decade younger than me.

“Total Request Live. It was a show where a VJ -Video Jockey-would show the top requested music videos, interview celebrities, and talk to fans. I wanted to be the next Carson Daly. You should know who that is at least,” I explain as I move everything to the table and then sit across from her.

“Bread and butter?” I offer.

“I heard of him, somewhat. And no thank you. And yes, I’ll answer the questions too. I don’t have a favorite color but I favor black. My childhood dream was to be an equestrian. Next question, wha-”

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