Page 2 of The Road Sometimes Taken

“Don’t, Allie. Really. I’m fine; everything is fine. Let’s talk aboutyou,Miss Traveling-Again-Away-From-Me. I hate it here.”

“I know, I know. I’m requesting an area near here next so we can do this again. I love you,” she insists and pulls me in for a hug.

“Yeah, yeah, I love you too, bitch. Now let’s go get ready. The night is young, and we have places to be, things to drink, and…” I look at her and wiggle my eyebrows, encouraging her to finish my infamous phrase that she hates.

“And people to do.”

“Yeeeeees, queen! Let’s go!”

The night goes by in a flash. We dance and drink until oblivion. Allie is annoyed at me for keeping her out later than expected while I was trying to find something to make me feel like the ray of sunshine everyone thinks I am. The drinks, thedances, the people—none of it makes me feel anything. All I keep repeating in my head isIf I wasn’t enough for the boy I gave everything to, am I even worth it?And as the hours go by, and man after man tries to touch me while dancing or sends me drinks with the expectation to take me home with them, the more I remember that maybe all that I will ever be good for is a fun time.

1

TRUTH OR DARE

CONTRATO, MALUMA

April

Manny

“Doyou have any plans for the holiday weekend, Mr. Z?” Kate, my assistant—at least, the assistant of this past month—asks with a sensual tone as she wraps a lock of her hair around her finger. I don’t know how many times I told Gus to stop hiring girls that are more worried about fucking one of us,or both,instead of people who are here for the job. Kate is at least competent, but the flirty looks and innuendos need to stop. I might be known for never having a serious girlfriend and bringing different dates to every event, but I draw the line at work. My heart is not built for the complications a lawsuit might bring and I don’t want to have to spend a week in the hospital with high blood pressure. I don’t have time for that.

“I’m having dinner with my family tonight andwill be flying to the New York office right after,” I answer. I try to not be an asshole, but also not a flirt—which seem to be my two personalities. The man behind the suit is not who I am withmypeople; but lately, that’s all I’ve been: Manuel Zabana, co-CEO of Zabana Enterprises. No time for fun or games. This is the first time in a while I have taken time off. Even if it’s just a day.

Gus and I own Zabana Enterprises. We both created the space from scratch and it was our hard work that made it what it is today: a Fortune 200 wealth management company. In the past couple of years, Gus has taken a step back and works more regular hours. Meaning someone had to pick up the slack, which happened to be me. Yes, the company can pretty much run itself; but if nobody’s supervising, how do we make sure it stays that way? How do we make sure all our hard work doesn’t go down the drain or that the best interest of our clients stays front and center?

“Do you need a plus one?” she asks, walking toward me. Her steps are determined and her hips sway like a woman on a mission. This has been happening more and more now that Forbes added me and Gus as part of their ‘Top Ten Empire Bachelors Under Thirty.’ It didn't help that the following week, we were in the tabloids for being the most likely not to settle down. People were placing bets on who could make Augusto and Manuel Zabana settle. Jokes on them, I’m already married. My whole life is committed to the two things I love: my job and my family. So the only reason I leave work on a Friday is them, my family.

“I don’t. Thanks for offering though,” I say, getting up from my brown leather chair and pushing it in under the desk. My office in Jacksonville has a nice view of the St. Johns River. I made sure to position my desk across from the tall windows so when I leave every day, I get the view as I walk toward the exit and get back into the confinementof my car. Even if I don’t get a breath of fresh air, at least this way I can see nature. Sort of.

“Goodbye, Kate. Felices Pascuas?1 and see you next week.” I close the door to my office, leaving her inside, and get out of this place. Hopefully I make it to Allie’s house before she kills me over being late to her dinner.

“¡Llegó el que faltaba!?2”I shout as I open the door to Allie and Jake’s house. The wooden door has a sign that says,Welcome, come on in, so I follow the instructions and push the door wide open, stepping in and walking to the living room. I’m so fucking happy my sister finally got over her bullshit and told this guy how she really feels. I don’t know what the hell happened between them all those years ago, but clearly it was a mistake because I’ve never seen her happier than she is right now.

She decided to host Easter at their house and our whole family is coming, except my dad. None of us are close to him but his relationship with Allie is the worst out of all of us. He acts like an asshole half the time, so I don’t blame her. I’m pretty sure the only reason Mom is still with him is because he treats her like a queen. But he only loves her like that; everyone else’s affection is measured by how successful we are and what we can bring to the table. I guess when Allie decided to become a teacher, knowing she wasn’t going to make the type of money he does, theirfeud started.

Allie planned this weekend and made me swear I was going to give her three days of my time. We closed the office for the first time in years and here we are. At the beck and call of our sister, celebrating her joy.

“Manuel, you’re late,” Allie snaps, kissing my cheek and giving me a hug before adding, “I’m glad you came, though. Gus is here already; come on.”

I take the time to look around and I see my mom sitting with Cara’s mom, sipping on wine and talking about who knows what. Gus is sitting on the couch with a glass of tonic water with lime that I can recognize from a mile away. He stopped drinking a while ago and hasn’t gone back. Allie disappears into the kitchen and as I follow her, the bounciest girl with sage green eyes walks out and smiles big at me.Cara: my sister’s best friend who I was sure I would see since the two are inseparable.

“Long time no see, big guy!” Cara exclaims as she wraps her arms around me in a warm hug. Her excitement is infectious—it always has been, and I can’t help but feel comfort at the familiar gesture. It’s strange how my body always seems to react this way when she’s near— a gentle reminder of our shared history and friendship. A history that I’ve always wanted to be more but considering she’s my sister’s best friend, it never has.

I pull back slightly, playfully ruffling her hair. Cara is a little taller than average height, standing around five-foot-six or seven; but at six-foot-two, I still tower over her. Despite the height difference, there’s something about her presence that makes her feel like she’s standing eye-to-eye with me.

“Oh, well hello, Carita, always a pleasure to see me, I’m sure.”

She scoffs and walks past me. “I see you’re as insufferable as ever.” She plops on the couchnext to Gus, putting her feet on his lap and clinking her glass to his with a softsalud.That’s what I need after a long and tedious day: a drink.

I step into the kitchen, where the air is thick with the rich aroma of simmering spices and fresh herbs. The room is bathed in the warm golden light of hanging pendant lamps, their soft glow highlighting the dark-colored floor and the worn wooden cabinets.

Jake is busy at the stove, stirring a pot with a wooden spoon, and the sound of sizzling and occasional bursts of fragrant steam rise from the pan. The smell of something that could only be described as homey wafts through the room, mixing with the faint hint of aged oak and the sweet undertone of vanilla in the air. Allie always has vanilla something in the air. And even with the food overpowering it, you can still get small hints of the scent.

“What’s up, bro? Good to see you.” I step closer while I greet him and shake his hand before pulling him into a side hug. The warmth of the kitchen and Jake’s friendly smile make it feel like a perfect welcoming home.

“There’s beer and peach wine in the fridge, and red wine on top of the counter over there,” he replies, pointing to the end of the counter where a bottle of Cabernet sits with a couple of glasses. I opt for beer because I don’t feel like passing out on Allie’s couch and that’s exactly what will happen if I start drinking red wine right now.

---