Page 67 of Guarded

Meet Pedro Pascual.

Get over my fear of heights.

Figure out how to use that orange dildo.

Lose my virginity.

Fall in love.

Itoss and turn in the midnight hours. Even Guapo becomes anxious with my restlessness and wines at the door. The neon lights from my alarm clock stare back at me.One o’clock, two o’clock, three o’clock.

My mind becomes this maze I can’t escape. Time ticks on as I relive every past, present, and future moment. What would mylife be like with Preston Cuevas? What would he be like? I pull up my phone and type in his name, finally succumbing to the temptation to Google him.

To my surprise, Preston Cuevas is not the old creepy man I expected. He looks like a cover model—light brown eyes, brown hair that he keeps slicked back, olive skin, and a sharp jawline.

The first picture that comes up in the search is of him in a suit, sitting with his hands clasped in front of him. He’s in front of the Capital in Austin with a charming smile. I click the link, leading me to an interview inHoustonia, a local newspaper highlighting the surrounding area.

Houston’s Top 40 Under 40

Most Eligible Bachelors.

The article dated back two years ago and talks about Preston’s political profile, where he went to school, and his goals to make it to the United States Congress one day. When asked what he wants in a future partner, he says, “I need someone who can allow me the freedom to make Houston a better place. Someone willing to take second place to my love for the city without resentment. In return, I would give her everything her heart desires.”

Whatever my heart desires is sleeping down in the room across the hall.

I want to trust that Preston Cuevas will be a good husband. In my mind, I imagine him encouraging me to pursue my dreams, standing beside me when I open my first training studio. We’d have a family, and falling in love with him would be easy. I liked easy.

There was no confusion or mixed emotions when the intentions were set on the table. Preston Cuevas’s intentions are crystal clear- work first, then me. I could handle that.

By the time the clock changes to four, I’ve had enough of the mental torture. My bucket list remained untouched, so I decide right now is the perfect time to cross off one of my goals, skinny dipping.

Cooper says it’s only skinny dipping if it’s in a river or a lake you’re swimming butt naked in. But considering I was being followed constantly now by paparazzi and nosey YouTube gossip influencers. The next best option was the pool in the penthouse.

This penthouse was one of three on the 13th floor reserved for our family. Each was built for the three younger Consuelo siblings: my mother, Enrique, and Olivia. My grandfather wanted them to have a secure place to stay, but only Olivia ended up living here.

She and Thalia shared the largest penthouse on the east wing while I stayed in the west wing. The penthouse had two master bedrooms, each equipped with a full bathroom, a large living room, and a kitchen. My favorite part was the large pool outside.

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