Page 28 of Ms. V's Hot Girl Summer

“I didn’t say that, but I’m going to put some feelers out there. If you give me your phone number, I’ll hit you up with any info I have permission to share.”

Smart man, I didn’t blame Mikey for his caution, but selfishly, finding Maria quickly would have alleviated the guilt I felt from taking Orlando away from his task. We finished our coffees, and soon—after farewells to Mikey and his staff—we made our back to Delilah’s.

“So, you found your family member?” Delilah asked the second we walked into the shop.

“No, but Mikey promised to help, which is all we can ask. Any luck?” Orlando asked.

In twenty minutes, he’d managed to change my perception of him again. I had no idea how he did it. A day with Orlando felt revelatory in ways I wasn’t ready for. I wanted him to remain static in my mind, a fun, harmless crush. Someone to flirt with but always keep at bay.

Our lives were weirdly entangled for the day, and I couldn’t remember the last time I felt carefree. But with him, somehow, I wasn’t overthinking; I was not wondering about the next steps and what our picture-perfect family portraits would look like after our wedding.

No, I was getting to know Orlando and liking the things I found out because it was him. A warm shiver took over me as Orlando turned around, activating the air of intimacy that didn’t ever fully dissipate.

“So what do you want to do?” His deep voice penetrated my idle thoughts.

Dios mío.

“So, so sorry, I completely blanked out; what did I miss?”

“No direct flights that get you home by tomorrow; all are Sunday onward. I looked at some connecting flights from the airports in the fifty-mile radius, but I am not done yet. I can call you tomorrow morning with any news?”

“Delilah, I appreciate that. Really, that would be…fantastic.” This woman didn’t need to do all this legwork for me, but here she was, trying to help out.

“No worries, hun, it’s my pleasure! Besides, we felines need to stick together.” Delilah winked, and a choked-back laugh escaped Orlando. I pretended the last words were never said, but my face? It was heated.

“Okay, here is my phone number; Mikey has it too. And here is Trinidad’s. Thanks, Ms. D. You’ve been clutch today,” Orlando said, deftly maneuvering the situation and giving me time to chill.

We walked out of the shop under the tinkling bell, side by side, with a sense of purpose. Orlando opened the door for me, his self-assuredness back in play. With his fitted, lean frame and those pretty eyes hidden behind his sunglasses, he felt present in a way I could not describe, and another shiver traveled all over my body.

Ay Dios mío, what was this?

“So, people still sayclutch?”

“Certain felines do…” He flashed me a big smile.

“Boy, if you don’t stop!”

“How could I when you get so pretty while flustered?”

My chest expanded, and my heart imitated the rhythm of the wings of the earlier butterflies.

My God! Qué es esto? Why are you not answering?

“Oh, here you go; I’m certain you say that to all the young ladies.” I got into the car, pretending my face didn’t feel ten degrees warmer than the rest of my body. I needed him to turn the car on ASAP before I melted on these leather seats. Who rented leather seats in the summer? Ugh.

“Now, I thought we agreed you wouldn’t do the Ms. Velasquez thing while the kids are not around?”

“But youarea kid,” I nagged back.

“No, I’m not. You heard what I said to Mikey. I stopped being a kid a while ago,” Orlando said, a peace offering—an open door. I could take the offer and get caught up in this weird cocoon we were building together, but then what? My plans had not changed. I would find a way to leave.

“Do you mind me asking some of your story?”Trinidad Caridad Velasquez Rodriguez, this is not minding your business…

“I don’t mind you asking me anything, Trinidad,” Orlando said.

Dios mío.

I was in trouble.

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