Page 2 of Springtime Love

“Found them!” I call out, dangling them out in front of her. She looks unamused. “You’re no fun.”

“Says the woman who is talking about blowing things up and derbys.”

Now it makes sense. She’s upset with me because I didn’t explain what a demolition derby driver was. Hayva and her family moved to the United States, Texas specifically, about five years ago. She’s worked hard to learn everything she could so when there is something she doesn’t know, she feels stupid– which she most definitely isn’t.

“Hayva,” I sigh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to poke fun at you.”

“Yes, you did. You and your American ways,” she crosses her arms in front of her chest and turns her head from me.

“You know you can’t stay mad at me forever.”

I can see a smile tugging at her lips. I wrap my arms around her and lay my head on her shoulder.

“But you love me, Havya! You really do,” I giggle. She finally breaks. She wraps her arms around me and laughs.

“You drive me crazy.”

“We drive each other crazy,” I remind her.

“I guess so,” she admits. “Now, lock the door so we can go eat.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I let go of her and then dramatically salute her. She rolls her eyes and chuckles softly.

“What is this derby?” she asks, letting her curiosity get the best of her. I grin as I lock the door.

“Men race around hitting each other’s cars with their car.”

“What?” she gasps. Her eyes are the size of saucers. “They do this… why?”

“For fun… Money… I honestly don’t know why,” I laugh and toss my keys back into my purse. “They just do.”

“I should become a derby driver,” she declares.

I’m not sure if she is joking or serious. Her face is hard to read. If she is serious then she has a great career ahead of her because her driving is a trainwreck.

“Oh, my God! Ysenia, I am only kidding!” Hayva shouts.

“Well, if you decide to become a driver, you’d win for sure,” I smirk.

“Yeah. Yeah,” she groans. “Let’s go eat.”

Chapter Two

Miguel

The day had been very long dealing with clients. I was thankful to finally be home and couldn’t get out of my suit fast enough. Just as I was about to go take a shower, my phone rang.

“Just ignore it, she’ll call back later,” I say.

When the phone stops ringing, I continue towards the bathroom. I’m nearly there and my phone rings again.

“Ugh. It’s like she knows I’m trying to relax,” I mutter, stomping across my bedroom. I grab my phone off the nightstand and hittalk. “Hello?”

“Hello, my favorite brother in the whole wide world!” my baby sister, Jenna, replies cheerfully. A little too cheery for my taste but it’s just who she is.

“And what do I owe the honor?” I sit on the bed. Something tells me this is going to be a long phone call. Jenna is usually busy in her own little world to call me. She has her life in Texas and I have mine in Italy.

“Can’t your favorite sister just call to talk?” she asks sassily.

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