Page 39 of For the Love of Animals

“There she is!” Mamá screeched.

Grandma clutched at her chest, and I thought she was having palpitations again, but then she sighed. “Carmen’s going to make a beautiful bride.”

“Sorry, what?”

“I tried to tell you,” Teo whispered. “Remember Grandma wanted to see at least one of us married before she died? Well, ta-da! You’re it.”

“I don’t understand.”

“They’ve arranged your whole wedding. You get married in the church on the corner at two o’clock, and then we’re having a party afterwards.”

“Tell me you’re joking.” My voice rose in pitch, and I pinched myself. A red welt appeared on my arm, but I didn’t wake up. “We only got engaged on Tuesday, and that wasn’t even real.”

“Well, you can’t tell Grandma that now. Think of how upset she’d be. She used her savings to buy you both rings.”

Nate was laughing. He was fucking laughing, and I turned to him, hands on hips.

“Okay, genius. What do you suggest?”

“Smile as you walk down the aisle, and don’t trip over your dress.”

“Be serious, you asshole.”

His grin faded. “I am.”

“We only met a week ago!”

It was Teo’s turn to look incredulous. “What?”

“Exactly!”

Meanwhile, Mamá and Grandma advanced towards us across the scrubby grass my father was so obsessed with watering when everyone else put gravel on their yards.

“Did Teo tell you about our surprise?” Grandma asked, looking beside herself with glee.

“He said you arranged a wedding?”

“Isn’t it exciting? My granddaughter, getting married.”

“But it’s too soon.”

“Nonsense. Anyone can see how much he loves you.”

Nate just stood there, being absolutely no help at all, except his shit-eating grin came back. Fuck my life. I loved my family, truly I did, but why did they have to interfere so much? Only mi abuela could think it was a good idea to organise a whole freaking wedding without telling the happy couple anything about it.

I grabbed hold of Nate’s arm.

“Excuse us. I just need to have a word with Nate in private.”

“Don’t be too long,” Mamá said. “You know Father Aguilar hates to be kept waiting.”

With the house undoubtedly full of wedding preparations, I shoved Nate back into the car and slammed the door.

“You’re not fucking helping.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“I don’t know—start the engine and keep driving until we get to, say, Brazil?”

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