Flushing at the thought I tilt my head up to accept another kiss from him. When the kiss ends, he holds me close for a moment, his cheek against the top of my head, those rough hands caressing my bare back.
Suddenly he pulls back, clearing his throat I again. "I have to go. Seriously." He laughs and backs away from me on reluctant legs. "Okay, tomorrow. Goodnight!"
"Goodnight, Manny! Tomorrow!" I wave at him and then snatch my dress up from the deck. This has been the weirdest night. My three crushes, in one room and I end the night with the one I used to hate.
I'm quivering inside and I can't wait for the next day.
◆◆◆
The next afternoon I wait for Manny on the porch steps. I’m wearing the flowered summer dress I wore to my cousin’s Mara’s wedding last year. It’s cute but respectable, which I figure is just the right look when attending a party at someone’s grandparents' house.
Manny pulls into the driveway and hops out, staring at me.
I slowly walk over to his car. “What?”
"Nothing, you just look...really pretty." His lips slide into an almost bashful grin.
How could I have missed Manny's cute smile? It gives him this beautiful boyish look, and he has a dimple in each cheek. I keep wanting to put my fingers in them. Manny takes my hand and leads me to his car, opening the door for me to slide in.
He looks really hot today, with black jeans, a white tee-shirt, and a long denim shirt with the sleeves rolled up. We ride along in silence for a bit, then Manny puts on the radio, and I keep sneaking glances at his handsome face. He has on Ray-Ban sunglasses, which makes him look even cooler. My eyes trail from his face to his firm, sinewy muscled forearms. His hands are on the steering wheel, but I'd love to have him drop one to my knee.
I fan myself at the sudden thought, feeling very warm.
Manny glances at me behind his shades. "You want me to put the AC on?"
"No, it's fine. I was just...thinking." I stifle a giggle. Good grief, the way we kissed last night, you wouldn't think I'd be so nervous around him, but if anything, the kissing has made it worse. This is the guy who used to glare at me so bad I thought I'd turn to dust. And now, he's sitting beside me so close we could touch, and I have hot flashes.
"You ever been to a Mexican party?" He gives me a crooked smile.
"No, is it that different from a regular party?"
Manny laughs. "Ah, well, you'll see."
He turns the radio up and puts his window down, speeding up the car. Apparently, he doesn't want to talk, and it's okay because I'm not sure what to say to him, really. I guess I'm just worried that if we talk, it might slide into one of the arguments we're so well known for.
We cruise along the highway in silence, and every once in a while, Manny turns and gives me a smile. But his hand is no closer to my knee, which is a bummer.
Finally, we leave the highway and turn down a street in a suburban neighborhood. Many of the houses are in the Spanish style, with stucco walls and red-tiled roofs. I see a lot of people out and about on the sidewalks and in the front yards. Little black-haired children wave at Manny's car as he sails by, and he waves back.
"Do you know all of them?" I smile at a little gang of tiny ones clutching various lawn toys.
"No, I just wave every time I drive through. They're cute."
Manny turns down a dirt lane, and then we come to a long wall that leads to an iron-barred gate. "This is my grandparent's place."
I watch as a forty-something man with a rounded tummy and combed over hair opens the gate for us to drive through. He waves at Manny and comes over to his open window.
"Manuel! You dirty dog, you came! Your Abuelo will be so happy!"
"Hey, Luis, like I'm not gonna come?! Seriously?"
Luis grins and checks me out. "Who knows with you? And who's your friend, Manuel?"
I smile back at him across Manny as he glances at me like he forgot I was there.
"Oh, this is my friend, Taryn. Taryn, this is my cousin, Luis."
"Hello!" I give Luis a little wave and a smile.
Luis winks at Manny. "Oh, is she your girlfriend, then Manny?"
"Shut up. Where do you want me to park?" Manny smirks, and Luis directs him through the gate and behind the large stucco house that is spread out before us.
"I'm not your girlfriend?" I tease, nudging Manny with my elbow.
He huffs out a breath and joins a long line of cars behind what I think is a garage. He shuts off his car and looks at me, his face completely unreadable.
"You're a girl, and you're a friend. If that means girlfriend, then yeah, I guess that's what you are."
"Well, I'm honored!"
I can't tell if he's joking or not. He's in a funny mood like he really wants to be kind to me, but it's uncharted territory. Which I get because I feel the same way.
We leave Manny's car, and he holds my hand as we go to the house and through another gate and across a sort of breezeway with a red tile floor. Through the breezeway is an open courtyard, and I see that the house actually wraps around this big area in a square.
It's the coolest house I've ever seen. There are people everywhere, and Manny tries to point out different ones to me.
"That's my Aunt Doris, she's kind of a bitch, so keep away from her. And that's my cousin Miguel, stay away from him because he's a perv and will try to get into your pants."
I keep a smile pasted on my face and try not to
