Forever Baby (20 page)

Nadia knows exactly what she is doing. She has obviously felt the tension between Hugo and Cara today.

“Like that will be difficult.” Julio winks at Cara.

She giggles. She actually giggles.
Yep, she is laying it on thick.

I watch Hugo, and I think his eyes are going to pop out of his head. This intense, jealous side of him is such a change from his normal, cheerful, womanizing one. The whole dynamic is fascinating. It’s like my own personal telenovela. I look back at Andres, and I can see him smirking at Hugo. Andres is watching the same drama unfold, and I think we are enjoying the train wreck that has been set in motion.

We all take our seats in the booth and order another round of drinks. Cara makes a big show as to whom the lucky man should be even though no more than thirty people are in this bar.

“Oh, that guy in the tight gray shirt is hot. I could get a kiss from him.” She puts a finger on her lips, contemplating. “Or that guy with the black button-up at the far pool table is pretty cute, too. Hmm…”

Hugo picks the label off of his beer bottle as if it personally insulted him. I notice his knee bouncing under the table.

Carlos stands. “Well, I am going to talk to that one over there. She is really the only one in here who I would want a kiss from.”

We watch him approach the woman, and she instantly laughs at something he said. It seems that Carlos does have some finesse with women. I have never seen him in action. He is always content to simply hang out with the group when we are out.

Hugo lets out an audible breath as he scoots out of the booth. With clenched lips and a hard determination in his eyes, he captures Cara’s hand from the tabletop and yanks her until she is standing. She starts to protest as he tugs her hand behind him. Her long chestnut hair fans out from her back momentarily as she is hastily pulled forward. She whines his name, but she walks behind him as he leads her away from the booth where we are all watching this event unfold with curiosity.

“I knew it!” Nadia exclaims when they are out of hearing distance. “He has been all alpha-male over her tonight. I knew that dare would put him over the edge.” She chuckles to herself.

“Does he really like her then?” I ask.

Andres absentmindedly twirls his beer by the neck of the glass bottle. “He feels something for her. I don’t know if he likes her or if he is pissed because she is playing hard to get.”

“It’s hard to say, but normally, Hugo isn’t one to go all protective over a girl. She might just be a conquest for him. I’m not sure, but maybe you should talk to her, so she doesn’t get hurt,” Julio says to me.

“Oh, believe me, she knows exactly what she is doing. She will be fine,” I reassure Julio.

“You should let Cara know that he isn’t the settling-down type in case she thinks he is going to care about their relationship beyond these two weeks that she is here,” Nadia says to me.

“She knows. Cara isn’t one to immediately get all mushy over a guy anyway.” I watch the corner where the two disappeared down the hallway, and I smile to myself.
What is it about these Latin men that makes them so irresistible?
Cara isn’t following her usual pattern of behavior either.

Carlos ends up getting a kiss and a number from the girl he pursued. Cara and Hugo come walking back to the table, hand in hand, about thirty minutes after their departure. Cara’s already full lips are even more plump and red. I am sure she got that kiss that she was after and then some. Smiles grace both of their faces, and their bodies are visibly less tense.

Hugo is back to his usual cheerful self. “Hey, guys. We are going to get going. See you around.”

My eyes dart up to Cara’s, and she reassures me that she is great.

She leans in to hug me good-bye. Quietly in my ear, she says, “I might not be back tonight. Don’t wait up.”

As she pulls away, I shoot her another searching stare, and she smiles big in response.
Yes, she is
good.
Curiosity is racing through me, and I am dying to know what was said or done in that hallway to transform Cara’s and Hugo’s reactions toward one another. I do know that she understands what she is doing, and I’m sure I will hear every juicy detail about it tomorrow.

“So, Hugo apologized for being a dick and kissed you? That’s all that was said?” I ask Cara the next day.

I am sitting in the living room with Cara with my legs pulled up as I slouch into the comfortable couch. I was ready for a juicy story, and I got a one-sentence explanation.

“Pretty much.” She shrugs.

“Seriously, Cara? You guys wanted to kill each other yesterday morning, and now, everything is peachy?”

“Well, like I told you, he apologized. He said he was being an asshole. I agreed, and then he kissed me. It was over after that. He is a damn good kisser, Liv—like, totally fantastic.”

She sighs almost dreamily, and I have to stop myself from laughing.

“Okay, so what else happened last night?”

“We went back to his apartment. Yes, we did it, and he is damn skilled in that department as well, if you were curious.”

“I wasn’t.”

She smirks. “Yeah, right. Who wouldn’t be a little curious? Anyway, we had a great night. It was hot…and tiring.”

“So, now, what?”

“Well, neither of us wants anything serious, but we really want to have fun while I am here. So, that is what we are going to do. Fun. Carefree. Sex.” She lets out another audible sigh. “Perfect.”

I laugh out loud. “Well, I am glad you two worked everything out, and it sounds like we are going to have a fun two weeks ahead of us.”

“I agree.”

“I’m so glad because it would have been a long two weeks if every day was filled with as much tension as last night was—prior to the making up, of course. Did he say why he’d gotten so upset when your guy friends contacted you? It’s not like he wants anything long-term.”

“No, to be honest, we didn’t really talk about the fight. We’d both said some mean things to each other, so I didn’t feel the need to bring it up. He probably has a crazy jealous streak or something. I can be pretty hotheaded myself.”

“Yes, yes, you can.”

“Hey!” Cara exclaims in mock offense, throwing one of the couch pillows at me.

I catch it. “I’m just saying you are both apparently very spicy. It could make for an interesting time. Just try not to get into any more screaming matches.”

Cara and Hugo are two of the most fun, outgoing, and emotional people I know. That could be a recipe for something wonderful, or it could be the perfect storm.

Carlos comes bounding down the stairs and greets us both.

Cara asks, “So, are you going to call the girl from last night?”

“Nope,” he responds bluntly.

“Why?” I ask.

“Not worth my time. She’s cute and all, but I’m just not that into her. So, let’s stop analyzing my love life. Tell me, Cara…what the hell is up with you and Hugo?”

“Nothing,” she answers coyly.

“Right,” he says, drawing out the word sarcastically. “Whatever. See you ladies tonight.”

“Where are you going?” Cara asks.

I say, “The band is practicing at Julio’s today.”

“When am I going to get to see you guys play?” Cara asks enthusiastically.

“Soon,” Carlos responds before he shuts the front door behind him.

My weekly routine remains the same, only varying with the addition of Cara and Hugo. While I’m in class, Cara is at my house napping.
Lucky bitch.
After school, I do my homework in the company of Cara, Hugo, and Andres. The two lovebirds are usually sucking face on the other twin bed in my room while Andres studies me. When the guys aren’t practicing, the four of us hang around the house until the evening when we go out with Nadia and the rest of the guys. It is an entertaining and exhausting routine, and I love it.

Cara and Hugo have had a few heated arguments over inconsequential things, but most of the arguments blow over quickly—or as soon as Hugo can get his mouth on Cara’s. Those two are so hot and cold that it is thoroughly comical.

On Thursday, we decide to take a break from the bar scene to hang out with Nolan and Abby. Nolan expressed that Abby doesn’t enjoy going out to the clubs, so we go bowling. Andres, Cara, Hugo, Nadia, Julio, Carlos, and I are already at the lanes, inputting our names into the scoring machine, when Nolan and Abby walk in, hand in hand. I peer up at Nolan, and he seems different.

His face doesn’t light up when he sees us. “Hey, guys,” he says, his greeting lacking its usual exuberance.

“So glad you two could make it,” I say with forced excitement.

I don’t know what it is about Abby, but I don’t feel comfortable in her presence. I try to push aside these feelings and give her the benefit of the doubt. She’s my best friend’s girlfriend, and I want us to get along.

I finish tying my hideous shoes and turn to Abby. “How has your first week in Spain been?”

“Fine,” she answers curtly.

“What have you two done so far?”

“Not much.”

Okay…
“Do you like bowling?”

She sneers at me like I have two heads. “Uh…yeah, I guess.”

I peer up to meet Nolan’s gaze. His face doesn’t give anything away, and I find this very unsettling. I’ve always been able to tell how he’s feeling from his expressions. I can’t get a read on his take of this very uncomfortable conversation.

Andres moves in behind me and wraps his strong arms around me, relaxing my tense body. He directs his attention to Nolan. “Hey, man, what do you say to a wager? Make this game interesting?”

Carlos joins the conversation. “Hell yeah, let’s make a bet. We need something to make this game remotely entertaining.”

“Bowling is fun. Stop being such an ass,” Nadia says.

“A bet sounds fun, man,” Nolan says cheerfully to Andres. “What do you have in mind?”

Hugo cuts in, “How about all the losers have to buy the winner a drink every time we go out for the next month?”

“Uh…no,” Nadia says. “That’s a little extreme, don’t you think? How about everyone buys the winner a drink the next time we go out—like, one night out?”

“Boring, but okay,” Hugo answers.

We agree on the terms and start the game. I don’t know why Hugo proposed such an extensive wager because he sucks at bowling. It’s actually quite funny to watch.

“Ah, damn!” Hugo yells as another ball falls into the gutter.

Everyone laughs.

None of us exactly excels at bowling, but we have a good time trying. I love watching the guys take it so seriously. They’ll do anything to be competitive. Julio seems to have the best bowling skills—or he’s just getting really lucky.

My vision circles around, taking in this group of people who I’ve grown to love so much. Everyone has smiles on their faces. They are all joking and clowning around and having a good time.

My stare stops at Abby. She doesn’t seem to be having any fun, judging by the scowl on her face, as she solemnly watches Nolan bowl.
God, what a buzzkill. What does Nolan see in her?

Julio wins by twenty points, and Andres comes in second. I pretty much sucked, coming in second to last. Hugo is the only one who sucked more than me, and the guys tease him relentlessly.

“Whatever. Bowling sucks. Next time, let’s play a real game,” Hugo says.

Cara pulls him into an embrace. “At least you were hot while you sucked,” she says before kissing him.

Abby is talking to Nolan, but the only word I catch is
now
before Abby gives me the death glare.

At which point, Nolan turns to the group. “Yeah, we have to go.”

“Um…okay. Well, glad you guys could come out. See you at school tomorrow.” I decide not to give Nolan a hug good-bye, which doesn’t sit right with me, but I can’t get a good read on Abby, and I don’t want to make anything worse for Nolan.

After they leave, we decide to call it an early night and head home as well.

Cara and I collapse into bed.

I lie on my side to face her across the space. “That was fun, yeah?”

“Yeah, it totally was. It was a nice change to hang out somewhere other than a bar.”

“Cara Lee! Did I hear you correctly?” I ask with exaggerated shock.

Cara answers dryly, “I said, I had fun. That doesn’t mean I’m going to trade in my hooker heels for bowling shoes. You know a night of clubbing will always rank top on my list.”

I laugh. “Okay, thanks for clarifying.” Changing the subject, I ask, “What do you think of Abby?”

Cara snorts. “Besides the fact that she is cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs?”

“She is, right? So, I’m not imagining things. She’s weird, yeah?”

“Totally weird. I don’t get what Nolan sees in her. She’s like a depressed doormat. It wouldn’t kill the girl to smile every now and then. Seriously, she is nothing like Nolan.”

“I know. I feel bad for him. He isn’t the same person when he’s around her. It makes me sad,” I say.

“Who knows? Maybe she’s really jealous and possessive. Maybe she’s nicer when she isn’t around other girls,” Cara suggests.

“Hmm…maybe. But Nolan deserves better.”

“He’ll figure it out. There has to be something to Abby that we don’t see. He’s been with the girl since high school.”