Page 70 of Love at First Ink

Despite his obvious discomfort, Archie pointedly looked over Cisco, forming his own judgments. “Boyfriend? Marisol couldn’t possibly have a boyfriend because she’s a married woman. Besides, you’re not the type she usually goes for. Marisol likes them rich; she likes a man who fits in with present company. She doesn’t work, after all. Someone has to provide for her lavish lifestyle.”

For a moment, Marisol was stunned. A silent gasp left her lips at the audacity Archie believed himself entitled to. Not once did she ever ask Archie to buy her anything. Not once did she ever use him for his money. If anything, it was the other way around. She was fortunate enough to have a rich family, but also learned how to invest and save her money. She wasn’t a helpless, clueless woman who spent money senselessly.

It was insulting to even insinuate that.

She wasn’t the only one who thought that either. Cisco’s anger was palpable, radiating off him in waves. She was nervousand wasn’t even the object of his anger. “You know nothing about her,” he snarled. “But doesn’t surprise me when it comes from an entitled idiot who leeches off those he surrounds himself with.”

Archie’s eyes narrowed, cheeks flushing even redder. He wore his emotions on his sleeve, having no semblance of a poker face. “I would be careful if I were you,” he threatened.

“What is going on over here?” a familiar voice came from behind Archie. All heads swiveled toward Luciana.

Marisol hadn’t seen her mother until now. She was in a midnight-black dress that went to the floor. The bodice cinched her waist, showing off her figure. In her hand was a glass of white wine. Luciana didn’t look shocked to see Archie here, making alarm bells go off within Marisol.

“Mom, did you know Archie would be coming?”

“Of course I did. I invited him,” she said evenly, as if not remembering—or caring—that Marisol was no longer with Archie. It was like the final dagger in her back, reminding her that her mother would never respect her decisions or boundaries.

“Why would you do that?” she asked incredulously. She shouldn’t have been amazed that her mother would pull a stunt like this, and it definitely shouldn’t hurt as much as it did, but Marisol couldn’t help but feel betrayed. For so long, she believed her mother did these things because she showed her love differently than others. But now Marisol was starting to realize that her mother didn’t love her at all. Maybe she never had.

But her mother still did not get it. There was no spark of remorse in her expression. “Archie has been a big help to the winery. It wouldn’t be right to celebrate this immense accomplishment without him here.”

“I can’t believe this.” Maybe she was the fool. A fool for believing her mother would behave any differently. Well, if this was how her mother conducted herself, she didn’t want to deal with it tonight.

Turning toward Cisco, she met his gaze. “I want to go home.”

“Oh, don’t be like that, Marisol,” her mother said from behind her. She didn’t have to see her to know that Luciana was rolling her eyes. “Honestly, you show up with a man likethatand expect all of us to just be okay with it?”

Marisol never considered herself a reactionary person, but you wouldn’t be able to tell at that moment. She spun around, wanting nothing more than to punch Archie in his stupid, handsome face, mostly because she couldn’t punch her mother. But she ignored him as she looked at the thinly veiled anger in her mother’s expression.

“What do you mean bythatman? You mean the man who cherishes me like I’m the most important thing in his life? The man who has seen me at my lowest and stayed with me just to see me smile again? Do you mean the man I love?”

The words left her mouth so easily. She had never been surer about anything in her life. She loved Cisco, and she didn’t understand why her mother couldn’t just be happy for her. The mother who always claimed to love her but would never allow her to make her own decisions. Well, Cisco was the best thing to have ever happened to her, and she refused to let her mother ruin this.

“You don’t love him—” her mother started, but Marisol was quick to interrupt.

“I do!” she said, causing a scene. Let everyone witness Archie’s and her mother’s true colors. She didn’t care thatpeople were staring. It wouldn’t have been an issue at all if her mother didn’t insist on inviting Archie.

Luciana glanced at the growing crowd, gripping her wine glass anxiously before turning her attention back to Marisol. A moment later, her eyes widened in horror. “Marisol! What is on your leg?”

Marisol looked down to see her tattoo peeking out from under her dress. Her anger had distracted her, and she hadn’t noticed her dress moving. Great. Another fucking thing her mother could hate her for. Except Marisol couldn’t bring herself to care. “It’s a fucking tattoo, Mom. You may not have noticed, but my boyfriend is a tattoo artist. I’ll proudly wear his work because, once again, I love him.”

“You cannot love a felon, Marisol!” her mother’s voice rang around them.

All other noise died away as Marisol’s brain slowly processed her words.

Felon? That was laughable. “Just because he has tattoos doesn’t make him a felon. God, Mom, do you even hear yourself?”

“Princesa—” Cisco reached for her arm, but Luciana smacked his hand away.

“Don’t touch my daughter, you convict!” Luciana shrieked, playing the role of the worried mother. She only did this when it suited her.

“You don’t understand what you are saying.” Cisco frowned. His body tensed, and he looked like a statue, unmoving.

Marisol paused, not understanding what was happening. She had never regretted coming to an event more than this.

“It’s pathetic to make up lies simply because you don’t likesomeone. Let’s go, Cisco.” She grabbed his hand to pull him away.

“It’s true,” Archie said before she had a chance to escape. “Ask your boyfriend about his time in college. The people he hung out with and associated with.”

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