Page 34 of You Had Me at Hola
Carajo, he’d forgotten he’d told her that when he’d run into her in the elevator. “Yes, that’s why. And he’s fine. Just a cough he let go unchecked for too long. They gave him stronger medicine.”
“You must have been so worried,” she murmured, and to his surprise, her genuine distress hit him right in the chest. He couldn’t reply, so he just nodded.
“My grandparents mean the world to me,” she went on. “They’re getting older and I just... anyway, I get it. No wonder you were worried.”
“Does that include your grandmother who adores me?” he asked, flashing a grin.
She groaned and covered her face with the script. “Oh my god, you remember that?”
“Of course. I’m full of myself, as you pointed out. I always remember compliments.”
Laughing, she pretended to swat at him with the script. “Come on, let’s practice our lines before they call us back.”
Chapter 15
CARMEN IN CHARGE
EPISODE 4
Scene: Carmen and Victor have a heart-to-heart.
INT: Backstage tent at an outdoor concert—DAY
Carmen stormed into the tent with Victor close on her heels. As soon as the flap closed, she rounded on him, slapping a hand to his chest and squinting up at his face. She inhaled deeply, then stepped back, crossing her arms.
“I knew it.” She sent him an accusing glare. “You’re drunk.”
“Cálmate, Carmencita—”
Her eyes flashed. “Don’t tell me to calm down, anddon’tcall me Carmencita.”
“Fine,Carmen. But I’m not drunk. Just hungover.”
“Oh, that’s so much better.” She let out a short, humorless laugh and jammed her hands onto her hips. And completely ignored the thrill she got when he rolled therin Carmen.
He was doing it again, like he had throughout their marriage.Forcing her into the position of authority, making her act like his mother. She hated when he did this, and his immaturity had ultimately led to the downfall of their marriage.
Or at least, this was the context they’d determined in rehearsal with Vera and Marquita.
“I’m okay to finish the set,” Victor said, but he was sweating, and his eyes were glassy.
Carmen didn’t even bother to respond to that. “I should’ve known this would happen the second those idiotas showed up. Your little entourage has always been a bad influence on you. This is the whole reason why you’re living in my parents’ house, Victor. The whole reason why we’re doing all of this.” Her voice turned pleading. “Why are you letting them ruin your progress?”
At that, Victor slumped into a folding chair and dropped his head into his hands. After a long beat, he blew out a breath and lifted his head. His expression was bleak. “You’re right.”
Carmen stood very still. She didn’t know how to handle a Victor who expressed emotions readily, much less one who agreed with her. It wasn’t in Victor’s nature, especially not where his friends were involved. When he lowered his face again, though, she stepped forward, her feet moving of their own volition.
“Oye.” She took his face in her hands and gently raised his chin. “Mírame.”
They held each other’s gazes for a long, quiet moment, then Carmen leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.
Victor exhaled, some of the tension draining out of his body. “I don’t know how else to act around them,” he said, and his voice held a note of confession.
“Around who?”
“Mi grupito, as you called them. The guys.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know how else to act?”
