Page 20 of After the Fire
“Who, him or you?” She stuck her tongue out and laughed.
“Where did I go wrong?” I was defeated at this point. My life was on fire, burning rapidly from the inside out. Catalina was impulsive, passionate. And she never had a plan, but always had something to do. Was that why everything was working out for her? “Was I so blind that I didn’t see the red flags?”
“Victoria.” She sighed. “This isn’t on you, you know?”
“Yeah, okay, let’s pretend that for a minute,” I said. “How did I let this happen?”
“You didn’t let anything happen, Victoria, it just did,” she replied. “And I don’t think there’s a right answer here. You know I love you with all that I have because you gave me the things I love the most in my life, but also it takes two to tango, you know? I think we take many things for granted, in general, and it’s easy for things not to work out in the long run. I mean, seven years is a long time.”
She smiled a small smile, her eyes soft.
“I don’t need your pity too,” I said, knowing well there was no pity in her eyes, only concern. “I get plenty here.”
“Bitch, please,” she said, and I laughed in response. “Pity? Fuck you. How’s Santiago doing?”
I pursed my lips. “I don’t know, I haven’t seen him in a while,” I replied. And it was true, for the most part. I felt his presence everywhere, but I was purposely avoiding him. “Do you think I should call Manuel? Get some closure?”
“Oh, for sure, but also you need to fucking rip him a new one, pardon my French.” I laughed so hard that I snorted. I could hear thunder rumbling in the skies beyond the town. The evening was getting darker and darker, and the streets were empty. The life that had been so characteristic of this town was nowhere to be seen. “I don’t know where he gets off going on that honeymoon without youandwith another woman. I don’t think Susana knows.”
“Ugh, don’t even go there.” But I did wonder how Susana would react when she found out that her precious golden child had cheated and then fled the country. “She’ll take his side for sure. Tell me I did something wrong, that I’m to blame because I can’t hold on to a man or something.”
Cata laughed and then stood up. “Would you forgive him?” she asked on her way to the kitchen. She dropped the phone on a flat surface, the camera looking up into the ceiling of the room.
“That’s a no from me,” I replied. “I stop at cheating.”
“Oh, speaking of cheating…” She was back in front of the camera and looking as giddy as ever. “Guess what?”
“What now? I mean what el—”
“Santiago broke up with his girlfriend.” She grinned and closed her eyes in slow motion, giving me time for that to sink in.
“Why are you so happy?”
“I just think it’s awfully convenient, don’t you?” Her eyes were shining. “You show up back into his life after ten years and suddenly—what?”
“Suddenly what?” I cocked my head. “There’s nothing going on.”
“Yeah, okay.” She sighed dramatically. “He’s always had a thing for you.”
“Whose side are you on, traitor?” I smiled at her.
“Yours! Always yours! But that boy used to be so handsome, and if he’s looking the same after ten years, then he must be delicious now.”
“He looks better,” I blurted and immediately regretted it. But there was nothing I could hide from my best friend. A few weeks after we met, we were inseparable. Catalina was a first-generation college student, and her parents weren’t able to help her navigate the new experience. For me, college was a chance to reinvent myself away from Susana. Up until that point, my life had been controlled. My friends and acquaintances were the same people that I saw on the weekend and at events, the children of our family friends, well within an established and approved social circle. Cata was a breath of fresh air, impulsive and out of control but extremely caring and loyal.
“I’m so jealous.”
“Does my brother know you’re ogling other men?” I grinned.
“Absolutely not, and you won’t tell him.”
“Te quiero,” I said.
“I love you too. Talk soon.” And with that, she was gone.
* * *
The phone in my room rang a few times. I rushed to pick it up, expecting Santiago on the other end. “Hello?” I answered with caution. He was probably going to ask me to lunch or something like that.
