Big Chicas Don't Cry(45)

“Ooh, it’s so lovely. I’ll take it.” Mari whipped out her credit card and handed it to the clerk. I noticed that she didn’t even ask the price or whether I planned on buying it first.

Although I was a little irked, I couldn’t help but hear Gracie’s voice telling me to make an effort to catch up with Mari.

After Mari took the shopping bag holding the precious purse inside, I stepped closer. “So, I’m going home tomorrow, but I’m free tonight if you want to grab dinner,” I said.

Her eyes widened, and her face softened. For a second, I thought she would take me up on my offer. But then her smile fell.

“Oh, I wish I could. I really do. But I’m meeting Esteban for dinner. It’s kind of a date night,” she said sheepishly.

A wave of unexpected relief washed over me. “Oh, of course. I totally understand. No worries.”

Mari smiled again and gave me a hug. “Well, it was great seeing you, cousin. Maybe we could grab dinner once we’re back in California?”

“Sure,” I said, already knowing it would never happen.

Then she was gone.

“Miss, did you want to get one too?” The clerk suddenly seemed to remember me.

I shook my head. “No thanks. It’s not really what I was looking for.”

With that, I turned around and walked out of Bergdorf Goodman. I didn’t know what made me sadder: the fact that I didn’t have a new purse or that I had been a little relieved that I didn’t have to make awkward conversation with Mari over a glass of wine tonight.

I suddenly understood what Erica was always so angry about. It didn’t matter whose fault it was: the fact remained that our relationship with Mari wasn’t the same anymore. How much I wished we could all be like we were before.

Suddenly, I couldn’t wait to get home.





Chapter Twenty-Four


MARI


My cousin Selena was in New York.

As I dressed to meet Esteban for dinner, the thought continued to pop into my head.

So did the memory of how awkward it had been between us.

It had been months since the last time I’d seen her or any of my cousins. I’d received updates now and then when I did go visit my grandparents and Welita. I knew she still worked for a boutique PR agency in LA and, as of my last visit, didn’t have a steady boyfriend. She’d mentioned she was here visiting a friend, but I got the vibe that there was more to the story.

A wisp of regret swirled within me. I should’ve asked her to grab a coffee instead when I declined her dinner invite. But, then again, she didn’t seem too eager to chat any more than we had already.

Maybe it was because I’d bought that purse she’d been eyeing?

I looked over at the handbag sitting on the hotel bed and sighed. Why had I done such a stupid thing? Was I really so petty that I bought an expensive purse just to show my cousin that I could?

Yes, you are.

Memories of when I’d visit my dad after the divorce spilled over. I always felt so out of place, even though my grandparents’ house had been my second home growing up. My cousins were far from wealthy, but their parents bought them pretty much whatever they wanted. I remembered one day we went to the mall because Gracie had gotten $100 for her birthday. Selena and Erica had some money of their own, too, and I had to watch from the sidelines as they shopped at places I could never afford. They had no idea that the outfit I was wearing that day had come from a thrift store.

When Erica noticed I wasn’t buying anything, she offered to get me a shirt I’d been eyeing. Then Gracie tried to buy me some earrings. Instead of being grateful, I got mad and embarrassed and stormed out of the store.

Looking back now, I knew they’d only wanted to make me happy. And as usual, I took it completely the wrong way.

Part of me wanted to text Selena and ask her if she still wanted the handbag as an early birthday present. But I knew she’d never accept it. She didn’t want my leftovers.

Why had I been such a bitch?

Rather than answer my own question, I focused on getting ready for my date with my husband.

He’d told me two days ago that he was traveling to New York for the weekend to meet with the director Tuck Hunter, who was in the city scouting locations for his next movie. Tuck had fired his lawyer last month and was looking for someone new to represent him during proceedings on drunk driving charges back in Los Angeles. Since Esteban was going alone, I pleaded for him to take me. I loved New York. I loved the shopping, the restaurants, and even the crowds. San Marino was so quiet. Stifling even. I much preferred the chaos of NYC. But besides wanting to visit the city, I figured a weekend away could help us reconnect and get back on track. We needed to finally have that long conversation. I needed to make him understand why I wasn’t happy.

Although he’d warned me that he’d be busy with meetings most of the time we were here, he had promised to take me out tonight. I had hoped we’d also make a Broadway show, but he’d texted that the meetings were running late and asked me to meet him at the restaurant at eight p.m.

And so I’d gone back out shopping and picked up a red fitted dress just for the occasion. It was the perfect outfit to seduce him with.

Esteban was waiting for me outside the restaurant when I arrived, and he took care of the cabbie as I got out.

“You look beautiful as always, cari?o,” he said before he kissed me on the mouth. And it wasn’t a quick peck either. He lingered on my lips, tasting and teasing. My heart fluttered, and I wrapped my arms around his neck.