Chapter 1
Antonio Romero
"Tony, let's have one more and then go. It's not even midnight," Pablo said as he placed two full shots of his homemade liquor on the table.
I laughed and nodded. "I know you, man. If I wanted to get you out of here before midnight, I'd have to carry you." We toasted.
"To your bride," he added, winking at me.
In a few days, I'm marrying the woman I've loved since I was twelve. Rachel – the most beautiful woman in town. I waited for her until I was twenty-seven. And now... now she'll be mine.
"Rachel's a great woman, and you're a great guy. You're the perfect couple," Pablo added, raising his eyebrows. "Unlike me. I married a woman fifteen years older than me. We're more like friends than husband and wife. And kids? Forget it."
His relationship is more of a comfortable friendship than real love. But still, I wish him happiness.
"Yeah," I smiled. "I've got Fiona at home, but you'll have a sexy blonde. That's a win."
I put on my coat, shook his hand, and said goodbye. "Goodnight, brother."
It's always busy at my parents' place. That's why I have a small apartment on the edge of town – my quiet zone. I couldn't sleep, it was impossible. I texted Rachel. She replied right away:
"I'm coming. We need to talk."
What's going on? She's never written to me like that...
When the doorbell rang, I went to open it. She rushed in, almost without a word.
"Tony... I can't marry you."
I felt a chill run down my spine. My jaw clenched. What does she mean? Did she meet someone else?
"Before you say anything – no, there's no one else," she cut me off right away. "I just... I don't love you anymore. And I don't want to keep pretending I do."
My heart sank into my stomach. Her words cut like a knife. I slammed the table with my fist. She flinched.
"You did find someone, didn't you? Rachel, do you know what it was like? My family didn't accept you, but I fought for you. And now... now you throw it all away?"
She pulled her golden hair into a high ponytail – her usual nervous habit.
"I'm sorry, Tony. Forget about me."
She grabbed her purse and left. I didn't even have time to say a word.
I didn't care that it was the middle of the night. I knew who was behind this. My father.
"Antonio, your parents are asleep," the housekeeper stopped me.
"Wake them. Now. I need to talk to them."
A few minutes later, they came downstairs. My father was adjusting his robe, and my mother looked confused.
"What's so important that you wake us in the middle of the night?"
"Did you make Rachel cancel the wedding? I knew you didn't like that she wasn't Spanish – but this?"
My father cleared his throat. My mother touched the Madonna pendant on her neck.
"Son, we didn't do anything."
But then came exactly what I expected.
"We've all been waiting for you to finally get married. So now I'll choose someone for you. No more picking. The wedding is in a month – with a woman worthy of our name."
I simply nodded and walked away. Suddenly, everything was gone. Love. Hope. The future.
I drowned the pain in alcohol. I swore I would never love the next woman. Rachel was the only one. And now?
I won't be the good guy anymore. Why should I be?
