Book 2: Beginning Again -Carlos Sainz

Chapter 33

Carlos knew he had to get his life together. He knew that he needed to just take his own advice and get under someone new to just clear his head. He got up early and went for a run to clear his head, which made him feel more like himself than he had in a while. Every day, though, he walked past the room that he made for her and he felt that pang of emptiness. Eventually he just started avoiding that side of the house, choosing to do takeout dinners instead of cooking in his kitchen. He had just gotten out of the shower when he heard his phone beep, it was his assistant with the number of the physical therapist girl he had met, Caroline. She was cool, fun, cute; definitely good rebound material. He quickly shot her a text, inviting her to tapas. Carlos looked at himself in the mirror, taking in his changed reflection. He had let his facial hair grow out, patchy and weird, and let his hair get long enough to flop over his face. He had dark circles from sleepless nights and looked a bit bloated from all the remorse-drinking.

"No more," Carlos thought as he went to grab his razor, "tonight this pity party ends. Tonight I return to the man I once was, not fucked up by some complicated feelings and girls. Simple man with a simple goal."

**

For the first time in weeks, Carlos found himself in a good mood. He was having dinner with Caroline, rocking a nice buzz from the wine, and had eaten his body weight in patatas bravas. Caroline was cool, fun to be around, and at the very least took his mind off Marie. He thought about her a few times, including when Caroline pointed out the aperol spritz on the drink menu. Carlos felt his heart drop, taking a few deep breaths to calm down the sadness that was quickly washing over him. But soon enough, they were talking and laughing. When the bill came, Carlos paid and quickly wondered if this was a date.

"Seriously, Carlos, it was so nice to just hang out with a friend tonight," Caroline said as if she could read his thoughts.

"Yeah, same here. I really needed this," Carlos replied with a light laugh. He couldn't remember the last time he was friends with a woman, but it was really helping him right now. No guy friend of his could talk this long and help him avoid his thoughts.

"Breakup been tough? You don't have to talk about this if you, uh, don't want to. I could just tell that something was bothering you," Caroline said as she started to ramble.

Carlos cut her off, saying, "Yeah. I can't stop thinking about her and stalking her instagram and staring at the room in my house that I..."

"You have a room in your house for her?" Caroline replied.

Carlos stood up to leave, waiting for Caroline to follow as they stepped out of the restaurant. Truthfully, he didn't want to bring up the room, but it was an accident.

"Yeah, I bought my house specifically with two bedrooms so that she could have an office to work from when she would stay with me. I just really miss her, you know? She was my best friend and I just miss everything about her."

Carlos cringed at his sentiment, not usually opening up about his feelings to someone he barely knew. But he instantly felt better.

"I know, it was the same for me. I don't really have any friends here and it was so nice to just have someone to talk to and connect with," Caroline replied.

"Well," Carlos said as he slung one arm over her shoulders, "you've got me now. I'd consider myself a pretty good friend too. Okay hear me out," he continued, with his arm still draped lazily around her shoulder.

"Tomorrow night, Friday night, we are going out. I'll take care of the plans, get us VIP, champagne, shots, the works. Because we need to just let loose. This sad shit is not going to fly any longer, and I think we deserve to have some fun and forget our exes," he finished.