The Dancing Torera

18

Anais was moisturizing her wild curls when she sees me from the mirror.

"Esteban!" she turns and runs to hug me from the balcony, pulling me up into her room. I picked her up and kiss her passionately as we fall into the bed. She straddles my stomach and I intertwined my hand with hers.

"How was your fitting with the presidente? Was he mad at your tardiness?" she asked curiously.

"Nope" I sighed and parted from her. She notices my troubled exterior and pouted. "What's wrong Esteban?" she asked as she leaned across the bed.

"El Presidente seems to have taken a certain liking to my girlfriend"

"Me?" she smirked doubtfully.

"Yes, you" I nodded and grabbed her head to kiss it, "unless I have another girlfriend that I am hiding" I teased. She rolled her eyes and giggled shyly, trying to accustom herself to her new title.

"He demanded for your presence at my fitting and dinner on Saturday night." I hand her the envelope with the announcement. She stood and reads the invitation with mistrust.

"Impossible" she whispers, "you think he saw my underwear at the arena...he kept on staring at me" she shuttered.

"That's what I want to know" I cursed. Anais didn't know of his taste for women younger than him.

"Esteban you know I can't... my Abuela will never allow me to go. I would have to sneak out...then get a dress?"

"Then we have to tell her about us Anais. It's an invitation with his official seal. If you don't come then that is an insult to him" I tried to explain.

"No! Anything but that!" she protested.

"Anais! We have to tell her...I can't keep hiding you from the world."

"Esteban..." she began to cry. I pulled her into my arms and kissed her lips to calm her down.

"Don't cry mi amor" I shooshed her to calm.

"I just got you and I don't want to lose you" she kissed my jaw with love, "If I tell my abelua... No!!" she cursed and threw her face into my chest.

"Look.... what if we tell my mom about us and see what she says?"

"No Esteban..."

"Everyone in Espana already knows. What's one more person, and she won't tell a soul"

"She won't?"

"No! my mom is muy cool" I bragged. She bites her lip but nods and agrees to the plan.

"I'll tell my grandma that I am going to the library and meet you outside"

I kiss her softly and climbed down my window to meet her outside.

——

Anais

"Abuelita I am going to the chapel to pray once more."

"Did you take your rosary?" she peaked from above her book.

"Si abuelita"

"Don't be out too late!" she spoke.

I nod and kiss her cheek then run outside to meet Esteban behind the house.

"Come on!" he grabbed my hand and we enter his car to find the way to his house.

___

Esteban

"Mother!!!" I yelled through the empty house. "Mom!!" I yelled again.