Surrendering Affair

Chapter 9

I walked confidently down the New York sidewalk. In my yellow sundress and matching headband, people stopped and stared as I plowed my way through the crowd. When I finally made it into Washington Square Park.

I was surprised that the thought of spending the day with Enriqué didn't sound bad at all. It would be a breath of fresh air as compared to Ricky, who seemed dependent. The last thing I needed was a boy struck by puppy love.

Once I finally arrived in the park, I was shocked by how many people were there. With bohemian clothes and long hair, the crowd was chilled out across the park. Finally, I found exactly who I'd came for.

Enriqué sat with a crowd around him as his hands patted against bongos. A friend of his next to him stood with a conga. One girl kneeled there as she rocked to the beat, totally entranced either by the music or whatever substance she had consumed.

Enriqué's eyes were set on me as he played. His signature dimpled grin spread across his face as he soaked up my attention. With a bang the groove session ended. He stood up with his drums in hand and walked over to me. I smiled at him as I took the bongos from his hand, holding them against my stomach.

"I'm glad you came out reinita. If I'm being honest, I think you'd leave me hanging." Enriqué told me. He wasn't wrong for feeling that way. I almost didn't show up, but my experience with Ricky just a few days prior left a bad taste in my mouth. I had to get my mind off of it.

"That's your problem." I joked with him. "You don't believe in yourself. You put me on a pedestal."

"How could I not, mami? You're intimidating as ever." He answered. There was a silence between us as I looked around the park. Everyone sat there as they chatted away, a thousand things happening at once.

"So exactly what are you and the hippie gang up to?" I popped out a hip as I continued to hold his bongos.

"We get together here all the time, as you know." Enriqué smiled. "But today we decided we'd make music in this time of chaos."

"It's almost as if all you see if chaos as you turn on the news." I shook my head. "Can't get away from it."

"So that's why we're bringing peace today, mamacita." He took his bongo from me. "Do you want to learn how to play?"

I was hesitant, but agreed to give it a try. Sitting on the grass in a sea of people, Enriqué attempted to teach me how to drum. He sat right behind me, his arms and legs enveloping my body as he guided my hands along the drum in my lap.

There was something very sensual about our position. The way his large hands cupped around mine and moved my fingers and palm. The way his cheek would occasionally rest on top of my head. The way his lips would stroke behind my ear as he whispered instructions. I looked over my shoulder at him, our lips were inches apart.

But our moment of intimacy was interrupted.

"Enriqué." An attractive girl smiled. She wore a mini dress that had crotchet detailing along the hemline and the neckline. Her face, which I just admit was exceptionally pretty, looked upset. "I haven't seen you in ages. ¿Porqué no me llamaste?"

"He estado ocupada con el trabajo." Enriqué told her. I didn't understand a word they were saying. They chatted back and forth for a moment. Things were heated between them, an obvious lover's quarrel. Finally, her eyes set on me.

"Is this your little plaything now?" She asked. I was ready to snap at her rudeness. But instead, I opted to stay calm and let Enriqué speak.

"Nicole and I go way back." Enriqué said in an annoyed voice. "Unlike you and I who've only known one another for three months."

"You've dated her in the past three months?" I asked him softly as I looked over my shoulder. Enriqué shook his head, denying his relationship with this girl. She seemed to be a bit crazy over him.

"I can't believe my eyes. Cuddled up with someone like her." She shook her head in disapproval. "If this is what you want then I guess you shouldn't bother calling after all!"
"Amalia..." Enriqué called out as she navigated her way away from us on the crowded lawn.

"You really had a girlfriend this whole time?" I looked at him.

"No, not a girlfriend." He sighed. "But I did take her out. And I did entertain her a night or two."

"I think I did notice her in your room through the window." I thought back. "But you often have guests in your bedroom."

"I just want you to know that she's something I just tried out. I didn't take her seriously or anything." Enriqué tried to convey. But I was still suspicious. She seemed like she had much more to be upset about, no one gets that upset over a fling. "I just hate that she interrupted our little date. How about we look for a performance to listen to?"

"That doesn't sound too bad." I agreed as we both stood up. He took his bongos from me and then held my hand. Our bodies moved together as we clumsily tried not to step on the people lying out on the grass. He stopped in his tracks, my breasts bumping into his arm.

His eyes fell on someone in specific. "Isn't that the boy from your building?"

I laughed out, totally unaware of what he was referencing. "What boy from—"

Ricky stood up as he played the guitar to a small crowd. They all swayed as he sang them a song. I didn't recognize what song it was, and given that no one sang along I assumed they didn't either. Not a single bone in my body wanted to figure out what song he was performing, all I wanted was to be out of sight.

"Where are you headed to?" Enriqué asked as I stood behind him.

"I'm not interested in seeing his little performance. How about we peel out and find something else to do?" I asked as I attempted to hide.

"Come on, Ricky is a cool guy." Enriqué smiled as he looked over his shoulder back at me.

"You know him?" I asked as I peeked over Enriqué's shoulder.

"Of course I do. He's always saying hello on the block. You know, he's from the country but he's not too bad." Enriqué laughed. "Have you not gotten a chance to meet him?"

"I've seen him here and there." I shrugged in a whispered voice. Ricky's eyes moved toward Enriqué, causing me to crouch behind his back. He didn't seem to see me, but because he spotted Enriqué he decided to come over and say hello at the end of his song.

The crowd clapped with one last strum of his guitar, and then on his way he went. He was probably the most square-dressed one there. I was surprised he even hung in crowds like that.