28. Chase It

28

CHASE IT

A DIFFERENT WAY, LAUV

Cara

As we drive up the hill, we see a small cottage with the warm summer sun casting an amber hue over the land next to it. There are rows of grapevines shimmering under the clear sky and that’s when I see the sign that reads Arrington Vineyards. Laughter fills the air as Roe finishes telling a story about a tattoo, she just did on a frat boy. We pull up to the entrance, and Manny, forever the gentleman, gets out and opens our door, and helps us out one at a time.

“Just wait until you see the view from the terrace,” Manny says, his hands tucked casually into his pockets as soon as he closes the door. We weave our way through the entry room of the wooden building which looks like a mix of a tasting room or a barn. It smells like a mix of grapes and berries and something sweet. As we walk through the entrance it’s eerily quiet, as if the place is closed and we’re the only people here. When we step out onto the terrace, the scent of fresh grapes mingling with the warm breeze shocks me. Or maybe I’m shocked from seeing Jake standing in the middle of the paved courtyard, a confident smile on his face as he waves at us. At Allie, I should say, since his eyes are only on her.

“What’s going on?” Allie asks, her brows furrowed in confusion.

Jake grins wider, his eyes sparkling but before anyone can react, he reaches for Allie’s hand, gently pulling her away from us. “Come with me,” he says, leading her to the edge of the vineyard, where the vibrant green vines stretch endlessly behind them.

As they reach the perfect spot, Jake turns to face Allie, his expression shifting from playful to serious. The laughter fades into the background, and the world feels like it shrinks down to just the two of them. He drops to one knee, pulling a small velvet box from his pocket. “Allie,” he begins, his voice steady and filled with emotion, “I wish I could say that my life has been filled with only joy since I met you but the truth is that’s not really life. Life is messy and sometimes painful. It feels like we’ve been through so much already, not only together and in our time apart,” he says and Allie is already a mess of tears. Her curls cover half her face and she tries to tuck some strands behind her ear. Even though it doesn’t work, it’s keeping her hands busy with the task as the love of her life proposes to her. “I could go on and on about why I think you’re the woman for me but I think we both know, and all of our friends know, that the day your eyes met mine, I knew you were it. Even in the ten years we were apart, there was no true happiness without you. I’m done waiting. I’m done giving it time, waiting for something that we both know deep down is what it’s supposed to be. I belong with you and you belong with me so, could we make it official? Will you marry me, honey?”

Allie’s hands fly to her mouth, eyes wide with disbelief. The moment stretches, the anticipation thick in the air. The rest of us stand frozen, unable to contain our excitement. “Yes! Yes, of course, I will!” she finally breathes, her voice breaking with joy. Jake slides the ring onto her finger, creating a memory that will linger forever. She pulls Jake up from his knees and throws herself into his arms, kissing him deeply. They don’t care that we’re all here, that we’re all cheering and clapping, they get lost in their kiss.

I look around at the semi-empty vineyard, asking myself how the hell this even happened. And what I find is Manny looking at his sister with pride in his eyes. No tears but definitely pride. I walk toward him, leaving Allie and Jake to their moment. “How on earth did you pull this off, Manny?”

“It’s a long story but I didn’t do it all alone,” he answers, pointing at the back area of the vineyard where I see his brother Gus, Santiago, and Nick.

“How in the world?”

“A lot of frequent flier miles, a few text messages, and wanting to see my sister get her happily ever after sooner than later. Really it was all Jake’s idea. When Allie messaged me to tell me she wanted to surprise you for the weekend, a few hours later Jake messaged to tell me he wanted to surprise Allie and propose. It was a lot of coordination and keeping things from my two favorite girls.”

“Two favorite girls, huh?” I ask him, raising my eyebrows at him and smiling because no matter what he says next, I love the sound of that.

“You two have always been my favorite girls, Cara,” he replies as we stand together, eyes on each other, suspended in time, until a voice breaks the spell.

“Cara mi amor? 1 , how’s it going?”

“Gus,” I say, turning my body around, kissing his cheek and giving him a side hug. It’s crazy to me how these two look almost the same but I can tell them apart by miles because of how different they are. When they were kids, they looked even more alike than they look now. With the years Gus' skin has darkened more turning into a terracotta brown when Manny is more of like tawny brown. Gus wears his hair short and Manny wears it longer, with his ringlets free when not carefully styled with gel. Still, their eyes and features are the same. Two drops of water split evenly in half, and even though the reflection is the same, they feel and sound different. Even their essence is different. Their voice, their disposition, and even their likes are different, but now that I’ve been closer to Manny, now that I’ve had his body on mine, I can tell that even in the way Gus’s arms feel around me, they’re different. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“Only once in a lifetime your sister gets engaged, I had to be here, Carita.”

“Don’t call her that,” Manny snaps at the same time I flinch at hearing the nickname I’ve started to associate with lust and comfort in these past couple of weeks. They’ve both used it in the past and it never bothered me, until now. It has become our thing, Manny and me, and it feels wrong coming from Gus’s mouth.

“She’s our Carita. Of course I can call her that,” Gus says, winking, pulling me to him and hugging me. The eternal flirt but this time, I don’t think Manny is too happy about it.

“She’s not and I said to not call her that,” he snaps. Gus tries to open his mouth but the look Manny gives him is enough to prickle my skin. I’m sure they have their own secret twin language because Gus backs up with his hands up and shakes his head, showing us both he got the message.

“I’ll let you two alone so you can figure out whatever the hell it is you have going on.”

“Gus–” I try to say but I get interrupted quickly.

“Don’t, Cara. Not my business,” he adds, looking between us and taking a deep breath. “I have enough business of my own to be minding someone else’s. Just be careful, both of you,” he says, shaking his head and then adding, “It’s not only your hearts on the line here.”

He looks over where Allie and Jake are taking pictures. I knew this whole thing was messy but damn it if I didn’t think how it could affect Allie. Nothing will happen though because this is just a road trip fling and then things will get back to normal. He’ll go back to his corporate world and I’ll go back home.

“What was that?” I ask Manny after Gust walks away to hug his sister.

His eyebrows furrow and he lets out a breath before saying. “What was it that you called me the other day, caveman? Clearly, I turn into one when it comes to you.”

“Are you always this honest?” I ask because what the heck?

“I hate lies. I don’t see a purpose to them, especially when half of the shit that goes wrong in the world happens because of lies. Plus, I’m asking you all the time not to hide from me. Wouldn’t it make me a hypocrite if I did just that?”

I didn’t expect that reply but again, Manny keeps surprising me, and the more time I spend with him, the more I talk to him, the more I realize that maybe we’re both hiding who we are. I hide from the world, the hurt, and the pain behind the pretty smile and he hides from love behind his job.

“Maybe but it would have been easier to just tell me that you were joking or something,” I say, twisting my hair around my finger, trying to appear nonchalant, and not that my heart is currently racing a million miles per hour.

“And miss the opportunity to show you, I’m not willing to share? Nah, not a chance. This contract might be temporary but my promises aren’t, Carita. For as long as you’re in my arms, I’m not sharing.” He winks at me, squeezing my arm gently, and walks away to talk to his sister and his soon to be brother-in-law, leaving me breathless.

“It’s not every day that I see you speechless,” Natalie whispers next to me.

“Jesus, where did you come from? I was about to go get wine, want some?” I ask knowing she doesn’t drink wine but trying to deflect and avoid the conversation I know is about to happen.

“I have water, I’m good,” she replies, lifting her plastic cup with iced water at me. She’s so beautiful and freaking kind and it makes me happy seeing her enjoy her life a little. Since she had Bella so young, she had to grow up so much faster than we all did. And for some reason beyond me she thinks that going out or traveling without her daughter makes her a bad mom. When in reality, Natalie is the best mom I’ve ever met, and Bella is lucky to have her.

“I’m sure they have stronger things if you want me to ask,” I add.

“I’m good, Cara. Not drinking right now, but thank you.” When she says that, her eyes get slightly glossy. She’s not an emotional person so I’m sure that whatever it is, must be huge. And she’s not drinking.

“Nattie, are you pregnant?” I whisper and she replies with a silent tear rolling down her cheek and a soft smile.

“Please don’t tell anyone, I haven’t even told Nick.”

“Of course not,” I promise, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the nearest white metal chairs on the patio. “I’m so happy for you, sweetie girl. Is everything okay?” Natalie and Nick have been trying to get pregnant for the past five to six years, and because of her health issues it has been really hard on her body to get pregnant or stay pregnant. I can’t imagine how hard that must be for both of them.

“Yes, I think so, or at least the doctor says so,” she replies, taking a deep breath in and looking far away toward the beautiful vineyards. “After everything we’ve been through, I just don’t want to get my hopes up or Nick’s. He seriously can’t take another heartbreak, but it also feels like I’m cheating this baby of being wanted and loved when I won’t even tell the dad.”

“Oh sweet, sweet girl, that baby knows how much you want her. Yes, I’m going to assume is a girl so I can continue my girl aunt era,” I say, pulling a smile from her and that’s exactly what I was aiming for—to help her lighten the load. “You take your time telling people and when you’re ready, we’ll be here to shower you, baby, and Bella in love. Nick, too, I guess.”

“Thanks, Care, you always know how to say the right thing. Don’t think I’m going to forget about whatever that was going on back there but I’ll give you the same courtesy and let you tell me whenever you’re ready. I do have a question though…”

“Oh lordy, Nattie, what?”

“Is this a rebound thing from the whole shitshow with Cole?” she asks and I’m too damn sober for this conversation. What am I supposed to say? No, I like him? Or say yes and treat it like I told Manny we should treat it, like a casual summer fling?

“I’m not sure, Nat. We’re having fun is all I can say for right now.” I look up and find Manny’s eyes on mine as he sips on a glass of wine from across the vineyard. I feel the warming sensation all over my body every time his eyes are on me and the more I think about it, the more I think they always are.

“Okay, I trust you know what you’re doing, just tread lightly, okay?”

“I will! Now, let’s go say congratulations to our girl who is finally getting her happy ending. ”

“Before we do, Cara,” she says, holding my arm and stopping me from standing up. “I’m sorry about Natasha. I never saw that coming.” Natasha , her best friend who now is engaged to my ex. Natasha, who was sleeping with Cole while we were together.

“None of us did. She’s shown her true colors twice now; we can just cut ties, or at least I did. Also, Natasha? Since when do you call her by her full name?”

“Since she slept with my other best friend’s boyfriend and wrecked my relationship with Jake, I’ve had it. The drama, the backstabbing—it’s exhausting. Sometimes, you have to cut out the people who threaten your peace, even if you care about them.”

“I’m sorry, Nat. I know you two were close,” I add, squeezing her hand.

“But were we? When you’re close, you share the truth. You let someone see all of you. I thought we had that, but maybe I never really knew her at all—not until now. And this version of her, I don’t need in my life.”

I get up and give her a hug, squeezing her tight, but not too much, afraid to hurt the little miracle growing inside of her when I hear Allie say, “Why are you two hugging?”

I leap out of Natalie’s arms and into Allie’s knocking her down to the grass and squealing. “Eeeeeeek!!! Congrats, bitch! You’re going to be the most beautiful bride!”

“Cara, what the hell?!” Allie shouts, pushing my face away from hers as I try to pepper her whole face with kisses, making them in the air instead.

“I can’t wait to go dress shopping—” kiss “—and pick flowers—" kiss “—and pick colors—” kiss “—and watch all of your dreams come true. You deserve it all!”

“You psycho, stop it before you kill me and I miss the chance to think about the wedding.” Allie laughs loudly, hugging me tighter and reminding me how much peace she has found this past year.

I drop my head by hers, inhaling one of her wild curls so I roll over to her side while coughing, “Your hair almost killed me, Allison.”

“It wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t tackle me to the ground, Caroline.”

“Blasphemy!” I shout while gasping and sitting up, pretending she just shot me in the heart. “Not my name, Allison Marie.”

“It sure is, Caroline May. Just because you don’t like it, doesn’t mean it’s not real. Also, you called me Allison first.”

“Are you two done?” Jake shouts from where he’s standing, holding two champagne flutes and lifting one up when we look his way. We fall into heavy laughter and with the help of Manny and Gus who came to rescue us from my burst of love, we get up. I shake off my dress, pulling down my skirt, making sure I’m not showing anyone my ass and give Allie a proper hug.

“Congratulations, Allie. Nobody deserves this more than you.” Her eyes glimmer with genuine joy, showing her smile wide and warm as I try to mirror it. I’m so damn happy for her and Jake.

“Thanks, Cara. Love you. I’m so happy you were able to witness this.” I can feel the warmth wrap around me like a cozy blanket, making this moment even more special.

As I step away from her, my heart races, excitement bubbling up inside me thinking about all the things we need to plan for. I know I’ll be the best bestie girl to ever exist, bridesmaid or not. I glance at Jake, and my smile softens. I walk over, pulling him into a hug, feeling the steady beat of his heart against mine .

“Don’t fuck it up this time, big guy,” I say, my voice half teasing, half serious.

“Never again, Cara.” His eyes are filled with sincerity and I feel like a little girl on Christmas day. My two best friends finally pushed all their bullshit aside, communicating and getting engaged. We all knew they were end game, it was up to them to realize it too.

“Congrats! You two deserve all the happiness in the world. And the babies, all the babies,” I add because I know that Allie has always wanted to be a mom.

“One step at a time,” he adds, letting me go and walking to get his girl.

After everyone finishes all their hugs, claps on the back, and blessings to them, we sit at the picnic tables outside and enjoy wine, food, and the beautiful scenery. Manny and Gus reserved the whole place for us so the service has been nothing but top-tier. The food is incredible and so is the conversation. We learn about how the guys planned this in mere days and how they were able to pull it off. We eat, drink, and laugh. We share ideas and good memories . Allie cries a lot, as usual, and Roe rolls her eyes. It’s honestly the best night I’ve had in a while, surrounded by all the people I love so much.

I get up to use the restroom and after spending longer than necessary in the bathroom, trying to compose myself and not jump Manny at every chance I get. Being around Manny and all of them has been hard. I don’t want to lie to them but I also can’t help my lingering eyes after he talks or the way every time I look at him, he seems to be looking at me first and that makes me feel many different ways—desired, pretty, alive. Get it together, Cara. One night. Just make it the rest of the night without letting everyone see how much you like him. I rinse my hands and face and open the door, to find Manny standing right outside of it .

“Jeez, you scared me,” I say, but I’m immediately rewarded with Manny’s lips on mine followed by him pushing me backward, shutting the bathroom door, and locking it behind us. “Manny,” I moan between kisses against his lips.

“Yes, Carita?” he asks, pulling back and keeping his eyes on mine. The fire behind his eyes make my knees weak and I just cannot.

“What are you doing, hotshot?” I ask, grabbing his collar but not stepping away from him for more than the few inches between our lips.

“What does it look like I’m doing, bebé? Kissing you like I’ve been dying to all day, and I finally got you alone.”

His words hit me like a spark, setting off something inside me that’s been smoldering for hours. I can feel the weight of his gaze, the hunger in it—like he’s not just kissing me, but devouring the space between us, wanting more . His fingers find the small of my back, pressing me closer to him, the heat of his body against mine sending a jolt of desire through my chest, straight to my core. His lips crash against mine, hungry and insistent, like he’s been starved for this kiss and I’m glad I’m not the only one.

There’s something powerful about knowing I’m the woman unraveling Manny. “They’re going to know we’re in here doing this,” I say as I turn my face sideways, giving him access to my neck. My pulse races as I try to ground myself. But he’s already moving, his lips trailing down the curve of my jaw, nipping and kissing with a delicious slowness that makes me ache for more. He knows how to leave me hanging on the edge, wanting more, but never giving it all at once. His mouth moves lower, his lips brushing against my throat, and I feel it before he even reaches that tender spot—my pulse quickening in anticipation. I don’t need to say a word; he knows exactly where to go .

My body reacts to this whole thing, melting into him and arching my back so I can close whatever space there is between us.

“Doing what? Kissing? Or do you want more to happen?” he asks, biting his lip and smoothing his thumb across mine. My eyes flare at that question and I can feel my cheeks burning up too, keeping me from hiding how much that sounds like what I’ve wanted all day.?

“Do you want me to fuck you in this bathroom, Cara?” I suck in a breath because judging by the instant tingle between my legs and my stomach doing a somersault, I guess I do want him to fuck me in this bathroom.

“Manny,” I whisper.

“That wasn’t a yes, Cara. You’re not shy, so tell me, bebé, what do you want me to do?” he asks, bringing his hand to my neck and holding my face in place so I can’t move it away. So I have to look into his eyes as I try not to fall apart.

“Yes.” My voice is barely above a whisper, covered with need and want. Covered in whatever spell Manny has put me under that gets me to say yes to him railing me against a wall and now in a bathroom with all of our friends in the next room.

“Yes, what?” he asks, eyes on me daringly.

“Fuck me in this bathroom,” I command with a sultry tone, looking him dead in the eyes. He makes me feel so confident, so desired, so perfect, when he looks at me like this, so the least I can do is hold his gaze too and tell him exactly how I feel.

“I thought you’d never ask,” Manny whispers against the shell of my ear, dropping his hands to the back of my legs and lifting them slowly. When he gets to the curve of my ass, he hisses against my neck, licking the sensitive spot right above my collarbone.

“No underwear, sunshine? Were you thinking about me when you got dressed today? Were you thinking about my fingers fucking you in dark places when you decided to wear this perfect dress, those damn cowgirl boots, and no underwear? Or were you thinking about my dick, filling every inch of you somewhere public? Which one was it?”

“Both,” I breathe, because that’s exactly what I’d thought about this morning. About how much I enjoyed his face between my legs in that alleyway the other night and how ready I was for that, or anything else for that matter, to happen again. Soon. Here. Anywhere, really. He stops kissing me, looking at me with desire in his eyes, making me feel on fire from the inside out.

He drags his fingers up my ass, squeezing hard and pulling me closer to him, letting me feel his hard dick against my belly. “You see what you do to me? Just grabbing this perfect ass and the thought of you walking around all day with nothing underneath this dress has me ready to shoot in my pants. You’re driving me wild, bebé.”

Manny crashes his lips to mine, stealing my breath and reducing me to ashes. His words, his touch, his smell, all of it is too much and I need more. I part my legs when I feel his knuckles against my pussy, and instantly feel the tip of his fingers slide between my lips, finding my clit and teasing it.

“Oh,” I say in a hushed tone, trying not to let the whole vineyard know what we’re doing. But I’m losing control because of the way he’s making me feel. He touches my clit softly, giving me just enough friction to make me go crazy but not enough to tip me over the edge. I’ve never been this close to coming in my life with so little but the anticipation of him fucking me in this bathroom and making me come while screaming his name, has me almost seeing stars. Or not screaming because the last thing that I want is for everyone out there to know .

He slides a finger in me, then two, pulsing them slowly, and pressing against the spot that makes me lift one of my legs around his ass, and dig my heel onto him.

“Are you this wet and ready for me?” Manny asks and all I can say is a broken moan. If I don’t come soon, I’m going to go insane. “We don’t have a lot of time, Carita. Are you going to come for me all over my fingers like the good girl I know you are?” He’s pressing me against the door, using the leverage to pump in and out with his fingers. He brings his thumb to my clit, pressing hard at the same time he bites that sensitive spot on my neck, right under my ear. At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a bruise there. The perfect spot and he knows it.

I clench my pussy against his fingers and when I think this couldn’t feel any better, he slides another finger in making me feel so full and stretched out around them.

“Fuck, Manny,” I gasp, moving my hips in circles, using the back of my heel as leverage.

“Chase it, Cara, ride my fingers, use them. I want them soaked in you,” he says, and when he presses all of his fingers into my body, that’s all it takes for me to reach the peak and fall over. “Fuck, so hot, so wet, so perfect,” he praises against my ear, watching me come down from my high.

My chest is heaving, as I bring my hands in front of me, opening his belt and trying to get his dick free. He kisses me as I fumble with his belt. His kisses are rushed, passionate, and wild. And with every kiss, he reaches farther than my lips. I’m being kissed like he’s a dying man and I’m air. Everything else fades to the background and the only thing that matters is this moment, this one kiss.

I pull his pants down and his hands grip my ass, lifting me and sitting me on top of the sink. I’m at the perfect height, aligned with his body, and when his lips clash against mine again, I wrap my legs around him, guiding him into me. His dick stretches me to the point of both pleasure and pain and sends tingles all over my body. I break the kiss, trying to catch my breath, and tilting my head back letting out a soft moan. He takes advantage of the neck access and peppers wet kisses up and down my neck.

I start to relax around him so I guide his body in tempo with mine, using the heels of my boots against his firm ass. We move in synchrony, letting our bodies feel, and getting lost in the moment. His pace quickens and when I moan again, he brings his thumb to my clit, pressing against it and helping me reach my climax again.

“Yes, Manny, right there,” I whimper, shaking in his arms and clenching against him until he lets out a guttural groan, and then I feel him tense. We both come down from the high, our chest heaving out breathing erratic. His sink in my hair, as he pulls back gently, gaining more access to my mouth, kissing me again. This time, tenderly, patient, and kind. Soft kisses, allowing my body to settle.

“We didn’t use a condom,” he balks and he’s right. I didn’t even think about it, letting myself get lost in the moment.

“I’m on the pill and I got tested not too long ago…” I let that thought fizzle into the air because I don’t want to think about telling him that I got tested after I found out that I was being cheated on for God knows how long.

“I haven’t gotten tested this year, but I’ve never fucked without a condom. I’ll get tested first thing in the morning though.” He leaves a soft kiss on my lips, before adjusting himself back into his pants. He brings both my legs down and helps me stand.

“Never?” I ask.

“Never,” Manny replies. He brushes his hands through my hair, fixing it and helping me feel more put together than the mess I’m sure it is right now. I reach to get some toilet paper to wipe myself when his hand stops me. As he brings me back toward the door with his body, and his hand pins mine to the door, he says against my ear, “Don’t wipe it off, Carita. Leave my cum inside of that pretty little pussy of yours. And every time you feel it in you or running down your legs, touch yourself. Touch it, feel it, hell even bring it to your lips and lick it. Let it be a reminder of the fucking goddess you are.” As he brings his other hand to my sensitive sex and slides two fingers back into my pussy.

He palms my pussy as he pushes his cum deeper inside of me and this shouldn’t be as hot as it is, but goddamn. I could come again if he keeps doing that. He slides his fingers back out, bringing them to my lips. “You said you liked the taste the other day, so lick them clean. Suck them off and taste both of us this time.”

Manny’s eyes flare as I do as he asks, swirling my tongue around his fingers and tasting the salty but tangy combination on his fingers. This is obscene and sexy and hot all at once, and I fucking love it. I didn’t even know I had a kinky side but fuck, I love this.

“God, you’re so fucking perfect. Look at you sucking my cum off my fingers. You were made for me,” he coos. I open my eyes wide at those words but if he notices he doesn’t say anything.

“Let’s go before I have to fuck you again.” He tucks himself back into his pants, bringing his hands to the sink and washing them clean. He gives me a peck on the lips before opening the bathroom door, looking around and then letting me step out in front of him.

He pulls the back of my dress down and walks closer to me, so he can whisper, “I don’t know about you, but I could go for round two. If you want to call this celebration a night. Just say the word and we’re gone.” Manny gives me a soft kiss on the top of my head and walks to the front of the vineyard while I head to the back where my friends are waiting for me.

1 ? my love