brok3nxdreamsâ:
âYou were a lightweight, and she adores you. Itâs kind of annoying any girlfriends before you that I brought home she had some choice words about.â Mainly how they werenât latina but his mother saw something different in Emmy, and how Carlos himself acted when she was around so he supposed that was a good thing. âEspecially like that.â He filled out his business shirts but her on the other hand it was like a dress on her and it well made her look quite attractive. âAlright, besides my siblings will probably think somethings up.â He let the words hang in the air before he shook his head and wandered back down the stairs he helped his brothers get the hog off the spit and cut up all the ham they had for Christmas. He offered Emmy a plate and a little smirk. âI hope you arenât so stuffed after dinner to save me a dance.â Carlos replied, because he was sure the backyard would turn into their own little night club after they all finished their food.
~
Emmy bit her lip and looked over at him when he said that it was kind of annoying. âIâm sorry about that,â she said, looking up at him. âYour momâs amazing, you are really lucky that you have her,â she told him. She looked up at him and then smiled. âWell, thank you,â she said, feeling her cheeks turn pink. She realized that she was playing with fire, that she should just leave now before things went too far, but a part of her didnât want to leave, never wanted to go back home. âYeah, youâre probably right,â she said, biting her lip. She walked with him downstairs and she made small talk with his sisters, but it certainly felt like they were holding back all of the questions that they had. She looked over at him and smiled and laughed. âI think that that sounds like a very reasonable request, counsellor,â she teased him. She could remember what it was like after dinner from the one time that she had come for Christmas.
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âYou would have been a sad excuse for a drunk woman on the side of the road, and my mother would have killed me anyways for leaving you there.â He countered as he then looked at her in his dress shirt his heart stopped. âAy dios mios, beautiful.â He countered to her as he let out the breath he had been holding. Carlos just looked her over slowly. If anything the feelings he surpressed resurfaced as he looked at her. âSo you ready to get your grub on? Or do you just want me to stare at you all night?â Though Carlos was doing more than staring at her. James was long gone forgotten from his mind for a moment until the ring on her finger slammed back the reminder.
~
âYouâre probably right. I was always kind of a lightweight too. And youâre probably right about that too, she happens to like me,â she teased him with a small smile. It was nice to feel like people liked her, she often times felt like Jamesâs family didnât like her, and well, she wondered about her own mother. She felt her cheeks turn pink. âEven like this?â She asked him. James never looked at her the way that Carlos was looking at her, James rarely looked at her at all. She laughed. âWell, I am kind of starving, so as ego boosting as it probably would be, we should probably go down and eat,â she told him,Â
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fewbravemenâ:
âItâs not to much lets see what we got.â He got up and went inside to the women as he kissed his sisters cheek. âDo you have something more comfortable Emmy can borrow?â He asked his sister who said there were leggings in her bag she had a spare of. âPerfect.â Carlos led Emmy upstairs, he grabbed the leggings from his sisters closet and then went into his room as he grabbed her one of his button downs thatâd be a dress on her. âHere, get comfortable so maybe you can relax. I know you live in a stiff world, but you of all people should know that a christmas with my family is going to be anything but that okay? My family still has the door open to you.â
~
âOkay,â Emmy agreed when he said that it wasnât too much. She followed him inside, telling her that she was being stupid for being nervous. She knew these people and had been close with them at one point. She offered his sister a smile. âThank you,â she said. Emmy followed him upstairs and leaned against the doorway as he grabbed the leggings and she watched him as he went into his room. âThank you,â she told him. She leaned up and kissed his cheek. âThank you for everything, Carlos,â she told him softly. âI...donât know what I would have done if I didnât run into you,â she said. Emmy went into the bathroom and changed into the leggings and his button down and she carefully folded the dress and came out when she was done. âHow do I look?â She asked with a small twirl.Â
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fewbravemenâ:
âHey donât knock it now, itâs tradition.â He told her as he then turned to Emmy and laughed. âIâm Felix!â The boy said through a merry tone. Carlos set him down and grabbed a corona and a lime for himself. âCome on lets go out back and out of grandmaâs hair so she can finish cooking with your mother.â Carlos led the boy and Emmy out back. âDo you want anything? Weâre kind of picking until moms done inside.â He grabbed a chip and scooped some salsa as he sat in a chair. âYou going to go be comfortable in that fancy dress? Iâm sure my sisters have something inside or you can steal a shirt of mine if you want to get comfortable.â Carlos offered her.
~
âI remember,â she said with a laugh, looking over at him. âHi Felix, Iâm Emmy,â she introduced. âItâs nice to meet you.â She knew that her mother would kill her if she knew where she was, but what her mom didnât know wouldnât hurt her. She nodded her head when he lead them out back. She glanced over at Carlos when he asked if she wanted anything. âI think iâm okay for now, thank you,â she said. She nodded her head. It was so different from the Christmas that she was used to, it was so casual and there didnât seem to be any bullshit going on. âOh, uh,â she glanced down at her dress. âI mean if itâs too much to ask this is fine,â Emmy said, not wanting to put anyone out. âIt is kind of uncomfortable though.âÂ
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âThank you, come on youâll have fun and Iâll even drop you off at home.â He told her as he chuckled softly. âI hate those damn suits. But I look like everything your mother doesnât approve of.â A man with tattoos, a latino. Anything he could think of about himself was never good enough for Emmy in her motherâs eyes. âYeah, we ran out of corona and needed more potatoes so.â Carlos told her as he pulled up to the house that was very bright. He grabbed the potatoes. âGo on you can be the savior whose bringing the corona theyâll love you for it.â Carlos told her as he walked in and kissed his mother on the cheek. His mother had a knowing smirk. "Entonces, ÂżcuĂĄndo te vas a casar con esta chica?â His mother asked making Carlos roll his eyes and his sister snicker. âMa, ahora noâ He shook his head she just tisked at him and went by. âWelcome back dear, make yourself at home, food will be ready soon.â Carlos scooped up one of his nephews as they ran by. âWhere do you think youâre going little man?â He said laughing as he tickled the boy.
~
Emmy knew that he was right, and that she couldnât just sit out in the cold all night until she went home. âFuck my mother,â Emmy grumbled. She was so tired of never doing anything right, never living up to Tabby. Instead of doing what she was supposed to do, she could be with Carlos, the man that she actually loved. She was so pissed at James ,and she was so over his five year plan that she was supposed to follow. With James she was always just going to be Jamesâs wife and never her own person, she was starting to realize that and see that she didnât want that. âCanât have Christmas without corona,â she said with a laugh. Emmy felt nervous though, the moment that he pulled up to his house. She had no idea what to expect, even though she had known this family once upon a time, had been close to some of them. She guessed that she was nervous about them not wanting anything to do with her either. When they walked in, she offered his mom a small smile. âThank you. Itâs good to see you again,â she told her. She watched Carlos with his nephew and she couldnât help but smile. âAnd what is your name?â She asked him.Â
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When she started to protest he rolled his eyes. âWhat sit on the side walk in that dress drinking, and not get mugged? Get in the damn car Emmy its Christmas. At least come enjoy some tequilla with my siblings and I and some of the hog we have roasting.â Carlos pulled out his phone and showed her the messages. âMy motherâs already excited, come on you donât want to disappoint her do you by turning it down?â It was a low blow but it was better then her sitting on the side of the road with tequilla. âCome on, a little music, some dancing, I seriously wonât take no.â She loved the last Christmas she had spent with him all those years ago.
~
Emmy shrugged her shoulders. âI donât know. Itâll be fine,â she told him. She didnât know what else to do, she didnât want to go back home but she didnât know if she could stay out here. When he told her to get in the damn car, she sighed. It did sound nice, but she was still hesitating, she felt like she had to. When he showed her his phone, she bit her lip. âOkay. Iâll come so I donât disappoint her,â she told him. Finally sliding into the passenger seat of his car, she looked over at him. âYou look good like this,â She told him. âMore...like yourself.â It was weird to see him in his fancy suits at work, it wasnât what she expected of him at all. âSo...um, having a nice Christmas?â She asked.Â
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Carlos frowned at her answer. âSo if you got no where to go for Christmas get in. Iâm sure mom wonât mind another, and you can meet the newer family memebers and have a good holiday.â He told her as he picked up his phone to tell his sister to relay that he was bringing someone back with him. âCome on.â He told her as he opened his car door and slid in, he wasnât going to take no for an answer.
~
Emmy bit down on her lip when he told her to get in. âNo, no, I couldnât impose,â she told him. âIâll be fine, promise. I was just going to go in and get some tequila or something and then...â she trailed off. She didnât entirely know what she was going to do when she was done in the store. A part of her wondered if her family even knew or cared that she had left. Her mother was probably furious with her for leaving and âembarrassingâ her. It just felt like she could never do anything right and that feeling was even stronger now that Tabby was in town. âIâll be fine, promise.â
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fewbravemenâ:
A latin christmas
Carlos had been put on a grocery run, he had been set out to get more beers and potatoes to finish off their christmas meal. The hog had been roasting, and everything else was set. He though wanted to be able to enjoy some beers. So he picked those up at the store when he was walking out he paused seeing a face he didnât expect to see. âWhat happened to fifth avenue huh? Down here slumming it with us?â Carlos called out to her as he began to laod the car, he was far more relaxed than the last two times she saw him. He was in jeans and a t-shirt not a suit for one. His tattoos on his arms were on display now. He was the type of man her mother would never approve of. It didnât matter the silver stars he had or purple hearts. Carlos was just latino scum to her mother. âWhat are you doing all the way out here?â
~
Emmy didnât know how long she had been walking for, she had left her coat and phone back at her parentâs place. She had just needed to get away from them all. James had been insufferable all day, nothing she did was good enough for him, and then Tabby and the congressman had been sitting there on their pedestals holding court acting like they were superior. The congressman had even gone so far as to suggest that she needed to thank him for getting her the job at Vanderbilt, that she hadnât even wanted. It was just positively infuriating. She had made it to the grocery store, she was thinking about grabbing a bottle of tequila and just getting wasted. It was better than going back home. She was dressed up for their fancy dinner that her mother had been forcing her to help out with while Tabby lounged around all day since she was four months pregnant and couldnât do anything. It made Emmy sick. She was startled when she suddenly saw Carlos, it was almost like she was coming out of a trance. âI uh, just....needed to get away is all,â she said softly. âGuess I just...ended up here.â
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âYet youâre still taking it.â Carlos didnât understand why she did, she could just find a better life for herself where sheâd be happy. âIt was forever ago.â It was ancient history. âSo you can teach kids the passion of art that you once held. Look. I want to keep talking but I have to get back to work your fiance is late, tell him when you see him that I do not take kindly to people being tardy. Iâm sorry I have to get on a call now.â
~
âYeah...I guess I am,â she said with a sigh. She didnât know why she did what she did, sometimes she wished that she was brave enough to tell her mother off, and do what she wanted to do. âYeah,â she agreed when he said that it was forever ago. âOh, yeah, of course. Iâm sorry for keeping you, I know that youâre busy.â She bit her lip. âI will be sure to tell him. Um...Merry Christmas if I donât see you again before, you know, the holiday break.â
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âI know all the burocratic bullshit, I dealt with it in the army, and still deal with it in the law firm today.â Carlos hated it, he much perferred being out on the battle field as a soldier but an injury left him discharged. âWelcome, and your life could be whatever you wanted it to be. I remember a woman that wanted to be an artist.â Hell he had been a dancer but that life hadnât gotten him anywhere. Carlos went through a lot of changes to get to a Lawyer, even if his mother said he wouldnât last at this job.
~
She nodded her head. âI can only imagine what thatâs like,â she said with a sigh. âI deal with it at work too. Between all of the terrible parents and admin at work and my family...well...â she trailed off with a sigh and glanced down at the flower in her hand. She looked up at him when he reminded her that she had wanted to be an artist. âI know. That...seems like forever ago,â she admitted. âIâm an art teacher now, which I guess is kind of the same thing,â she told him with a frown. It really wasnât, but her mother had been very clear that an artist was not a suitable career choice for her.
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âSounds like my mom.â He told her as he then nodded his head. âSounds like business more than a holiday.â Carlos told her as he shook his head. He glanced at his watch frowning James should have been back before now but it at least gave him a few moments from Emmy. âWell donât forget to smile and smell the roses.â He said as he plucked a flower from the arrangement on the desk in front of him and offered it to her. âGirl like you was going too many places to be so stressed.â
~
âYour mom was always amazing,â she said, biting her lip and looking at him. âYeah. Thatâs usually how my family is,â she sighed. âEspecially when the congressman comes, mom has to outdo everyone and everything.â Emmy knew that her mom loved to show off that Tabby was married to a congressman. âI will try,â she said, looking up at him. She felt her cheeks turn pink when he offered her the rose. âThanks,â she said. âI guess thatâs just what my life is going to be like, huh?â
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âSheâs good. Stubborn as hell, trying to marry off all her children. You know the usual.â He said chuckling softly and nodded. âThanks.â He had five siblings so it wasnât wild to think of them having kids. His mother loved having grandchildren to look after. âHe is a cute kid, but thanks.â He told her as he shook his head. âToo much stress wonât do you any good.â He always had told her that though.
~
âSounds like a mom,â she said with a small laugh. A part of her wondered if there was someone in his life, someone that he was considering marrying. âYouâre welcome,â she said. Emmy sighed and nodded her head. âI know. But Tabby is coming into town with her two kids and the congressman and well...you know how my mother has always been,â she said softly. âSo thereâs just...a lot going on.â It didnât help that Jamesâs mom was putting pressure on her too.Â
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âYeah I will.â Carlos knew she had enjoyed Christmas with his family the one year he brought her over. âThree nieces and two nephews. My sister just had little Juan.â He pulled out his phone and he showed her a photo of him holding his baby newphew. âIt should be a good break.â He had missed a few christmasâs when he was deployed so he made sure when he took this job that he could have Christmas off to go home with his family.
~
âHow is your mom doing?â She asked. She hoped that she was doing well. When he spoke, she nodded her head. âWow, thatâs crazy. Congratulations,â she told him. Emmy smiled when he showed her the picture of him holding the baby. âHeâs adorable. And his uncle looks pretty cute holding him,â she teased. Emmy looked up at him and nodded. âThatâs good. Iâm sure youâll be glad to have a break. Iâm already stressed about Christmas,â she sighed.Â
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Carlos paused when she asked for his christmas plans. âYeah, going home. Siblings are going clubbing the night before Christmas, and then weâre all meeting up at my moms. Sheâs doing the big cook out in the back yard, dancing, presents for everyone and the such.â Carlos was playing Santa this year for the young ones, for his neices and nephews and he was sure heâd endure his motherâs questions about when heâd bring home a woman and settle down.
~
Emmy bit her lip when he spoke. It was strange how she hadnât seen his family in so long but she missed them. They were always so loving and kind to her and it hurt that she had hurt Carlos and them. âThat sounds amazing. Tell them I said hello?â She asked him. She didnât know if he actually would, but she had always loved his mom especially. She had been so unlike the mothers that Emmy knew, so unlike her own. âHow many nieces and nephews do you have now?âÂ
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âThen Iâll leave it be if youâre happy.â Carlos told her. What was he as a man to do if she was happy? âThen it seems you got everything that yo uwanted.â Carlos nodded his exhuberance from before seemed to die down a bit as he took a few steps away from her before he reached over with his key card to unlock Jamesâs door. âYou can wait for him in there.â Carlos told her at least then he wouldnât have to look at her.
~
Why did him saying that he would leave her alone fill her with dread? She knew that she had to continue to be happy with James, she had made the decision and she would have to stick with it. âYeah...something like that,â she said softly, glancing up to meet his gaze. âThank you,â she said. Biting down on her lip, she didnât want him to walk away from her, didnât want this to end. âAny plans for Christmas?â She asked him.Â
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Carlos just nodded. âFor a woman whose walking the asile, you seem⊠conflicted I donât remember that in you.â Deep down beyond the bravado he was still the sweet boy whoâd share half of his sandwich with her even if it was his only meal for the day. He just simply didnât like her fiancee, he didnât like anyone who was made of money and felt the need to try and charm his way through instead of putting in the hard work.
~
He could see that? If he could see that than who else could see it? She had been pushed to this life even though she didnât want it, didnât like it. She didnât even know if she truly loved James. âI donât know what youâre talking about. Iâm happy,â she lied. âI have a great job and a fiancĂ© and things are good.â She wished that she could have put her foot down, could have picked out a life that she loved instead of one that was expected of her.Â
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Carlos shrugged his shoulders. âIâm sure that is exactly how he is, it doesnât bother me. I served with plenty of guys like him.â Although those guys got chewed up and spit out after basic for not being able to handle it. Carlos now though oozed confidence, if he was able to handle guys like James. Guys that once would have chewed him up because he came from nothing and he didnât spend lavishly like he was sure the other male did. âMind telling him Iâll take my sushi in my office? The big boys got to eat.â He told her as he walked past her. âStill think you deserve better.â He shrugged at her having no problem telling her.
~
âHeâs just...â she trailed off, unsure of how to explain him or what to say about him. Carlos clearly saw straight through him, and also her, which made her decidedly uncomfortable. âIâm sure you know plenty of guys like him,â she finally settled on. It was strange, this new Carlos. He was so different from the man that she knew years ago. She didnât know how to act around him, she felt off kilter, like everything was wrong. âSure,â she told him, nodding her head. She was about to go into his office to wait for him when Carlos spoke again. âYou have to stop saying that,â she told him, glancing around. What if James was already back and heard him?
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