Chapter 4
I sit on the couch at Rangel’s house while I listen to him on a call beside me. Rangel lives like this, always focused on his phone. Even though we have a pleasant relationship, he doesn’t give me the attention I’d like. With the move to a new city, it will be impossible to maintain this long-distance relationship. He doesn’t notice me even when I’m right next to him, let alone when I’m far away!
"Rangel… I…" I tried stupidly to get his attention, but he raised his hand while making a face.
"Wait, I’m talking to an important client."
I nervously run my hands over my face. Every time I try to talk, it’s always like this, he’s either on a call or exchanging important messages. As the days, weeks, and months passed, I kept being pushed aside. I would even say this distancing is due to lack of sex, but it’s not just that, he really only cares about his business. I wait an endless 30 minutes until he finally gives me some attention!
"Sorry, my princess, it was important, now we can talk! What did you want to say?" he says, sitting next to me.
"Well, I want to…"
"Wait, I’ll get a drink for us," he interrupts again.
Rangel goes to the fridge and returns five minutes later with a juice.
"Here, for you!" I take it from his hand impatiently.
"We need to talk, you know I’m moving to another city, and…"
"Baby, don’t worry, it’ll work out!" he interrupts, and I bite my lips, frustrated. "I’ll miss you, but don’t worry, I told my secretary to buy tickets, and we’ll see each other every month."
"Rangel, I know... but I was thinking, you know, our relationship is..." His phone starts ringing. He stops paying attention to me and looks at the screen.
"My love, it’s important, I need to answer!" Rangel leaves the room with his phone in hand without giving me a chance to respond.
"I’m tired of not being heard by him! I’m always put second. I can’t take it anymore!"
My heart crushes with the decision I need to make at that moment. Rangel was always the man I thought was my dream guy. He’s successful, calm most of the time, has a good heart, but he doesn’t really love me. He doesn’t prioritize our relationship, and I’m always the one in second place. First comes work, important clients, and profitable businesses, and at the very end, almost forgotten, "me."
"I can’t live like this anymore, six months fighting for attention. It’s time to end our story! There’s no way to fix this from a distance. We’d just be stabbing in the dark and getting hurt in the process."
I looked at my engagement ring. It was definitely the end, I couldn’t take it anymore. Before leaving through the door, I took it off my finger and left it on the couch. That’s how I ended our relationship, I didn’t even manage to talk to him about it. I snap back to reality when my mom calls me.
"Clayre! Let’s go! Jack asked us to have dinner at his bar. I’m sure you’ll love the atmosphere. It’s all rock and roll, and they serve the best appetizers. He said he doesn’t take 'no' for an answer…"
"Jack Bourbon, I’ll never forget that name."
Mom just told me that Jack invited us to dinner at his bar.
"They have delicious appetizers. Do you follow any kind of diet, do you eat regular meat?"
I look at her and try not to show sadness, but it’s disappointing to see that she knows nothing about me. I conclude she hasn’t checked my social media, where there are endless posts with Rebeca at McDonald's, our favorite hangout.
"Let’s go! Yes, I eat meat, and I love appetizers!" I get up from the table and wave at Dora as we leave.
"It’s five blocks from here!"
We walk along the wide sidewalk in silence. Being with her is always an unknown because she never asks about anything. She’s never been curious about my tastes, how my day went, or my dreams. I know Dad wants us to finally love each other, but when we’re together, I feel uncomfortable. Not long after, we’re in front of Jack’s bar.
"Wow!" I exclaim, surprised.
I admire the exterior of the place. The walls are red, resembling a large concert hall. I glimpse the inside through the glass door, and the atmosphere is spectacular. It’s all covered in natural wood with modern decor. The drink area has a climate-controlled wine cellar, the drink shelves are huge, the game tables are luxurious, and the dining tables are spacious with brown leather seats.
"It’s cool here! You’ll love it, there are lots of cute guys, and Jack has gorgeous staff!" Liana praises, opening the door.
I just nod and we go in together. The place is vibrant and really has a rock-and-roll vibe. The music playing is AC/DC, and my gaze finds Jack. He’s standing by the pool table, holding a cue in his left hand while pouring whiskey into his mouth with the other.
"Shit, a different kind of stepdad."
His gaze meets mine.
I feel the endless butterflies.
Tension and euphoria.
"Shit, this is getting worse." Jack approaches, smiling.
"Good evening, welcome Clayre, this is my bar!" Liana jumps into his arms.
They kiss passionately, and when they pull away, Jack looks embarrassed.
"I’ll take you to a table."
"No need, Jack, we have legs." I retort irritably, and my mom starts laughing at my altered temper.
"I want you to get along, we’ll all live together."
Liana says, looking at us intently.
"Unfortunately…" I finish.
I move away and sit at the first empty table I find. I don’t know why I suddenly got so angry. I just nervously rub my hands together, for no apparent reason. A man looks at me curiously, he’s young, wearing leather clothes with a black apron, he has dark skin, brown hair, and is tall and strong.
"Does anyone need a drink?"
"Two, please…" Liana approaches and sits across from me.
"Is everything okay?"
"I’m fine, it’s PMS and also missing my dad." She smiles briefly and starts talking non-stop.
"I was thinking, your classes start in a few months, we could go camping, make a bonfire in the woods. Sometimes Jack and I travel, we could spend a weekend as a family. A celebration for your entrance into college, my future advertiser!" She’s excited, and the man who spoke to me clears the empty glasses from the table next to us.
"Last year we were in the mountains, it’s amazing and perfect for skiing. Did you travel last winter?"
"No, last year I spent the whole winter in the hospital." Liana adopts a surprised expression.
"The whole winter?"
"Yes."
"Of course, she doesn’t know, she never took care of me."
"How sad, dear, but this year we’ll enjoy a lot together." I nod sadly, confirming that she didn’t even bother to ask what happened last year for me to be in the hospital for so long.
"Yes, we’ll enjoy a lot." I admire the tables until I reach Jack, who is staring at me from the bar.
The drinks I ordered arrive, and the same man from before places them on the table. Liana smiles and touches his arm to get his attention.
"Hi Kal, how are you? Have you met my daughter?"
"Your daughter? Wow, she’s so beautiful." His expression shows surprise, and I conclude that she’s never talked about me.
"Thanks!" I thank him awkwardly.
I gulp the drinks down in one go, and he raises an eyebrow.
"That was needed, girl…"
"You have no idea."
"Are you liking Florida?"
"I arrived today, but I’m sure I’ll love it, it’s hard not to like a place with beaches, sunsets, and starry skies." The man smiles at my answer.
"Kal, we want to order something." Liana says, picking up the menu.
"Sure, what would you like?"
My mom orders the most appetizing dishes, and I watch Jack from afar.