LatinosUSA

Shapeless clouds raced
across a maple sky—
showers dripped from evergreens,
mud splattered, leaves shifted,
our cabin near Mount Adams.

A breeze carried steak
from a diner’s distant grill.
I ate rare, drank dark beer—
her father’s taste.
I smoked on the balcony—
moonlight flickered on the calm river.

Gravel glowed in headlights;
my mind drifted—
until Carly’s starry eyes
pulled me back,
balancing on insecurity’s edge.

She read romance,
shook her fist at football.
I bet New York; she chose Texas.
She got into the game—
I got into her.
We shouted, stripped
for every score.
I learned football for her,
not the game.

Watching with her
brought me back
to our starter home,
Seattle’s bustle stilled
when she surfaced.

I asked her out—June heat,
shirts clinging—
no strings attached.

Her dad told us
to wait five years
for anything serious.
Life wouldn’t.

Doubt filled his eyes—
it should have filled mine,
but hope pushed through.

I never met his expectations.
Men had broken Carly’s heart—
he feared I would, too.
I promised I wouldn’t—
he believed it, in time.

My collar fit—
she called me sexier than any before.
Her gaze, her blush
made me someone new—
myself, lost in love.

Carly appeared—
balcony, arms folded:
“Honey?” she yawned.

I sipped cola over rocks,
rehearsed my lines.

Her hand on my neck,
then she settled on my lap—
a tender look.
“Everything okay?”

I sighed—
“I don’t know how to—”

“Ask away,” she said,
on the edge of tears.

I scratched my neck.
“I don’t deserve—”

“I don’t deserve you,” she mocked.

We laughed.

I brushed her hair,
called her silly, wise,
a little godly, a little devil.

Carly whispered,
«Don’t tell my mom.»

«It’s your dad I’m worried about,» I said,
voice fearful.

She twisted a strand.
“We can take him together, bro.”
She jabbed the air.

I cracked up.

“What do you have to say?”
Carly said, sipping wine.

“I want to marry you,”
I said, voice shaking.
«Five years of bliss isn’t enough.»

Carly spat wine.
“Did you say marry?”
She wiped her mouth.

I swallowed hard, nodded.
“I can’t live without you,” I said.

I caught her tears.
“I need you to know—»

“I know,” I said.

Her hand on my arm:
«My folks are listening.”

“That car—”

“Was ours,” her mom said,
choked up, stepping from the shadows.

“Listen,” I told her father.
“I’m going to marry your daughter,
and that’s final.”

Her parents doubled over, laughing.
They looked at each other, mocking.
“That’s final.”
Their silly faces gave me life.

“Thought you’d never ask, kid,” her dad said.
Hands on hips. “I was wrong about you before.
I said some really bad—”
“Well, I thought worse of you,” I said.

“Fair enough,” her father said.
“She’s happy. And it humbles me to say I’m sorry.»

Her mom caught a tear.
“That’s all we wanted.
Her to be as happy as we are,
and we can see you guys are,
so welcome to the family.”
«Consider that a yes,» Carly said,
tears streaming—
forever in our palms.