CARLA'S POV
Today was the day we were going to Los Angeles. During this time, I had managed to keep Santi from finding out we're going to Los Angeles, but that day had come. Throughout this month, I could notice him a little happier, not much more than when he was in Italy, but something he's starting to improve. Of course, all the people he met, I mean in the field of girls, all approached him to try to conquer him, but that isn't possible, because he was in love with Jessica to the hilt and I doubt anyone will be able to get him to notice someone in that way.
At this moment, we're having coffee to go to the airport, and I had come up with the idea of giving him some sleeping pill so he wouldn't find out we're going to Los Angeles, because I'm sure he would leave right now. Once there, he couldn't refuse to stay, or at least hope.
Once at the airport, we sat down to wait for our flight to be called and Santi fell asleep irremediably, I already thought he wasn't going to fall asleep. One of the security guys helped me get him into the plane and a few minutes later we left for Los Angeles.
It only took us a couple of hours to get to the airport and we went out the back because we didn't want Santi to be seen like that. I'm sure the rumours would start and enough of the rumours he's my partner, that would never happen. Santi is my best friend and my best friend's boyfriend.
Once we arrived at the hotel, we went to drop Santi off at his room and I stayed with him so when he woke up, he wouldn't feel disoriented. While this was happening, memories of the surprise we were preparing for Jessica when she came home again come to mind.
Flashback (narrator)
A couple of days before Jessica left for Los Angeles, Santi had arranged to meet Carla to ask her to help him prepare a surprise for the girl. Obviously, the moment he told the girl about his idea, she agreed to help him, and the moment Jessica left, they began to prepare the surprise. That was another reason Santi didn't come to the house, because he wanted everything to be perfect.
A day before Santi's meeting, Carla had met with him to see how his idea was going and give him a couple more ideas. What Carla liked most about Santi was he's the most punctual man she had ever met in her life.
"Why did you want to see me?" asked Santi reluctantly. "Hi to you too Santi" I said laughing, "Hi Carla, why are you calling at such an early hour?" he asked again, feigning more interest, or at least that's what he was trying to do. "Have you decided what you're going to do?"
"I'll ask for the day at the record company, we'll go for a walk, have a romantic dinner and I'll probably take her to the beach." He replied, shrugging, "Will you propose it there?" I asked and he nodded with a big smile on his face, "And do you have the ring?" I asked excitedly for my best friends "No, but I need your help with that."
"Why?" I asked, a little confused, "I want your opinion." He replied simply, "Okay, but I'm sure you know which ring will be the one your girlfriend likes, she'll say yes in a heartbeat." I said sincerely "I hope so." He said, "How many years have you two been together?" I asked, trying to get him to see it for himself, "Ten years." He replied quickly, "And don't you think if she hadn't loved you as she does, she wouldn't have left you a long time ago?"
"Maybe, but what if she doesn't want to get married?" he asked, and I rolled my eyes. He always did the same thing "She wants to, I can assure you." I replied, "Do you know anything I don't know?" he asked, frowning, "No, I just know her, and I know she's excited to marry you, that's all. But tell me when we're going to look for the ring and I'll show up at your house."
"I have nothing to do this afternoon, if you can, let's go this afternoon." He said and nodded, "I'll be there at lunchtime, you'd better have something prepared for me, De Luca." I replied, pointing in his direction and he rolled his eyes, "Always scrounging." He snorted, "Obviously, as a good friend of yours I have to scrounge. See you later, Santi."
"See you in the afternoon." While Santi was preparing the food for the two of them to eat, Carla sent the missing songs to the record company so they could read them and tell her what they thought of them, but not to go that afternoon since she didn't want interruptions.
Once she finished fixing her work things, she went to her best friends' house and came in once Santi opened the door for her. It didn't take long for them to finish eating, and once they did, they left in the direction of the city centre to go to the jewellery store. They spent the whole afternoon practically at the jewellery store until Santi decided which ring, he would give Jessica.
When they got home, they were looking for a place where Jessica couldn't see it and they were just putting it away at the moment Santi's cell phone starts ringing, and the girl isn't impressed to see who is the reason his phone is ringing.
"Hello my love, how was your day? How's your grandma?" asked Jess on the other end of the line "Good to both of your questions, I miss you, beautiful." Santi said with a big smile on his face "Hey, before you have video call sex, let me say hello." I asked, picking on them, "Carla?" my best friend asked, "Yes dear, it's me. I just wanted to say hello to you, I have to go because tomorrow I have to get up early."
"I really don't believe that." Jess answered, laughing, "You can go and believe it, my dear, because it's true. Now, with your permission, I'm leaving. Until next week, my dear, don't stay up late having virtual sex. I love you." With that, Carla left Santi's grandmother's house and went home, meanwhile, the lovers were talking until they fell asleep.
End flashback
At that moment I wondered what happened to the ring, because he never had the chance to ask her, and from that day on we didn't talk about it again. Now I'm curious, but I'm not stupid enough to ask him about it now, I didn't want the little progress he'd made this month to be spoiled by a silly question. When I realized, he wasn't going to wake up, I decided to go to the couch to sleep there, which luckily for me wasn't so uncomfortable.
The next morning, I wake up and see Santi is up and looking out the window of the room. "You lied to me." Santi said in a dark tone "What?" I asked, still not fully awake "You lied to me, you said we weren't going to come here, and you brought me even though you knew full well I didn't want to be here." He replied, too quietly for my liking, "Santi, I..." I started, but he stopped me "I DIDN'T WANT TO BE HERE, CARLA. THIS WAS THE CITY THAT TOOK HER FROM ME, AND YOU BROUGHT ME HERE EVEN THOUGH YOU KNEW I DIDN'T WANT TO COME HERE."
"I know, listen to me for a moment please..." I asked, uncovering myself and trying to calm him down, "I have nothing to hear from a liar like you. I really didn't expect you to do this." He said, hurt and offended, "Where are you going?" I asked, getting out of the couch and regretting falling asleep on it, "I'm not going to leave you with everything on the tour if that's what worries you, although I don't lack desire."
"That's the last thing I care about, where are you going to go?" I asked again "Away from here, right now I can't have you around." And with that, he left the room leaving me alone, but I was going to follow him. I know at this moment I had to leave him space, but I wasn't going to leave him alone for a city he didn't even know, much less angry as he is at the moment.