Juan's POV
"Hey," Felipe says when I open the door for him to come in.
"What's up?" I ask.
"Well," he turns on his heels and frowns. "The wedding's off."
"What?" I ask surprised. "What the fuck happened?"
"I fucked up," Felipe shrugs. "I'm just- I'm just not right for her."
"You're kidding me, right?"
"She's too young, I'm not the right guy-"
"The wedding's a month away!"
"It was a month away," he clarifies.
"Are you okay?" I ask him sincerely.
"I'm fine," he says as if it's nothing. "You're gonna give me some coffee?" Felipe spots the two coffee mugs and points.
"Yeah," I nod and rush over to the kitchen. "You rang and I put out another cup. Milk and sugar?"
"I'll take it black," he shakes his head. "So, enough of the small talk."
"Yeah?" I look up at him.
"I need you to do me a favor."
○○○
Antonella's POV
"You have such a nice apartment," I take in Juan's place.
"Thanks," he nods and gestures for me to sit on the couch. "I forgot you haven't been here."
"You didn't have to invite me over," I start. "I really could do all this by myself."
"No, no," Juan shakes his head as he brings over a bottle of water for me. "I didn't help you at all with all this planning, you even did my half of it all. It's only right I help you cancel everything."
"I didn't do all of your work," I clarify. "Just some."
"Thanks again," he nods. "But all your work has been for nothing."
"I'm so mad!" I admit. "I was planning the best wedding ever."
"It shouldn't have been your responsibility to plan it anyway."
"Yeah, well," I start. "I didn't mind. I can't believe they broke up."
"Me either," Juan agrees. "It's absolutely crazy."
"Did he tell you what happened?"
"No. Did Meli mention anything?"
"Meli left," I explain. "I went to Eva's room to look out the balcony and I saw her getting into a cab with a backpack and I haven't spoken to her at all."
"Jesus," Juan covers his mouth in awe.
"They got into some serious shit," I say before letting a breath out and taking my binder out my bag.
"Where do we start?" Juan asks.
○○○
"No, no," I shake my head. "Thank you."
I end the call to the caterers and look over to Juan who was talking to the reception venue.
"I understand," Juan nods. "It's no problem at all. Thanks."
I cross somethings out in the binder when I look up at him and ask how it went.
"All they could do was put it on hold. We have to go in person to sign some things otherwise they can't actually cancel it."
"Okay, well," I begin. "Let's finish up the last couple of calls to all the places and we can start calling all the guests on our way there."
"Sounds like a plan," Juan nods. "I got the florists. You call the church and talk to the priest."
○○○
"Yeah, we're really bummed out about it too," Juan says in the passenger seat as he calls the fifteenth guest. "Of course, I'll call with any updates. Thanks for understanding. Bye."
"Updates," I widen my eyes.
"Not gonna happen," Juan says as I begin to park across the street from the rented reception venue.
Just as I finish parking my phone starts ringing on the bluetooth system and it's Felipe.
"Go sign the papers while I take his call," I point at the screen.
"Got it," Juan nods and leaves my car.
"Felipe," I answer.
"Yeah, how's everything going?"
"Good, we're done with all the venues and the caterers and everything. All you paid for is covered. We're just calling guests-"
"Do you know when I'll get all my deposits back."
"So, you'll only get back the one from the caterers, venues, and the printing place."
"Okay," he simply says.
"How are you?" I ask, filling the silence.
"Good," he says again.
"Juan and I are good too," I roll my eyes.
"Yeah, alright," he speaks. "If you need me I'll be home."
"Alright, bye," I quickly hang up on him, mad that he's being ungrateful.
Fifteen minutes later and Juan was on his way back.
"Hey," he says as comes back into the car.
"Have you spoken to Felipe lately?"
"No, I don't want to," Juan admits.
"What a dick," I say angrily.
"Yeah, he's been using us, nothing new."
"Why are you friends with him again?"
"Yeah, starting to reconsider that after these past six hours."
"Who's next on the list to call?"
Just then my phone starts ringing again, this time Melissa's name fills the screen in my car.
"Oh my God," Juan quickly presses the button on my steering wheel to answer and I try not laughing at him.
"Hello?" Melissa starts.
"Meli," I start and gesture for Juan to be quiet. "Babe, how are you?"
"A fucking mess," she was crying. "I'm at my mom's."
"That's good," I nod. "Do you wanna talk about what happened?"
"Absolutely not," Meli starts. "Not now."
"I get it," I reply. "I'm here if you need me, whenever you're ready to talk."
"Thanks," she sniffles some more. "I have a favor to ask you and it's really big, but I don't know who else to ask."
"What is it?"
"Can you bring Manolo to me?"
"Manolo," I start. "To Naples?"
"Yes," Meli begins. "I know it's a two hour drive and I'm asking for a lot, but that's my baby and I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important to me. I want him as far away from that asshole as possible."
"We can leave early tomorrow-"
"I know Felipe won't feed him or anything. I need him with me, please."
Juan puts up his fingers, gesturing the number four with his eyes wide, telling me the amount of time it's gonna take us to go there and come back.
"Anto?" Melissa asks.
"Yeah, I'm here," I let out a breath. "We'll see you in two hours."
Juan shakes his head.
"We?"
"Manolo and I," I explain.
Juan rolls his eyes and then talks.
"Meli, I'll be there too," Juan adds.
I look at him and raise an eyebrow.
"Oh, Juan," Melissa says. "I didn't know you were there."
"Just helping Anto out with some wedding stuff."
"Aw, that's so nice of you. I'm sorry if Felipe dumped everything on you guys. Let me know if there's anything I can do."
"Wanna call the guests?" Juan suggests and I swat his arm.
"I'll actually do that," Melissa let's out a chuckle. "It'll feel good to bad mouth him to the guests."
"Go for it," Juan smiles. "We're gonna go get Manolo and be on our way."
"Thanks so much you guys."
"Okay, Meli," I say. "We'll text you the list of people we've called."
"Okay, bye guys. Thanks again."
"Bye," Juan and I say simultaneously.
We sit in silence for a second.
"You don't have to come with," I shake my head. "I'll go by myself."
"I'm not gonna let you do that."
"I know you don't wanna go," I tell him.
"I'm not gonna let you drive two hours to and from by yourself. You'll be home past midnight."
"Fine," I budge. "It's the right thing to do anyway," I joke and he laughs.
○○○
"Hi," I smile and wave when Felipe opens the door.
"What're you guys doing here?" He questions.
"We're here to pick up Manolo," Juan smiles.
"Oh," Felipe let's out a chuckle. "Take him, please."
He steps aside and let's Juan and me in. I look for Manolo in the living room and quickly find him by the television while Juan and Felipe talk a bit.
"Hi, baby," I kiss the dog on his forehead and pick him up. "I forget how heavy you are," I grunt as I adjust my hold on him. "Felipe, where's his harness?"
"Over here," he nods towards the kitchen where the two guys were standing.
"What else is his?" I ask looking at the dog in my arms as Juan begins to put his harness on for me.
"Toy baskets over there," Felipe points. "Don't forget the food."
"We won't," Juan smiles as he starts gathering everything he just pointed at.
"Where is she?" Felipe asks.
"Don't worry about it," I smile. "Bye Felipe."
I start for the door and Juan follows.
"Guys," Eva's standing by our apartment door when Felipe shuts his. "Where are you going?"
"Bringing Manolo to Melissa," I explain.
"Where is she?" Eva questions.
"Don't worry about it," Juan repeats and I smile at the guy.
"I'll come with," Eva suggests.
"No," Juan stops her in her tracks. "We're fine."
"I'll be home later," I tell Eva before putting Manolo down and grabbing Juan's arm. "Goodnight!"
○○○
"I got it," Juan starts to pull out his wallet. "What pump is this?"
"Two," I tell him as I pet Manolo through the open passenger seat window. "Thank you!"
It was almost ten at night and we were less than an hour away from Naples.
Juan came back out and started putting gas in my car when I told him I was going inside to get some snacks.
I walked up and down two aisles while grabbing some candy and other snacks before heading over to the counter.
"How are you?" I smiled up at the clerk.
"Six-fifty," he nodded.
"Let me get one of those five dollar scratch-offs actually," I pointed at one while getting the money out.
"Thanks," I spoke when he handed over the plastic bag.
I blew on the scratch-off before checking to see if I won anything.
"Uh," I widened my eyes.
"You won something?" The clerk asks.
I hand over the ticket to him.
"Jesus," he widens his eyes too.
○○○
"You seem chipper," Juan smiles at me while he leans on the car, Manolo with his head out the window and the two of them looking incredibly adorable.
"Bitch!" I yelled.
"Whoa-"
"I'm sorry," I start laughing and jumping.
"What happened?"
"I just won a scratch-off," I can't contain my smile.
"Really?" He stands up straight. "Congrats! How much did you win?"
"Five hundred!" I exclaim.
"Oh my God."
"Well, two fifty," I start. "Well, two thirty. I gave the clerk twenty."
"I'm not taking anything," he shakes his hand in front of the cash I was trying to hand him.
"Juan," I chuckle. "It's our payment for today. The God's have spoken."
Juan looks at the cash then up at me before I urge him to take it again.
"You sure?"
"Beyond," I nod.
"Thank you," he smiles before leaving a kiss on my cheek.
We stand there looking at each other, an opportunity for a kiss but then he starts talking again and I try not screaming out loud.
"You didn't have to," Juan adds, breaking the moment.
"I wanted to," I smile at him.
"You're the best," we both start toward the driver's side. "My turn to drive."
"No," I deny him. "I'm too hype."
○○○
"Manolo!" Melissa cheers through the screen door before swinging it open and making us take a step back. "You guys are the best!" She cheers while grabbing her dog from Juan's arms then kissing us each on the cheek. "Come in, come in."
We follow her into her mother's home and greet her mother who was sat in the living room.
"I set up the guest bedroom for you two," Melissa starts. "It's super late and-"
"No, no," Juan stops her after looking at me, remembering that I told him Melissa's mother is crazy. "We have to get back. We just wanna use the bathroom and head out. Traffic is light."
"Are you two sure?"
"Yeah," I jump in.
"Can I use the bathroom?" Juan asks before he leaves in the direction he's told.
"Anto," Melissa looks up at me before hugging me and letting out a cry. "Thanks so much, it means a lot to me. You're a good friend."
"Of course," I nod before squeezing her just as tightly. "How are you holding up?"
"Awful," she admits. "I can't fucking believe it."
"No one can," I rub her arm when she steps back. "Whenever you wanna talk I'll be around."
"Thanks," she wipes her eyes. "Manolo couldn't be with that dog hater another second. That was a red flag," she shakes her head.
"It was," we both chuckle. "Do you think this will pass?"
"Never," she almost hisses. "I finished calling everyone and it's a done deal. I never want to see that piece of shit ever again in my entire life!"
"Thanks Meli," Juan comes up behind her and pats her back.
"Juan," she looks up at him. "You're a good guy."
"Thanks?" He questions.
"Felipe doesn't deserve your friendship," Melissa declares. "I don't want to sound like the annoying ex making you guys pick sides and what not, but you both don't need that asshole in your life."
"Duly noted," I smile and nod. "I'm just gonna use the bathroom too," I point before stepping away from the two.
Juan's POV
"What's going on?" I ask Melissa.
"I'm not gonna say a word," she looks up at me. "He's gonna reap what he sows."
"Well," I begin. "I quite like you more than Felipe anyway. So, I'm here for you too."
"Thanks," she chuckles. "He is awful isn't he?"
"The worst," I exaggerate to make her feel better.
"I don't know how you've been friends with him for so long."
"It's out of habit," I admit. "He's been crossing the line lately."
"How?"
"He only talks to me when he wants a favor from me," I admit. "It's not a two way street."
"Fuck him," Melissa almost spits on his name. "Anyhoo," she starts to change the topic. "You and Anto make a cute couple."
"Thanks," I laugh at her.
"I'm serious! She really likes you!"
"How do you know?" I question her.
"Believe me," she cocks her eyebrow and nods.
"All good?" Anto approaches us.
"Let me just say bye to Manolo," I go over to the dog who was sat by the stairs.
"Oh, me too!" Anto kisses the dog after me. "See you," she tells the dog.
"Before you guys go," Meli calls our attention. "This is for you," she pulls out some money from her pocket. "For gas, and I guess for coming here all the way. I really appreciate it. Believe me."
"Oh no, Meli, we couldn't," Anto shakes her head. "We just won-"
I elbow Anto and she stops mid sentence.
"I guess we can take some gas money," Anto tries to hold back her laugh and she takes the cash.
Meli puts her arms around the both of us and thanks us again before sending us off with some coffee.
We say goodnight to her mom and quickly get in Anto's car.
"Look at God," I start. "Gave us gas money!"
"I think we had more than enough for gas," Anto laughs.
"Hey, hey," I say as she passes me the keys so I could drive. "We made a delivery, it's only right we collect our tip."
○○○
I found parking outside my apartment fairly quickly considering it was past one in the morning.
I pulled out my keys before opening the passenger door.
Anto was fast asleep while I unbuckled her seat belt and made a careful effort of pulling her out of her car without hitting her head or feet anywhere.
I locked the car doors before I grabbed her and then kicked the door closed when I did have her in my arms.
I make the trip up to my apartment with her in my arms, trying to make sure she doesn't wake at all.
I slowly open up the door to my place and only get a moan from Anto, still not waking her up.
I get her to my bedroom and lie her down on my bed. I take off her shoes and throw a blanket that I had on a chair in the corner of my room over her before walking to the living room and setting up the couch to sleep on for the night.