No warnings for this chapter, except for mild sexual conversation. How did this happen?

Mostly because he thought his grandfather would enjoy the conversation, Jotaro called Joseph for advice on his date with Carmen.

"Found a nut you can't crack?" Joseph quipped.

Jotaro gave his free hand an irritated flick, "Let's just say I want to keep a good thing going."

"Oh-ho!" Joseph let out a booming laugh, then his voice became businesslike "I'd say you want to show her that you're responsible, well-off and generous. And that you know how to have a good time."

"What does that mean?"

"That you're not too serious, you tell good jokes, that sort of thing. You know," Joseph paused, "Charm."

Jotaro sighed, "Can we stick to where to take her?"

Joseph let out a strange laugh, then dithered for a moment, "I like The Forge. Classy steakhouse. Might meet a celebrity or two if you're lucky. Took a few girls there back in the day …" he cut himself off, "Before I met your grandmother, of course."

The timeline didn't work, but Jotaro didn't say anything.

"I'd also take her to Bayfront Park. You can see the whole city. Plus the South Lot is dead at night. Total panty-dropper."

Jotaro's lip curled. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he felt like Joseph was maligning Carmen somehow.

"Anyhow, tell me more about this girl," Joseph said.

"Well, she's Cuban and works at a grocery store-"

"No," Joseph laughed, "What does she look like?"

That Tuesday, Jotaro put on an outfit he thought was especially stylish, then drove to the address that Carmen had given him. He was surprised to see how battered her apartment complex was. Graffiti covered the small lobby, and a sign reading NO ARROJAR BASURA hovered over a smelly pile of trash. The hall to Carmen's door was barely wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side.

When he knocked on her door, two men answered. Tall, dark and burly, they could have been Oingo and Boingo's older brothers.

"Good evening," said Jotaro.

"Get out of the way," he heard Carmen's voice behind them. They parted, and she emerged. She wore a knitted black dress, which was tight, but to her knees. She even had pumps on.

"You look nice," Jotaro held out his arm.

She took it, giving the pair one last glare.

"Sorry," Carmen whispered as soon as they got out of earshot, "My brothers are overprotective." She hesitated, "They're friends with Ricardo."

Jotaro tensed. Maybe he could find some way to befriend them too. "What do they do?"

"Camillo, with the short hair, just started accounting at Miami Dade. He already does Uncle Oscar's books." Carmen beamed with pride, but then her face fell, "Meanwhile, Carlos- Carlos-" She glanced back, to be sure he was far in the distance, "To be honest, Carlos is a bit of a bum. He's tried all sorts of j-jobs. At the store, my parents' house-painting company, driving a bus." She grimaced, "Even our mother fired him."

"That's too bad," said Jotaro. How was he ever going to start a conversation with someone like that?

"We have a sister too," Carmen went on, "Catalina. She's only three, so she lives with our parents." She smiled, "We spoil her so much."

The steakhouse was much more formal than Jotaro expected. Carmen stood stiffly as a man in a tailcoat took her jacket, and then led them to a table with a white tablecloth. The surrounding decor reminded Jotaro vaguely of Joseph's living room with an opulent Miami twist. Jotaro watched helplessly as a waiter unfolded a napkin in Carmen's lap, then straightened her chair as she grew increasingly uncomfortable. Perhaps the restaurant had been cool back when Joseph was trying to get a girl with a good lindy-hop to take off her bloomers.

"Sorry," Jotaro said, "My grandfather recommended this place."

She cracked a smile, "The British one?"

"Yeah." At a distant table, a young blonde with bulging cleavage fawned over an old man who could have been Joseph's cousin. Jotaro groaned.

Carmen eyed her menu, then flipped it over, clearly alarmed by the lack of prices, "I- I don't even like steak that much."

Jotaro leaned towards her, then whispered, "Do you want to make a run for it?"

She nodded with a titter.

Carmen and Jotaro found a Chinese restaurant with a daily special down the road, where they had a relaxed dinner, and soon they were admiring the view from Baypoint Park in Jotaro's convertible. At least Joseph had been right about something. The park was peaceful and beautiful.

"Why did you decide to study Marine Biology?" Carmen asked.

Jotaro shrugged, "I like boats and being near the water. And it's interesting. Did you know that a lot of new drugs come from studying the biochemistry of rare sea creatures?"

"I didn't." She leaned back in her seat, "So you'll work in a lab afterwards?"

"Maybe." Jotaro hesitated. But it would be good to float the idea early, "My grandfather's involved with a charitable foundation that does this type of research. I could work for him, but it's a lot of travel. Hard work" He looked out into the bay, "But I could also work at a university or an aquarium. There's even restaurants that have marine biologists on staff."

"Really?"

He shot her a wry look, "Do you think that steakhouse we fled serves any old fish?"

Carmen giggled, but slowly became pensive, "I- I always wished I was good at school like you and Camillo." She inhaled, "I'd be a nurse maybe. Or an assistant at a doctor's office. Something that- that helps people." She steepled her fingers, "But I suppose it's nice spending all day with Uncle Oscar and Aunt Gloria, too."

She became silent, and Jotaro was still, listening to the chirp of the crickets, feeling the night breeze on his cheeks. He admired the lines of her dress, then her neck, then her face. She was beautiful, sweet, demure. It would be so nice to fuck her in the back seat like Joseph had suggested, the dim city lights washing over their bodies, the humid air caressing their skin. But he'd brought Carmen here because she'd never even imagine such a thing. So she'd understand that he was respecting her wishes.

They'd started some sort of dance that Jotaro didn't understand. Like if he'd sent his colleague gifts after he mentioned putting her house up for sale, or adorned his old-maid sister in a pretty dress and paraded her around town, asking his neighbors if their lackluster sons were married yet. He wanted to finish it. Jotaro gave Carmen a chaste kiss, not letting his hands drop below her shoulders.

"This is getting out of hand," Jotaro moaned to Trent as he sipped his beer one Friday, "An entire month. Nothing."

Trent shrugged, draining his cup and pouring himself another, "How many dates have you taken her on?"

Jotaro held up four fingers.

Trent chuckled, "Three's standard, but four isn't a lot, all considered."

Jotaro flailed his free hand, "She comes over sometimes, too. Does that count? Brings leftovers and we watch telenovelas."

"She sounds nice. Are those like soap operas?"

Jotaro nodded, "I'm trying to learn Spanish and they speak really clearly. We compare notes afterwards, and I'm getting better at understanding."

"That's cute," Trent smiled, "At least you're having a good time."

Jotaro shook his head, "Every date, she's staring with those little judging eyes." He squeezed his cup and it crinkled, "How long does she need to decide whether I'm good enough?"

"Come on, man." Trent met his eyes, "You barely even know each other. She could be an ax murderer."

Jotaro exhaled, "Carmen is not an ax murderer."

"I'm just saying you should take the time to get to know her." Trent's mouth was flat, but his eyes gleamed.

Jotaro gritted his teeth, "You think this is funny."

Trent put on a serious face, giving one arm an exaggerated flair before clasping it around his beer cup, "I understand that this has been a tragic month without pussy. I can only hope you one day recover." His facade cracked, "It's absolutely fucking hilarious."

That night, the loud doorbell chime woke Jotaro out of his slumber. He rolled over, thinking it was a dream, but it sounded again. He checked his watch: 2:17 AM. The doorbell sounded again. Throwing on his robe, he opened the door. Carmen stood in front of him, in her apron and work clothes. Her cheeks were wet and her eyes were puffy.

"What's up?" Jotaro asked.

"I can't sleep," she sniffed, "I tried, but I can't." Her chin wobbled, "Carlos and Camillo were- were-" She swung her head forward, struggling, "Arrested."

Jotaro's mouth opened, "What for?"

"R-robbery." She started sobbing, "Old Oren is careless with cash, they, they-" She wrung her hands, "They thought it would be easy. It's not like C-Camillo. Carlos must have talked him into it."

Jotaro led her to his couch and sat her down.

"Can I sleep here?" She patted a cushion, "I just- just can't face my apartment without them."

"I have a guest room."

"Of course you do." She let out a dark laugh.

Jotaro took her hands, "Your brothers, where are they now?"

"On their way to- to Green Dolphin."

"They didn't get bail?"

Carmen put her head in her hands, "The bondsman said $840. We're still getting it together."

Jotaro's neck snapped towards her, "Wait, no one in your family has $840?"

"Oscar and Gloria do, but everyone's always hitting them up, and they need a lot of cash to run their business." She wiped her cheeks with her hands. It tugged at him.

"I can pay it."

Carmen looked up at him, "I couldn't- couldn't ask-"

"How about a loan? Then your family pays me back whenever they get the money together."

She bit her lip, but already, her expression was lighter, "Alright."

Jotaro regarded her. This is what annoyed him about Americans. If she was Japanese, he could at least be confident that she would understand the gesture. "But next time we're talking about whether we're serious, I want you to think about this."

Carmen's shoulders jolted back, then her lips started moving. She looked like a fish, her cheeks puffing up, her mouth opening and closing. Finally the words came, "You're not very nice, Jotaro."

His brow furrowed.

"H-holding this over me, to get me into bed with you."

"No," Jotaro murmured, his mouth twisting, "I didn't mean it like that." Suddenly, the frustration of the last few weeks burst through. "I'm not trying to get you into bed. I want to take care of you." He sucked in a breath, trying to soothe his tight chest, "I want to marry you."

Carmen's jaw fell open, "We just met."

"That's how I feel."

She wavered, "I'm just not sure-" her voice fell off, "If we're right for each other."

Jotaro stood, spreading his arms, then jerked them towards the floor, "What the fuck does that even mean?" He took a few angry paces, then turned back and faced her. "I'm exposing my fucking heart and my fucking soul, letting you shove your hands in and mess around with them, while you take your sweet time deciding."

Carmen stared at him, her lips trembling.

"It's fine," He let out a harsh sigh, "Let's go get your brothers."

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