By one o’clock, people started to leave and Carmen looked beat. As much as he wanted to take her to bed—and he’d wanted to do that for hours—she needed to crash. She was smiling and happy, but could barely stand up straight. He took her to her bedroom and stripped her. He knew she really had to have been drunk because she didn’t protest for a second. Then he tucked her into bed.
“I can’t go to bed. I have guests,” she slurred.
“Your family had a great time. They’re all heading home now. You threw a great party.”
“But the mess…”
“I’ve got it covered. Get some rest.”
She ran a hand over his chest and tugged at his shirt. “But I want you to come to bed.”
“I’ll be here soon.” He kissed her forehead and went back to the living room.
Rosa was kissing people good-bye and ushering them out
