Lost Me on the Bayou: Love & Found

By Corilyn Holloway

Maybe coming home to discover their friendship can build the sort of love that lasts forever…

Papa always told Javi he should shoot for the stars. He's a dreamer who's always had great big plans to go along with those dreams. Now instead of moving away to hit it big as a famous chef, he's back home working two jobs to take care of his mom and sister. Meanwhile, the girl he thought he was going to marry has all but disappeared from his life. He's beginning to doubt all that he once believed in… until he runs into her again.

Lizzie knows no one ever expected much from her. She's the youngest of three girls, so she always got all of the attention just by virtue of being the baby. But when she got accepted to college in Ohio, she was determined to show everyone that she could become something besides just one of "The Girls." Somehow, though, she got off track and it's been all she can do to hide from everyone for almost a year. Now it's time to come home, even if it is with her tail between her legs. She thought facing her parents and sisters would be the hardest part . . . until she runs into him again.

Come home to Simoneaux Bayou and let the warm sand and wild waves carry your soul to a place where love can always be found...
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cactus Rose Press
• Release date: Nov 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9798223604693

Book preview

Dear Bandito,

Your mami says I’ll have to stop calling you that now that you’re a man. But she still calls you mijo, so I think maybe she’s not really ready for you to grow up either. Today is a very big day for you and our family. You worked hard the last year, keeping your grades up so that you make the top ten. When you walk across that stage today, no one will be prouder of you than your mami and me and Dominic and Petra.

When Petra was born, I called you bandito because you swooped in to steal the attention away from your new baby sister. But you’ve been a very good big brother to her, and she always looks to you for her example. And I know that she will always find a good example in you.

Your talent amazes me. But it is your determination that makes you special, Javi. You might get knocked down from time to time, but you bounce back. And you don’t let go of your dreams. Sometimes we have joked that you are a difficult boy because you don’t let go of striving to get the things you want. But don’t ever lose that, my son. Don’t ever forget your dreams, even though sometimes when you are working for those dreams it may feel like you’re spinning your wheels. Dreams are always worth believing in.

Congratulations on your graduation today, bandito.

I love you,

Papa

Prologue

Lizzie

What the heck, man! my friend Gary exclaimed, standing so fast his stool sailed backwards and nearly hit a woman at the table behind us. I mouthed an apology, and she waved it off before her eyes returned to the big screen.

What are you doing? He continued his tirade, slapping a guy next to him. We’d be better off if he hadn’t even suited up.

The man, not a part of our group, nodded in solemn agreement, then grabbed his beer.

I was leaning against Javi, one arm on his shoulder to prop me up. I ruffled his hair, but he didn’t do more than hug me in response. All I could do was chuckle to myself as his eyes, along with everyone else’s, remained glued to the television. My boyfriend had taken a day off from class to drive up to Ohio to surprise me. He’d hoped to find some tickets to the game, but I’d convinced him that we would do better to just join my friends at a bar down the street from my apartment.

Although he was just finishing up culinary school in Fort Worth, Javi had always been a huge University of Texas football fan. But the Buckeyes were ranked number three, so they were picked to win against a struggling Longhorn team. My friends had tossed a good bit of heckling his way.

Oh my… Noooo… Jackson, my roommate Denise’s boyfriend, dropped his head into his hands in despair when the Buckeye receiver fumbled the ball.

They weren’t heckling now. Ohio was down seventeen points, and with just under five minutes on the clock, it wasn’t looking good. Still, my boyfriend was being remarkably nice about it, all things considered.

I decided to hit the bathroom while everyone was still tuned into the game, since it would be almost impossible to get into one after. By the time I got back, there were only seconds left on the clock, and UT was taking a knee to run out the game

So, can I get everyone another round? asked Javi, downing the last of his beer as he stood.

No, let’s get out of here while we can, Jackson said, grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair. If we hurry, we can get a table at Mac’s.

You sure? Javi said and I tensed a little when I saw the look in his dark eyes. I thought you’d want to wash the taste of defeat out of your mouth.

Hey, screw you, man, Gary looked him up and down with a daring glare. This is the only game your team is probably gonna win the rest of the season, so just go right ahead and enjoy it.

Knowing what a hot-head Gary was, I stepped in between them while I slipped into my coat.

C’mon, guys, I said with a forced smile. It was just a game. Let’s go grab a bite to eat.

Javi leaned in close to my ear. Couldn’t we go grab something on our own? Or better yet, just go back to your place? I want to be alone with you. He kissed my neck, and little shiver coursed through me.

C’mon, Liz! Denise called out as she worked her way through the exiting crowd.

I have a roommate, you know, I responded with a grin. Not a lot of alone when you’re living with someone else.

His eyes flicked in Denise’s direction. They’re going out to eat. She’ll be a while.

Javi…

He pursed his lips but tossed a few bills onto the table, nodding curtly. With a wide grin, I tucked my arm into his, and we pushed through to the door.

About an hour later, we were all seated at a big table at the back of Mac’s, beers all around.

I think you’re bad luck, dude. You ever try to reenter the state during football season, I’m going to kick your butt Jackson told Javi, pointing the mouth of his bottle at my boyfriend for emphasis.

I should kick it anyway, Gary commented. But I’m secretly in love with Liz so I’ll refrain.

I rolled my eyes and threw my straw wrapper at him. Javi took a drink, then put one arm onto the back of the booth, a silent declaration that Gary had better keep his love in check. It was true that Gary was somewhat interested in me, but he’d never done anything inappropriate.

I could sense Javi’s irritation by the tension in his body. I hadn’t been expecting him this weekend, but I was glad when he’d showed up to surprise me. For months I’d been trying to get him to make a trip this way so that he could meet my friends. I was enjoying Columbus and college, finally feeling like I had come into my own. It was more than a little disappointing to find that he didn’t quite mesh with the people I spent pretty much every day with.

You know, Liz has some mad talent as a graphic designer. I’ve been telling her she should switch majors, Jackson remarked. He was the peacemaker of our group, so as soon as he sensed some strain between Gary and Javi, he naturally tried to deflect it.

Oh yeah? You didn’t tell me you were thinking of changing.

I shrugged. I’m not, really. To me, it’s just part of marketing.

Has she shown you the work she did on our Australian project?

Denise began nodding her head in agreement with her guy. Oh heck, yes! Those were phenomenal. I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to travel, but even I was ready to take the trip.

I felt his arm slip away from me. You’re going to Australia?

No, no, it was just a project. We had to create a marketing scheme convincing people to travel ‘down under.’ I made quotation marks in the air.

She created these amazing storyboards, Gary jumped in. Like for a commercial, you know. I’m serious, it was phenomenal. She’s going to land a job in New York or something.

Wieden & Kennedy. Jackson shook his head, forlorn. I just know you’re going to snatch that one right out from under me.

Oh, babe, Denise, kissed him. Don’t worry, we’ll make sure they want you, too.

Heck, yeah. Gary finished his beer and waved at our waitress. "Let Liz create a campaign and sell you to them."

Are you getting a degree in marketing, too? Javi asked, side-eyeing him.

No, I’m pre-med.

Me, too, Denise said. I’m pre-med… oh! Here comes the food!

The waitress set out the plates, each of us having ordered some sort of sandwich or burger. Javi took a big bite of his turkey pesto panini, but his eyes were skimming all of the other dishes. I was used to this. He liked food. Not just eating it, but exploring different ways to prepare and present a meal. Restaurants were always research to him.

Gary grabbed the salt shaker and poured a ton of it onto his burger. He might be planning to become a great surgeon, but he had absolutely no regard for eating healthy. When he caught Javi watching him, he smirked.

Wishing you had this big juicy burger, right? He nodded his head and smacked his lips as he brought it to his mouth, struggling to get a bite on it.

It looked good until you loaded it with salt. A good meal shouldn’t need all of that.

Gary snorted. Yeah, you’re the culinary expert, aren’t you? Well, I’m pretty sure nobody can screw up a burger as good as these.

Gritting his teeth, Javi turned his eyes from Gary to focus on his food. The others carried the conversation for the rest of the night, but he and I remained quiet. Somehow, I had the foreboding sensation that something had just drastically changed in my life. I wasn’t sure how. And I certainly didn’t know why, but strangely enough, something inside of me had been expecting it I pushed my plate away and swallowed down the tears that were stinging my eyes.

Chapter 1

Javi

Two Years Later

Holy crap, man. What are you, feeding an army or something? You got about two hundred there.

Cooper’s hardhat was full of foil-wrapped breakfast tacos. He looked at them, then back up at me, before flipping me the bird. Still, he did decide to put back about ten tacos, leaving him with twelve in the end. He handed me a few bills, and I gave him his change.

Thanks, bro, he said, putting out his fist and bumping mine on top and bottom before heading for the refinery gate. I’d been coming out here to sell tacos in the dawn hours for about three years now. Papa and Mami had run a taco stand since my childhood, but after Papa died, I’d stepped in. Now early each morning, she would cook eggs, bacon, sausage, chorizo, and potatoes, and my sister Petra and I would roll them into assorted soft tacos.

This certainly hadn’t been my dream, but I guess sometimes life happens that way. No, I’d planned to go off to California or New York and be a famous chef, opening my own restaurant and serving the rich folks. And eventually, I would become wealthy myself, moving Mami and Papa into a nice house and sending Petra to college, too. I’d get married to the love of my life and start a family.

Yeah, that was the way I’d seen it. It wasn’t the way things happened, though.

No, here I was making taco runs to local businesses before noon, then working the evening shift at a little diner in Port Arthur. I managed to keep my truck note and my student loan payments current and to sock away a little savings now and then. I certainly hadn’t married the girl, either. During her last year of college, we’d broken up, drifted apart, and now had little to no contact whatsoever. It wasn’t a bad break, just a strange one. Almost as if we’d never been together at all.

Except that I still thought of her. Still dreamed of her on occasion. And still wished things had been different. Every once in a while, I imagined she might show up back in town, look me up and then things could start all over again. Maybe we would finally say those I dos.

Pipe dreams.

I closed up my coolers, pushed them back in the bed of the truck and secured them with straps. Taking off my baseball cap, I wiped my brow with my arm before hopping in. Summer would be coming to an end soon, but that didn’t mean much on the Texas Gulf Coast. It would continue to be hot and muggy for months yet, even in the morning hours.

I was just about to start for Simoneaux Bayou, always my last drop before heading home, when my cell phone rang. It was Mami’s number, so I answered before getting onto the highway.

"Mijo, where are you?" she asked in her familiar thick accent.

Just about to head to the bayou with the leftovers. What’s up?

Petra. I knew she was handing to phone over to my teenage sister so I waited patiently.

Javi, there was a call for a special order. It’s a business over in Groves. Mami and I have two casseroles and churros. Can you deliver them?

Hmmm. I pondered this, not exactly thrilled with the idea. It would put me late to Betty Ruth’s, and I had work