Carlos always swore he wasn’t the jealous type. He’d roll his eyes whenever the guys teased him about being protective, always saying, “I’m chill, man. Totally cool.”

But right now? He was not chill.

From across the room, he watched as you laughed at something some random guy said, your smile lighting up your whole face. Carlos had seen that smile a million times, but suddenly, the idea of someone else being the reason for it made his stomach twist.

The guy leaned in slightly, too close for Carlos’s liking. That was it. He pushed off the wall and strode over, casually slipping his arm around your waist.

“Hey, mi amor,” Carlos said smoothly, but his grip on you was just a little tighter than necessary.

You raised an eyebrow at him, clearly amused. “Hey, Carlos.”

The guy gave him a polite nod, but Carlos wasn’t interested in making friends. Instead, he flashed his signature grin. “You know, I think I was just about to tell the funniest joke you’ve ever heard.”

You blinked at him. “Really?”

“Oh yeah,” he said, pulling you a little closer. “It’s so good, you’ll totally forget whatever this guy just said.”