I stared at the suitcase open on my bed.

“And Diego and I?”

Carmen laughed.

“You’re married now. You’ll have your whole lives together.”

Then she added:

“And you’re so organized. You can keep track of reservations and expenses for everybody.”

I looked at the airline confirmation lying beside my suitcase.

Four names.

One card.

One honeymoon.

“Sure,” I said.

“Wonderful. I knew you’d understand.”

After we hung up, I picked up my Cancún ticket.

Then I called the airline.

Friday Morning

At the airport, Carmen wore a white linen outfit and carried a new suitcase.

Karla had the sandals Diego bought with my card.

Diego seemed happier than he had all week.

“See?” he said as we walked toward security. “Everybody’s getting along.”

I smiled.

“Looks that way.”

They didn’t know I had already changed my plans.

My Cancún reservation had been canceled.

A different boarding pass sat inside my purse.

Los Cabos.

One passenger.

Me.

Rachel had also prepared the paperwork necessary to remove Diego’s access to the card.

I hadn’t activated the cancellation yet.

Timing mattered.

At the gate, Carmen started discussing dinner reservations.

“Valeria, make sure they give us a table near the water.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Karla looked at her phone.

“And don’t forget the boat tour.”

Diego leaned closer to me.

“Thank you for not making this a big thing.”

I looked at him.

“The honeymoon?”

“My family coming.”

He kissed my cheek.

“I knew you’d come around.”

Boarding began.

Carmen went first.

Then Karla.

Diego handed his boarding pass to the gate agent, then turned when he noticed I wasn’t directly behind him.

“You coming?”

I held up my phone.

“I need to answer something. Go ahead. I’ll be right there.”

He hesitated.

“Don’t take forever.”

Then he disappeared down the jet bridge.

I waited.

Five minutes.

Ten.

The gate agent made the final boarding announcement.

I walked to a trash can near the window and took the old Cancún confirmation from my purse.

I tore it once through the middle.

Then again.

The pieces fell on top of an empty coffee cup.

Through the glass, I could see the aircraft pulling away from the gate.

My phone buzzed.

DIEGO: Where are you???

Another message appeared.

DIEGO: Valeria, the doors closed.

I didn’t answer.

Instead, I walked to another terminal.

My flight to Los Cabos departed ninety minutes later.

Once I was seated, I opened the banking app.

Diego’s additional card was still active.

I looked at it for a few seconds.

Then I pressed the button Rachel had told me to use.

Lock card.

A confirmation appeared.

I placed my phone facedown on the tray table.

Outside the window, the runway moved beneath us.

For the first time since my wedding, nobody else was deciding where I was going.

The Card Diego Thought Would Keep Paying

I landed in Los Cabos with seventeen missed calls.

Nine from Diego.

Four from Carmen.

Three from Karla.

One from a number I didn’t recognize.

The first voicemail was from Diego.

“Valeria, what are you doing? Call me.”

The second came twenty minutes later.

“The hotel is asking for the card you used for the reservation. It’s being declined.”

By the fourth message, his voice had changed.

“Mom and Karla are standing here with their luggage. This isn’t funny.”

I listened once.

Then I put my phone away.

My hotel was smaller than the resort we’d planned in Cancún. I had booked an ocean-view room for myself and nothing else.

After checking in, I sat on the balcony with my laptop.

Rachel had already emailed me.

The additional card was locked.

Any new attempt to use it would be declined.

The charges already made were being reviewed so we could separate legitimate shared expenses from purchases Diego had made without discussing them with me.

My attorney had sent another message.

Call me when you’re settled.

I called.

“Are you sure you want to proceed?” he asked.

I looked at the ocean.

My wedding ring felt tight on my finger.

I removed it and placed it beside the laptop.

“Yes.”

That was the longest answer I gave him.

Cancún Without My Credit Card

Diego eventually found another way to cover the hotel deposit.

I learned that because he told me repeatedly.

He used his own credit card, which had a much lower limit than mine.

The expensive dinner Carmen had planned disappeared.

So did the boat excursion.

Karla’s spa appointment was canceled.

By Saturday afternoon, Diego was sending messages about money.

You embarrassed me in front of my family.

At least unlock the card until we get home.

We can discuss this privately.

Then:

Mom says you’re overreacting.

I finally replied.

Use your own money.

His answer came almost immediately.

We’re married.

I stared at those two words.

Then I typed:

Exactly.

He called.

This time I answered.

“Where are you?”

“Los Cabos.”

Silence.

“You’re in Cabo?”

“Yes.”