Alli
Breathe in, breathe out.
I smooth down the lace of my dress as the low beats of the party pour from the heavy double doors. Inside, I know it’s a whirlwind of voices, laughter, and the occasional burst of mariachi music. It’s chaotic and vibrant, like every family gathering. But this time, the anxiety pooling in my stomach is different. It’s sharper, more insistent, because tonight isn’t just about Victoria’squinceañera.
It’s about Jared meeting my family.
I glance at my phone, checking the time after spending since the crack of dawn doing Victoria’s makeup. He’s on his way; I wouldn’t blame him for being as much of a nervous wreck as I am.
The doors swing open; the ballroom is transformed into a kaleidoscope of colors, rich, deep hues that scream tradition and celebration. My cousins are scattered around, laughing and talking too fast for me to catch anything but snippets of their conversations. My aunts are huddled together near the head table, already engrossed in whatever gossip they’ve latched onto for the night.
But my attention stays fixed on Victoria, standing at the heart of it all. Her pale pink gown glimmers under the lights, the sparkling tiara perched on her head making her every bit the star of the night. When she spots me, her face lights up with a wide grin, and she waves me over enthusiastically.
I force a smile and head her way, my heels clicking against the marble floor. My heartbeat feels too loud in my ears, and I try to push down the nerves threatening to bubble over.
“Do I look okay?” Victoria’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. She’s beaming, her happiness so palpable it’s almost contagious. Almost.
“You look amazing,” I tell her, cheesing so wide it trails to my cheeks. I rest my hands lightly on her shoulders, careful not to wrinkle her dress. “Seriously, Vic, you’re glowing.”
“You have to say that. I’m the guest of honor,” she rolls her eyes but smiles anyway, “All thanks to you.”
“Doesn’t make it any less true,” I reply, but my mind is already slipping back to Jared. I can’t stop imagining the look on his face when he steps into this…scene. The guy’s used to pressure, but this is a whole different kind of battlefield.
We chat for a few minutes, and I can’t help the way my eyes keep darting to the door.
“Waiting on your man?” Victoria questions with a provoking look. If it wasn’t her birthday, I would slap her.
“Yeah, he should be here soon.” I try to sound casual, but there’s a tightness in my voice that I hope she doesn’t notice.
Victoria nudges me. “Relax. He’ll be fine. Anyone dating my cousin has to be pretty amazing, right?”
I laugh, but it’s more to cover my nerves than anything else. “Yeah, I guess. It’s just… you know how your mom is.” I gesture towardTíaMary, standing nearby with her arms crossed and eyes scanning the room like a hawk. “She’s like a heat-seeking missile for any potential drama.”
Victoria laughs, following my gaze. “She’s already cornered three of mychambelanesfor a chat. Jared will be fine.”
I’m about to respond when my phone buzzes in my hand. He’s here. My heart skips a beat—okay, maybe it’s just the mangonada from earlier—but before I can even text him back, a familiar arm slips around my waist.
“Miss me?” Jared’s voice reverberates in my ear, sending a pleasant shiver down my spine. He leans in, his lips brushing my cheek in a quick kiss. I’m caught off guard, a laugh bubbling up before I can help it.
“Jesus, Jared, you scared me!” I smack his arm lightly, but I’m smiling so wide my cheeks hurt. I didn’t even hear him come up behind me, and now he’s here, looking all smug and perfect.
He just grins, clearly pleased with himself. “Sorry, didn’t mean to make you jump. Just thought I’d make an entrance.”
“Well, mission accomplished,” I say, rolling my eyes, but I can’t wipe the grin off my face. He’s here, in the middle of the madness, and somehow it makes everything feel a little less overwhelming. I wave a hand to the girl in honor, “This is my baby cousin, Victoria. Victoria, this is—”
“Oh my god! This is your boyfriend?!¿Por qué no me dijiste que estaba bueno?”The girl had to hold her jaw. And drool.
I gently clamp a hand on her shoulder as a warning, “Cuida el lenguaje.”
Victoria puts her hands up in defense. “Sorry, sorry, I just wasn’t expecting Jared to be this good-looking. Your last boyfriend was not this hot. You were practically out of his league.”
“Hey, be nice. Alex wasn’t that bad.”
“Alli, you were NFL out of his league material; he was Pee Wee football league.”
Jared chuckles, clearly entertained by our banter. “I think I like her,” he says, looking down at me with a teasing smile.
I elbow him in the stomach. “Don’t encourage her. She’s already insufferable.”
