I begin to slowly open my eyes and see a wide-eyed Maya smiling at me, excitement rolling off her in waves. I let out yawn and look around the room. It’s still dark out. “Maya? What are you doing up this early, bebecita?”
“Mama! We have to get up! Today is the big day and we need a big breakfast!”
I let out a laugh. “Ahh yes, you need the breakfast of champions for the pie-eating contest later. But…did we really need to wake up now? The sun isn’t even out yet.”
“Wehadto, mama. I have to eat super early so that I won’t be too full for the pies later!”
My clever girl. She’s clearly been thinking about this a lot.
“You’re absolutely right! How’s huevos revueltos sound?”
“Mmm con jamón, cebolla, y tomate?” she says excitedly.
A girl after my own heart—she’s such a foodie, like me.
“You got it, mamita. Let me get up and ready, and I’ll make breakfast for us.”
The rest of the morning goes off without a hitch. I get ready and make breakfast for Maya and I, which she wolfs down. Now she’s watching cartoons while I clean up the mess I left in the kitchen. Mateo texted me while we were eating, letting me know he would pick us up by nine—he said it would make more sense if we showed up together, in one car.
Anna and Mari have been blowing up the group chat all day; they still can’t believe that Mateo and I are dating. Neither can I, if I’m being honest. They’re going to be at the festival, and I just know that they’re going to be watching Mateo and I like hawks.
Mari is a hopeless romantic, so to her, this is perfect. She loves the idea of me dating someone they’re all already friends with—no having to worry if they’re going to hate the guy, or if he’s an asshole. Anna, on the other hand, is skeptical. She isn’t sure that my dating Mateo is a good idea; he doesn’t exactly have a reputation for getting into serious relationships.
I hear the crunching of gravel outside my kitchen window and look up to see Mateo pulling into my driveway. He steps out of his car, and I call to Maya to let her know to grab her jacket because it’s time to leave.
Maya runs out of the house and straight into Mateo’s arms. He lifts her into the air, and I can hear her little squeals of excitement. I begin to make my way over to my car for Maya’s booster seat when Mateo stops me, placing a hand on my arm.
“I already have a booster setup in my truck.”
Mateo must see the confusion etched on my face, because he repeats, “I have a booster seat setup in my car already, for Maya, so no need to grab yours.”
“You have a booster seat?”
“Yes, Lyse. That is what I said. Man, we have to work on those listening skills, huh?”
“But why?”
“Well, babygirl, listening to others is important for?—“
I cut him off. “No, not that part. Why do you have a booster seat?”
“For Maya,” he says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
“Where did you get a booster seat?”
Exasperated, he runs a hand through his hair. “The store. I’m pretty sure that’s where everyone gets these.”
I look at him blankly, and he continues. “Look, Maya is coming in my car, she needs a booster, so I got her one. I actually feel a bit like an asshole that I didn’t think of getting one sooner. Why should I make you have to drag the seat back and forth between cars when I could just have one already in my truck for her? She’s in my car frequently. It makes the most sense.”
My stomach flips at his words. I can’t believe he bought a seat for Maya. To just keep in his car. It shouldn’t make me feel warm inside, but it does.
“That’s really thoughtful. Thank you, Mateo.”
He rubs the back of his neck, a little sheepish. “I, uh…might’ve peeked in Seb’s car to check the model. Just wanted to get the same one Maya’s used to.”
That knocks the breath out of me. He didn’t just think about convenience—he thought abouthercomfort.
He winks at me then, trying to play it cool. “You’re welcome, chula.”
