“Mamá?”
“It’s the onions.”
Ah, the onions. Always there to blame for your sorrow. Another benefit of being a chef.
Julieta squeezed Mamá’s hand and went back to cooking.
“Julieta!”
Despite his makeup, she recognized her cousin Tiburón immediately from the colorful shark tattoo on his neck, an ode to his name, and his generous smile.
Growing up without siblings, Julieta would have yearned for a big brother, had Tiburón not gladly fulfilled that role. If Julieta had a problem with anyone, Tiburón would take care of it.
Julieta left the stand and crossed the crowd to greet him. “Hey, Tib! Dig the zoot suit. Red’s your color.” She hugged him. “Who are you here with?”
He looked over his shoulder and pointed to some guys. “Just my bros.”
A gang of dead pachucos were gathered in the square. Julieta loved the clothes from that time period.
“Are you hungry?”
“Yeah, I can eat. I’ll never turn down your cooking—especially now that I’ve lost my job.”
“Again?” Julieta sighed. Why couldn’t he seem to find regular employment? Julieta would hire him at the restaurant, but with the building sale looming on the horizon, she didn’t want to waste his time when they could be out of business.
“It is what it is. I cannot be tamed.”
Julieta shook her head and walked back over to the stand.
“Hey, Tía Linda!” Tiburón stepped behind the window on the stand and kissed his aunt on the cheek as she clucked her tongue.
Julieta quickly prepared a dozen tacos for Tiburón and his friends.
Tiburón nudged her. “Do you want to hang out after the event? Pablo has the hots for you.”
Julieta looked toward Pablo, who stared right at her. Julieta gave a friendly wave and Pablo grinned.
Pablo was handsome, no doubt, and a great guy. They had grownup together and were friends. Good friends, even. And he was super close with his family, and hers, and his mother loved Julieta.
But Julieta felt nothing when she hung out with Pablo. No sparks. No nerves. Just a big fat... nothing. Maybe that was okay. Julieta’s expectation of being hit by a romantic jolt was unrealistic. Maybe Julieta was just numb when it came to relationships.
Except she wasn’t numb. Fire had pulsed through her veins when she had listened to Romeo sing. But that was just lust. Nothing more. There was no such thing as love at first sight.
But why then would she prefer seeing the likely Casanova again instead of a man who was rock steady?
She shrugged. “Pablo is so sweet. But I’m not sure about tonight. I’ll probably be tired after the event. Anyway, I’m stressed about tomorrow.”
Tiburón hugged her. “Don’t worry about it. I won’t let anything happen to Las Pescas.”
Julieta winced. “Thanks, I appreciate it. But let’s see what happens.”
Tiburón sometimes ran with a rough crowd. She wanted to keep her restaurant in Barrio Logan more than anything, but she didn’t want anyone, especially people in her community, to get hurt. If the people in Barrio Logan protested, make thatwhenthey protested, then the police would come. And Julieta didn’t trust the cops. No one in her neighborhood did.
She handed him the bag full of tacos. “Here you go. I gave you plenty of hot sauce.”
Tiburón grinned. “You’re the best, prima. Come party later.”
But what about Romeo? “I’ll think about it. I’ll text you when I get off.”
