“It’s still only on Saturdays, but I’ve managed to convince Daniel to let me teach him,” I answer, pouring the green salsa on my carne asada taco.
When I raise my taco, it stays suspended in the air. Penelope stares at me wide-eyed, her immaculate eyebrows pinched together and lips slightly parted. Then a disbelieving laugh slips past her lips.
“Daniel? Daniel Garcia, my brother? That Daniel?”
I nod, side-eyeing Vi because I don’t know what’s going on or why she sounds like she’s crashing out.
“Yeah, he actually reached out to me first then changed his mind, but we managed to work things out,” I explain.
“Daniel did that?” she questions inconceivably.
“Yeah…” I hate prying but I set my taco down and contemplate how to ask my question without sounding invasive. “I noticed he’s very hesitant about the water. Is there a reason why? I just want to know what I’m getting into and figure out how I can best help him.”
For a long moment she doesn’t say anything as she stares down at her plate of tacos. My chest fills with apprehension.
Did I overstep? How do I backtrack? What did I do?
“You don’t have to?—”
“Our brother Adrian, my twin, drowned, and Danny watched it happen.” She bites her bottom lip. “Since then, he’s had a rocky relationship with water. He…well…he actually agreed?”
“Yeah, but I didn’t know.” God, I’m horrible. I pressured him into agreeing. “He didn’t tell me. I didn’t?—”
“This is great. He’s never allowed anyone to teach him. My parents paid people and did all these things to help him, but he’dalways shut down. He actually agreed?” she asks again, staring at me, bewildered.
“Yeah, but I might’ve pressured him. I’ll talk to him and?—”
“No, don’t do that.” Pen cuts me off mid-sentence, her eyes filled with hope and something I can’t pinpoint. “You’re the first person he’s ever willingly allowed to help. You have to help him, please.”
“I may not be the right person. I’m not good with people and what if?—”
“But you’re good with him, and that’s all that matters. He trusts you. Please help him.” She begs like I’m her only hope, but I highly doubt that. There are experts who are trained for these kinds of things.
A war of emotions whirl in my chest, all battling against what I should and shouldn’t feel and do. I could fuck it all up before it even really begins, but I concede anyway.
“Okay, I’ll help him.”
19
DANIEL
“Come on,Adrian. Wake up. Please don’t go. Please don’t go,” I chant under my breath as I watch the lifeguard do CPR on him. “Come on, Adrian. Wake up. Please. Please. Please don’t go. Wake up.”
“Danny!”
I flit my gaze to the bedroom door where Angel stands, watching me with worry.
“What?” I stuff my towel in my bag and zip it closed.
“You good? You look a little pale.” He steps into my room and drops down in my desk chair.
“I’m good.” I smile even though my stomach churns. It makes me so nauseous; I feel bile rising up my throat, but I swallow it down.
His skeptical eyes jump to my bag on my bed. “Where are you going?”
“To swim with Josie.”
He sits up fast, almost falling off the chair, and stares at me, stupefied. “Swimming? With Josie?”
