But my brother loves me, and Mateo was right: He’ll be much happier with the fact I’m going to go and enjoy my time eating chocolate Frostys with his best friend.
My phone vibrates in my clutch and I slip it out as we’re driving.
Jorge
I saw you leave. I expect another date to make up for this one. I expected better from Alexander Kingston’s little sister. Maybe he’s as flaky as you are. I’d hate for the press to hear about this newfound character trait from a trusted source who worked on his movie with him.
Filth. Absolute filth. That is what this man is. How dare he threaten Alex’s reputation, especially after I dug it out of the ground and resurrected it two years ago? This is not how to get a date with me.
I glance at Mateo, who I’m possibly willing to call a friend after tonight. Why couldn’t I have been set up on a date with him?
I shake the idea out of my head. I’m a strong, independent woman. I can deal with this on my own.
Tomorrow Mateo will be on his way back to Bolt. After tonight, I’ll forget about my brother’s best friend. Yet, I’ll always remember the experience of having a knight in shining armor show up and vanquish my enemies.
Chapter 2
Meddlesome
Mateo
Iwalk into the mud room of the main farmhouse, the smell of carne asada and beans greeting me before Mami’s voice rings out.
“Hijo, is that you?”
“Sí, Mami,” I shout as I shuck off my muddy boots next to the door.
“Go tell tu hermana that dinner is ready.”
“Ay,” rolls off my tongue, and I bite back a sarcastic reply. My inner thoughts on being a substitute parent for my teenage sisters don’t need to be said today. Today, I’m choosing to be peacemaker Mateo, not stir-the-pot-of-beans Mateo.
My socks slide against the laminate floor as I rush past the kitchen. I grab hold of the banister at the end of the stairs and use it as an anchor to spin me around and into the living room. I catch myself against the couch, jostling it enough to get Nadia’s attention. She looks up from her paperback and pulls out her earbuds, arching an eyebrow at me. It’s teenager talk for “What do you want?”, which I’ve become fluent in.
“Dinner is ready. You better get in there before Mami comes out here. Don’t want her to find your nose stuck in another romance novel Cruz lent you instead of doing your chores.”
Nadia crinkles her nose and sticks out her tongue at me. “You’re such a bum. I was just getting to the part where they finally confess their love for each other.”
I push off the couch and slide on my socks back toward the kitchen. “Guess you’ll have to wait until after dinner to find out if they’re in love or if the author kills off a beloved character. In which case I'd question their choice to write romance.”
There’s a lot of unintelligible grumbling from the couch as I slide away, and definitely a stink eye aimed in my direction.
Welp, it’s a good thing I’m not her dad and am only her older brother. Even if on some days it feels like I’m spending more time with her than my actual parents do.
I return to the kitchen counters where a frenzied Mami has laid out supplies for tonight's dinner: tacos. She even has a bowl of fresh salsa, which, this early in summer, is a rarity.
“Mami, what do you need help with?” I wrap my arm around her, stopping her in her tracks.
“Condiments, platos, and silverware.”
“Sí.” I nod and set to work, putting everything we need along the kitchen island. The mudroom door opens and the thuds of boots echo as Dad walks in, followed by a few of the laborers we hired to help with the early harvest.
I stare at my dad, who has a Cheshire grin on his face, his gaze is trained on me.
“What’s got you lookin’ as happy as a pig in mud?” I ask as I grab a stack of plates from the cupboard by the fridge.
He walks over and slaps me on the back in a half-hug gesture. “I have it on good authority that Red’s daughter is back in town visiting. She’s staying at the fire station with him. She’s two years younger than you and when I mentioned you were single, she seemed very interested.”
A groan emits from my throat before I can stop it.
