“What’s that?” Frankie asks.
“It means, ‘Thank you, my love,’” Mai tells her. She helps her form the words.
I look over towards the kitchen, where Dom has been punished withlumpiafrying duty, a supposedly horrific task. I watch him navigate the tongs and the spring rolls and the hot oil with a practiced dexterity, with the assuredness he dedicates to everything. I decide to take pity on him and keep him company, leaving Gloria’s side with a kiss to her head.
It takes me a full five minutes to get there because of the dozens oflolasandlolosandtitasandtitosand cousins who stop me to give me a hug or kiss on the cheek.
Oliver appears next. He gives me a gigantic squeeze. “I’m so happy he pulled his head out of his ass.”
I smile. “Do I have you to thank for that?”
He shrugs. “And Ma and Dad and Frankie and Izzy and Tala and Georgia and Tita Tess and?—”
“You can just say the entire Flores family. I know it’s a list of approximately one hundred.”
“It includes him, Lina,” he tells me. “He would’ve pulled his own head out of his ass eventually. He loves the fuck out of you. I can see it. I’ve known him his entire life. I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.”
My eyes sting.
His voice softens. “You know how intense he gets about things. That includes you.” He squeezes my shoulder, then moves down the line to greet another tito.
“Hey, stud,” I tell Dom finally, coming up behind him to wrap my arms around his waist, resting my head in between his shoulder blades.
He places the tongs down and turns to gather me in his arms. One of his hands immediately moves into my hair. “Hi, beautiful.” He squeezes tight. I think he sniffs my head. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
“What are you most grateful for?” I ask him.
He looks up towards the ceiling. “Frankie. Family. Pirate Plunders. ThatKaraoke and Crynever got off the ground, or else I would’ve given them all my money.” He moves his hands to my jaw, places a soft PG kiss on my lips. “You. So much you. I’m grateful you’re here. I’m grateful I wasn’t too late. I’m grateful for you and all the love I have for you.”
I dart my eyes around the room, quickly determine that no one’s looking at us, then tug him down by the collar and shove my tongue in his mouth for more R-rated kissing. When I pull away, however, the entire Flores clan starts “woo”-ing and catcalling. Someone starts playing the guitar.
Dom’s ears turn red.
I grin shamelessly.
“What are you thankful for?” he asks, when everyone has calmed the fuck down.
I don’t have to think about it. “That you pulled your head out of your ass.”
He gives me a G-rated kiss on top of my hair. “Me too.”
“I’m thankful for Mai,” I say. “I’m thankful that a competency porn star loves me. I’m grateful for Frankie and the way I always find food in her hair.”
He shakes his head. “It’s like she’s some sort of weird Filipino mutant who constantly sprouts rice grains out of her skull.”
“But I’m grateful for you. Right now, so much you,” I tell him.
Dom wraps me in his arms again. My solid sentry. Sure, solid, dependable. Home. “Right now, and forever.”
Epilogue
Two Summers Later
Lina
* * *
“Step to the right!Step to the left!”
