Before the results have time to show up, Carmen taps on the door.
I let her in, and we both stare at the test as two little blue lines materialize until there’s no denying it.
Carmen looks at me. “It’s positive.”
I cover my face. “What am I going to do?”
“Well, for starters, you’re going to calm down. It’s not the end of the world.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“The first thing you’re going to do is give yourself a few days to get used to the idea.”
“And then?”
“And then when Blue comes back, you’re going to tell him.”
“I can’t.”
“You have to.”
“How am I ever going to tell him? What would I say?”
“Well, I suppose you don’t have to say anything. Just leave the test and box on the counter.”
“Just let him find it?”
“You could get a little Harley onesie and give it to him,” she teases.
“Be serious.”
“Just sit down like an adult and tell him.” She stares at me. “How do you think he’ll react?”
“I don’t know. That’s what scares me. Actually, all of this scares me. I’m terrified. God, what will happen when my mother finds out? When my father finds out?”
“And Mateo.”
I put my head in my hands.
She sees my ring and grabs my hand, her eyes huge. “What the hell is this?”
“Mateo proposed.”
“And you’re just now telling me? When did this happen?”
“The next night after Ruiz showed up at your house. He must have gone straight to Mateo and told him he needed to rush this along. He may even have spoken with my father. He seemed to look at me differently, and he was all too eager to move things along. Everyone was there. My family, his family. I felt such pressure, and then the ring was on my finger. I don’t even remember saying yes.”
“Oh, honey.”
“They want to plan the wedding as soon as possible.” I don’t tell her about everything Mateo and I talked about.
“Are you going through with it, then?”
“I don’t know. After everything that happened the other day, it really opened my eyes to how dangerous Blue’s life is, and…”
“And what?”
“He’s never told me he loved me. I mean, I think he does, but he’s never actually said the words.”
