By the time we got to the ice cream place, the boys were excitedly talking about Batman and Iron Man. Sofia had fallen asleep in my arms, and let me tell you, little kids gotheavywhen asleep. Isabella sat at one of the outdoor picnic-style tables and took Sofia while Zach and I got ice cream for everybody. Once we passed out the ice cream, Zach and I made sure to sit the boys between us so we could keep an eye on them. No one wanted a screaming four-year-old who’d dropped his ice cream on the ground.
Isabella fed Sofia a spoonful of chocolate ice cream. “Sorry, I didn’t have the stroller with me. I didn’t think to pick it up when I went back to the house to get clothes.”
I waved away her apology. “It’s fine. I’m just happy to see you all again.”
My sister’s eyes got teary. “Miguel, I’m so sorry for what I said to you before.”
I put up my hand. “It’s okay, Bella. You’ve already apologized. It’s a new day and a clean slate. I love you. That’s all that matters.” She nodded tearfully, wiping her eyes with a napkin.
We moved to lighter topics because little ears picked up everything. “When did you two get together?” Isabella asked.
Zach and I looked at each other and grinned. “Well, it’s kind of new,” I said.
“How new?”
Zach’s cheeks grew pink. “Friday night.”
Isabella blinked. “Really? That is new. How did you meet?”
I put my hand on Diego’s cup to prevent him from sending it to the ground. “At work,” I replied. “And he’s my roommate.”
She tilted her head in confusion. “I thought Dwayne was your roommate.”
I shook my head. “He moved in with his boyfriend and Zach moved in with me.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I get the feeling there’s more to this story.”
“A lot more,” Zach said as he wiped Cody’s face.
“We’ll have to get together for a drink sometime and tell you all about it.”
“Oh, I should tell you,” Isabella began. “Mama and Papa have decided to move back down here.”
“What? When did they decide that?” And why hadn’t they told me? The fact that neither of my parents had reached out to me since my argument with my mother spoke volumes about what they thought of me.
Accurately reading my expression, Isabella reached across the table to cover my hand with hers. “It’s not like that, Miguel. They love you. They just don’t know how to say they were wrong.”
My throat felt tight and hot tears pricked the backs of my eyes. “Yeah, well, I’m not going to be the first to reach out. I’ve done that my whole life, and I’m tired of it. They always make it seem like it was me who did something wrong. If they want to talk to me, they’re going to have to call me.”
“I know,” she said. “They know it too.”
Cody started to whine and rub his eyes. “That’s our cue,” Zach said. “Little man is tired.”
I handed Zach some napkins to wipe Cody’s face. “Hopefully, it lasts so we can put him down for a nap.”
We got the kids cleaned up as best we could and made our slow way back to Isabella’s car. Once we got Diego and Sofia tucked into their car seats, I hugged Isabella goodbye. “Don’t be such a stranger.”
“I won’t,” she replied. “Once I know what’s going on with Carlos, I can come back home.”
I sighed as I watched her drive away. Zach squeezed my shoulder. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just worried about her and the kids. Even if there’s a restraining order, it doesn’t mean much to someone as arrogant as Carlos. Men like him don’t think the rules apply to them.”
“I know what you mean,” Zach said. “Allie’s last boyfriend, Scott, was like that.” His voice deepened and sounded dangerous. “I had to teach him that there were consequences for people who put their hands on my sister.”
I shivered. “Well, damn. Maybe I should send you after Carlos.”
Zach shook his head. “The law will take care of Carlos. Scott is a spoiled little rich boy who never got told no. And Daddy’s money always gets him out of trouble. That’s why I had to step in.”
