“You think that’s why I’m mad?” He stands with his arms crossed, looking at me.
“Isn’t it?”
“I already knew about you and my mom. I’m mad that you pretended like it was nothing in front of my dad. After you spent this entire time giving me those lectures on integrity and how to treat a woman. Why would you do that to her?”
He looks so grown right now. I didn’t realize how much he had matured over the last year. More than I had at that age. Maybe even more than I had at this age.
“I know. I fucked up.”
I stand and do the only thing I can think my dad would want me to do in this situation. I move toward him and wrap my arms around him. He tries to fight the embrace but then relents, letting me comfort him.
“I’m sorry, mijo, I fucked up.” I apologize.
And I did. I know that now. Shit, I knew it then in the very moment, and I couldn’t correct it. I’m not a perfect man, but I’m not indifferent to the pain I’ve caused when I intended to salvage the relationship between him and I.
“Why can’t you just tell her sorry?” he asks, pulling free from me.
“It’s a bit more complicated than that, mijo.”
“Do you love her?”
“I do.” I’d been in love with her my whole life. “Can you forgive me?”
Junior sniffles, his face flushed from trying to hold back his emotions. I give him his space. When he nods, I feel animmense amount of gratitude. I’d spent the last few weeks drowning in a sea of regret and self-pity. His forgiveness is a small light of hope that Isabel would find it in her heart to forgive me, too.
“Nino?” Junior says, standing to face me. “We got to get your bitch back.”
“Aye. Don’t call your mom that. And stop cussing.”
“Sorry. But we have to do something! I know she still cares about you.”
“You think?” I ask.
“I mean, maybe not if she saw you like this, but I got an idea.”
By this, I am positive he means the disheveled look I’ve been sporting for the last week. I don’t even want to look in the mirror. I’ll take his word that I look as bad as I’ve been feeling.
For the next hour, I listen to Junior plot the plan to win Isabel back. I can’t believe I’m taking advice from a Gen-zer. Not sure what’s crazier, his advice or my willingness to try.
Junior
You here?
Manny
Yes.
Junior
In the Dickie pants I told you to wear?
Manny
Yes Junior. Where’s your mom?
Junior
She’s headed to Pancho’s Taco Truck to get me a burrito. Get in line right now.
