Lizzie didn’t want to give her Abuela the immediate satisfaction of watching her walk in with Will, and she couldn’t be sure that she wasn’t going to be standing inside with a camera ready to capture the moment, so she decided to circle around the house to the backyard.
Lizzie regretted her decision almost as soon as she turned the corner; Lidia sat on the table part of the picnic table wearing a velvet-looking, green short, romper, and heels that made her legs look 10 feet long, her arms toned and feminine, and her skin had an effervescent glow. Lizzie never compared herself to her sister’s appearance. She never felt a need to compete with her on their looks, but now, with the stakes of Will’s attention feeling as high as they did to Lizzie, she wished she possessed some of Lidia’s glamour.
Lidia was laughing easily with her group of admirers who had gathered around her, but stopped and sat up straight when she saw Lizzie and Will. “Look, it’s Lizzie and her man,” she said with a playful smile.
“Not man,” Lizzie said and then quickly added, “I mean, he’s a man, but he’s not my man. He’s my…” friend? Boss? Ex-boss? Enemy turned secret obsession? “Guest.”
“Well, that doesn’t sound too serious,” Lidia said, leaning forward and batting her eyes at Will.
Lizzie could feel a knot forming in her stomach. “Maybe not to you, but I worked hard to get that title, and I plan to earn my next one.” Will smiled at Lizzie, and the knot turned to butterflies.
Lidia could tell when she had no chance, and she leaned back with a comment of “aww, that’s sweet.” She was quickly back with her adoring group.
“Come on,” Lizzie said, motioning to the back door. “And prepare yourself; Abuela is at full matriarchal power when she has myTiasaround.”
Will smiled wider. “Can’t wait.”
As Lizzie suspected, Abuela was expecting them through the front and wasn’t prepared to document it when they came in through the back. Abuela was disappointed but also felt the need to play it off as if she didn’t orchestrate this whole thing.
“Glad you were finally able to find your way back inside,” Abuela said.
Lizzie waved the mint around. “Did you want me to make themojitos?”
“Mojitos? ¿A esta hora?! What is it like 1? A little early for rum, no?”
Lizzie rolled her eyes, annoyed that Abuela was still avoiding responsibility for this.
“How about someCafe?” Will said, and all of the women in the room looked at him.
“Sure,” Lizzie said, shrugging. Abuela gestured towards thecafetera. The way Abuela and theTiaswatched Will makecolada, you would’ve thought he was doing a striptease instead of stirring espresso and sugar.
He handed out thecoladasto those who wanted and was met with reactions of mmm andrico, as if this was their firstcoladaever, when it wasn’t even their firstcoladatoday. Abuela was particularly exaggerated, smacking her lips and saying, “Mmm que sabroso!How did you get so good?”
“Well, I had a lot of practice,” Will said, and then, making eye contact with Lizzie, added, “especially while Lizzie was working inventory.”
Lizzie froze, realization dawning on her. “The coffee? All those nights? You made that for meeverynight?”
Will nodded. “I even prayed over the sugar,” he added with a wink.
Lizzie thought she could feel her heart physically swelling in her chest. “I thought it tasted particularly fortified. Thank you. That was super nice of you.”
“Would’ve been nicer if I had given it to you in person instead of just leaving it to save my pride.”
“It wouldn’t have been damaged if I hadn’t been so insulting in the first place.” Lizzie retorted.
“Que es esto, las olimpiadas de quien come mas mierda?” Abuela asked. (What is this The-who-is-the-bigger-dummy Olympics?)
“Eso ya pasó.That’s in the past, go have fun. Be young. Have acervezita,” Abuela pushed Will towards Lizzie and gestured to the back yard.
Lizzie looked up at Will, who was now just a few inches from her face. “Can I interest you in a little beer?”
“That depends,” Will said. “Does it come with some ‘Fun’?”
Lizzie smiled, grabbing the handle for the back door. “Oh, I think you’ll enjoy yourself,” Lizzie said coyly.
Will looked at her like he was already picturing exactly how much fun they could have together, and exactly how little clothing would be involved.
Chapter 20- Everything
