“Good,” he said. “Maybe you won’t do anything stupid.”
I wasn’t sure there was anything more stupid than what we were already planning to do.
CHAPTER 15
Ramón and Javi strolled into the kitchen thirty minutes later looking like they’d survived a cage match with Jack Daniels. Ramón scratched his chest through his pajama shirt on his way to the refrigerator. “What are you two troublemakers getting into today?”
Vero smiled sweetly. “Finlay and I are going outside to take some pictures. Her agent wants photos of her to post on her social media. Right, Finn?”
Ramón gestured to the new hardware on her ankle. “Don’t leave the yard.”
“Like you’d know,” she said under her breath.
“What was that?” he asked as he rooted around for the milk.
“I said, it’s not like I have anywhere to go.”
Javi watched her as he sipped his coffee. If he suspected she was up to anything, he didn’t say a word.
“What do you two have planned today?” I asked Ramón as he poured a bowl of cereal.
“I need to figure out what’s wrong with the damn security cameras. They didn’t record a single minute of footage last night.”
Vero sipped her coffee to hide her smirk. “It’s probably thesoftware. Technology’s never been your strong suit, Ramón. There’s an owner’s manual in the box. Maybe Javi can help you troubleshoot.”
“Troubleshoot what?” Gloria fanned herself as she came down the stairs. She unzipped her hoodie on her way to the refrigerator. Beads of sweat spilled down her forehead as she yanked open the door and shoved her face inside it. A moan escaped her, wisps of steam wafting from the top of her head as she quietly cursed her hot flash.
“Just a problem with the camera,” Ramón said irritably.
Norma entered the kitchen in a pair of athletic sneakers and black yoga pants. She set a gym bag on the table and blinked at Ramón. “What happened to you?”
Gloria peeked her head out of the refrigerator and frowned at her son.
“Javi and I got into it with some jerks at a bar.”
Gloria clucked her tongue. “You boys are getting too old for that kind of nonsense.”
Norma shook a finger at him. “Tonight, you’ll stay home and keep an eye on your cousin.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Vero protested.
“Don’t worry,” Ramón told Norma. “Javi and I will have the cameras fixed before I leave tomorrow.”
“You’re leaving, mijo?” Gloria asked.
“I need to get back to the garage. I don’t have any other mechanics, and I can’t afford to keep it closed all week. Javi will stay and keep an eye on Vero. I’ll be back as soon as I can find someone to cover for me.”
Vero threw up her hands and went upstairs to her bedroom.
Norma filled her water bottle and scooped up her gym bag.
“Did you remember to use the bathroom?” Gloria asked her. Norma looked scandalized. “I’m only saying, we might be a longtime in the car! Your bladder isn’t what it used to be, and that’s a lot of water,” Gloria said as Norma glared at her.
“My bladder is just fine.” Norma squinted at Gloria’s face. “Hold on. I think I see another chin hair.”
Gloria reached up to feel it. “Another? Are you sure?”
Norma swatted Gloria’s hand. “Don’t try to get it now. I keep a pair of tweezers in the car. The light’s better out there, and we’re going to be late.”
