“No, I told you, I needed to get away and get my head on straight. Mom was upset because I came in so late, and she flipped on me.
“It took forever to get home because I had to take the subway. It was bad. She had a bus ticket for me a few days later.”
“That’s why you weren’t answering our calls. You were grounded?”
“Yeah, bro. You know Mom. You and Emory are too close to all the shit she wants me away from. She’s terrified I’m going to fall in with your dad and all that.”
“Fuck. Damn, Oni. This is all my fault. Where did she send you?”
“I’m in?—”
“Shit, I have to go. I’ll call you back.”
“Mason, I won’t be able to answer. I’ll be in touch when the summer is over, and Mom cools down.”
“Okay, I get it. Text me if you can. I’m going to miss you, babe.”
I blow out a breath as he hangs up before I can reply. Dropping my phone on the bed, I rub my temples. If I could turn back time, I never would have gotten out of that car.
“You all good in here?”
I lift my gaze and find Rico standing in the doorway, looking sexy as sin in a pair of black shorts and a light-blue polo shirt. It’s the most relaxed I’ve seen him since I’ve met him.
All thoughts of turning back time fade away. I inhale deeply. What were the chances of my accepting a dare to take his car?
Maybe this was meant to be. My heart begins to race as he moves into the room and stands before me. He reaches to pull me up from my seat and wraps his arms around me. I look up at him shyly and get caught in his gaze.
“What?” he says as he searches my face.
“Nothing.”
He pinches my chin between his fingertips. “Come on. Let’s go. I want to get you to Pop’s so I can handle some calls and then I’m taking you out for our first date.”
“That’s not going to be against the rules?”
“No. We’re going somewhere my uncle won’t know anything about. I have some people I think you should meet.”
CHAPTER 9
Change the Plan
Rico
“Bro,why the fuck are we staying at Uncle Federico’s?” my cousin groans into the phone.
“Stop whining like a little pussy. He’s not worried about us. Nothing is going to change,” I laugh.
I jog down the stairs from my room after unpacking my things. Eduardo and Aldo’s plane just landed, and Aldo called to let me know they’ve arrived.
“I didn’t come to Miami to hang with my fucking uncle. Why can’t we stay at your place?”
“I’m having some work done,” I lie.
I’m not able to tell him I’m using that as an excuse so my uncle doesn’t get suspicious. If I allow him and his brother to stay at my place, it will look crazy. This is where I need to be, so everyone will be here with me.
“That shit couldn’t wait? Fuck it. What are we doing tonight?”
“I have plans. You’ll see when you get here. Now get off my phone. I have shit to do.”
