He shushes me before the whole question is out of my mouth. “Not so loud,” he whispers. “She’s still looking for any reason to cancel the trip.”
I’m cut off from replying by the sound of my sister’s footsteps, followed by her voice.
“Don’t be afraid to go out and meet people in person.” Elena steps into the living room, holding two hot-pink baby gates under her arm. She starts setting up the first at the hallway entrance, continuing, “I can’t imagine how anyone meets someone who wants a serious relationship on those sites. It’s one big machine contributing to hookup culture, which we all know is the last thing you want.”
“So what would you have me do?” I hand Mateo off to his father before rising from the couch, ignoring Andrew’s sputtering. “Walk up to the first cute, age-appropriate person at the grocery store and strike up a conversation?”
“Why not?” Oh, how naive my married, mother-of-two sister is.
“Wait, hold on—” Andrew shoves past me to reach Elena. He shakes the gate while Elena is still putting in the screws and her face twists in annoyance. “How do these things even work? I have a roommate, you know.”
“And I sincerely hope he’s good with kids,” she says to him, pointing an accusing finger at his chest. “I would’ve liked to meet him before leaving my children here, you know. I’m nervous enough as it is leaving them withyou.”
“They’ll be fine.” He waves her off, which would be bad enough on its own if he hadn’t added “He won’t even know they’re here.”
Elena looks past him to her husband, a knowing expression crossing her face as his turns pleading. I’ve seen them have enough silent conversations with their eyes to know what’s coming. When shelooks back at Andrew, she throws her hands up in the air. “That’s it. I can’t do this.”
“Wait, Elena!” Diego rises from the couch to follow as she storms back into our brother’s room.
“Good going, Andrew.” I shake my head at his confused expression.
“What did I say?”
“The exact thing she needed to hear to call off their first vacation in five years.”
His eyes widen in alarm before he turns around. “Elena, wait!” He follows after them to his bedroom. I want no part of this, so I return to the couch where Alicia is taking a nap. I pat her head while I take out my phone to check my notifications. I’m not sure if I’m more shocked or annoyed to see Julian’s name on my lock screen.
Julian:So sorry about the late reply, it’s been chaos getting everything ready for my first year teaching. I’m practically living in my classroom right now.
Julian:I’d love to go out with you. If you’re still interested, that is.
Leti:You leave me hanging for two days after I put myself out there, and NOW you want to go out? Pretty sure your school has enough wi-fi to manage a simple yes or no reply, even if you are living there.
Julian:You’re right. It was a lame excuse, and I’m sorry.
Julian:The truth is…you surprised me.
Leti:In a bad way?
Julian:No. I didn’t expect to like you so much, and I got scared I wouldn’t live up to your expectations if we met in person.
Leti:That’s fair. If it helps, I’m a little scared I won’t live up to yours either.
Julian:Not possible.
As my siblings fight in the next room, I find a smile inching its way across my face. On any other day, it’d be me fighting with Andrew in the next room while my sister and her husband make googly eyes at each other on the very couch I’m sitting on. What upside-down world am I living in?
Leti:Fine. Next Saturday is on.
3
Leti
When next Saturday rolls around, I’m anxious the whole day until it’s time to start getting ready. It’s a no-brainer to wear the blue dress that nearly made him choke, given that he’s already expressed how much he loves it. I inspect my outfit in a full-length mirror, turning every which way to get a glimpse of myself from all angles. The dress is cinched at the waist and stops a few inches above my knees, and the color makes my tan skin glow. My black hair is tied in a loose French braid that falls over one shoulder, a few short tendrils loose to frame my face.
As I’m finishing my makeup, it hits me that this is the first time I’ve gone out with someone since college. I’ve gone four whole years without romantic prospects of any kind, with one very brief online exception. I knew better than to get my hopes up after sliding into a TikTok influencer’s DMs, even if she did live in town. But I thought we’d had a connection, at least until it turned out Angela Gutierrez had a stronger one with someone else.
If that experience taught me anything, it’s that strictly message-based communication is not for me. I’m a grown adult, dammit, and I am going todate. Perhaps I’ll have better luck with Julian Gutierrez, despite them having the same last name. Maybethat’s why he looked so familiar to me. He and the woman I almost dated could be related. I’ll have to ask him about it tonight.
