“It matters to me.”
She glances up at me, a question in her eyes. “I got in a fight with Andrew.” She clears her throat. “We’d been bickering about one thing or another all day. When I stood up from my chair, I felt the fabric tear and looked down to see his shoe stepping on the bottom of the skirt. Even in heels, at least five inches trailed the floor behind me everywhere I went. It was a big, stupid, poofy dress that I hated from the get-go, but it was my mom’s favorite on me. Andrew probably had no idea he was stepping on it, but I accused him of doing it on purpose. I knew the second my mom saw the tear I was in for the lecture of a lifetime. The fight Andrew and I were already in? It escalated to a screaming match until my parents found us.”
“Let me guess,” I say. “They took his side over yours.”
“He claimed to have nothing to do with the rip.” She shrugs. “Not even that it was an accident. He told me later he was too scared to face the wrath of our parents. That’s the whole deal with Andrew. He’s more concerned with how he looks to them than doing what’s right.”
“And that’s why you guys have such a tumultuous relationship?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “It’s the fact that I have a million more stories like that one. No matter what he says or does, no matter how far he takes the joke, no matter that he’s broken my heart more times than he even knows, my family will always choose his side over mine. And I’m fucking sick of it.”
My chest burns for her. I can’t stand to see her so upset, but the animosity she has for my best friend makes sense now. How the hell am I supposed to ask her to be more supportive of her brother after everything she’s told me?
“Come on.” She grabs her keys off the hook. “Before I change my mind.”
24
Leti
When we get back from the store, I bring the bags up to my apartment and tell Julian I’ll meet everyone downstairs after I’ve gotten ready. He doesn’t seem happy, but I don’t give him much of a choice. I won’t have Bella as a buffer tonight since she’s babysitting Alicia and Mateo, and I certainly won’t be able to use Julian as one since we’re not supposed to know each other. On the bright side, at least with Nathaniel on my arm, hopefully my family will be more willing to give me some space tonight.
An hour before the party, I finally head downstairs. After ringing the doorbell, Julian swings the door open with his usual cheery grin. My sister is standing behind him, glaring daggers at me over his shoulder.
“You must be Leti. Glad you could make it.” He has the gall to wink at me as he reaches for the plastic bags weighing me down. “I can take those from you.”
“Oh, sure.”
I start to follow him into the kitchen before I catch myself.He’s not my friend tonight.Elena links her arm in mine, pulling me into the living room. “Nice of you to finally show up.”
“The place looks good,” I say, glancing around. “Like you didn’t miss me at all.”
“Funny.” Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes, but it only lasts a second before falling into a straight line. “Promise me you’ll be on your best behavior tonight.”
“I’m not the one you should be asking that.”
“Leti,please.” She sighs. “It’s Andrew’s birthday. You can keep the peace for one night, can’t you?”
“I’m gonna get a Coke.”Or something stronger.
Unlinking our arms, I make my way into the kitchen, where Julian and Diego are making small talk. My parents are visible from outside the small window over the sink. My mom sinks into a patio chair as my dad waves away the last of the smoke from the barbecue pit. Ignoring the twinge in my chest, I face Julian with my best poker face.
“Okay for me to grab a soda?”
“Help yourself.” He waves a hand to the fridge. “I’m Julian, by the way. We haven’t officially met yet.” There’s a subtle inflection on the wordofficially, imperceptible except to me. His mouth crooks into the barest hint of a knowing grin, just for me. A crack in the mask only I would notice.
I take his outstretched hand, affecting a bored expression. “Nice to meet you.”
“We have about an hour before your brother is due to arrive,” Julian tells us. “We’re almost finished setting up in the kitchen.”
The smell of food makes my stomach rumble even as the mere sight of the display on the counter makes my heart clench. My parents outdo themselves every year, but never for me. Come March, they’ll be on another trip abroad somewhere and wish me a happy birthday via FaceTime. Like last year, and the year before.
Suddenly, the bottle of tequila is looking pretty good right about now.
“Don’t even think about it,” Julian says once Diego is out of earshot, his chin jutting at the display of liquor I’m having a staring contest with. “At least wait until the party starts. We don’t need you getting sloshed before your brother shows up.”
“Bossy.” I wrinkle my nose at him. He merely smirks.
After looking past his shoulder where Elena and Diego are occupied with each other in the living room, he inches closer, brings his lips to my ear, and says, “You clean up good, Maldonado.”
