what?”
“None of your business. But if you really don’t want to deal with it, just call Dad. He’s only settling mi abuelo’s will. I’m sure he won’t mind.”
Enrique turned to leave, and I followed him out.
I grabbed his arm. “I’m sorry. I—I’m sorry you heard that, but I’m not playing with you.”
He sighed.
“Are you upset with me?” I bit my bottom lip.
“No, I’m upset with my brother for being in my business and for accusing you. We’re fine, but I’m not talking about this here. Okay?”
“I’m not agreeing to that because I have to tell you something.”
“What now?”
“You can’t get mad at Luke for telling you what to do, then tell on Toni. Toni is the frat boy, right?”
He shook his head. “He should be at school.”
I nodded, but what I wanted to say was, “and you shouldn’t be dating a loser like me.” I bit my tongue, because I cared about Enrique way more than I should like a guy I’d known less than a week, and I didn’t want to talk him out of dating me.
Chapter 8
When Enrique came to pick me up that night, I blew him off. It was the hardest thing I’d ever done, but I told him he needed to go with Luke to take care of his little brother. True. Though I also thought with the guys gone, I could hang out with Tiffany and Lucí. I didn’t realize how much I missed my sister until I started staying in her house. There was a lot about Tiffany to love, and with Luke away, there would be no one here to remind her of all the reasons to hate me.
“At least have coffee with me later tonight?” he asked when I told him to have dinner with his family instead of me. It was just coffee. No big deal. But that one line was about the sweetest thing I’d ever heard. He was so desperate to see me, and I wouldn’t even let him kiss me. He was interested in me for me, and I didn’t think that had ever happened before.
It turned out that Tiffany was taking a cooking class that night. So much for a chance to talk. I needed ten thousand dollars and quick, so I decided to look for a second job. I dropped by a burger place and a convenience store before I saw the black Escalade behind me. When I noticed Daniel following me, the job search was cut short. I texted Enrique that I needed him to find a way out and meet me.
We agreed to meet at a Starbucks in the same neighborhood as Tiffany’s house. Daniel’s black Escalade tailgated me as I pulled into the parking lot. Enrique was already here, and if not, he would be soon. I was sure of that. So all I had to do was park close enough to the front door that Daniel couldn’t risk whatever he had planned. With outdoor tables on either side of the entrance, there was no way he’d hurt me, and once I found Enrique I’d be safe. But the parking lot was packed. No empty spaces near the door. Hell, no empty spaces near the store. The only thing I could do was park at the bank in the same parking lot and walk. This was bad. Very bad.
The Escalade was on my tail even as I parked. I decided it was best to stay in the parked car. Enrique wouldn’t be able to park either, so he’d see the car and when he did I’d just text him to follow me and leave, but Daniel got out of the car and pounded his fists against my window. Staring straight ahead, I refused to get flustered. Stay calm. Ignore him. He’ll leave.
It worked. He got back in his car and pulled out. He sped off across the parking lot, driving like a maniac. He was going to kill someone, but I couldn’t care because he was driving away from me. Until he circled around at the same speed. What is he doing? The Escalade plummeted towards my car—Enrique’s BMW—way too fast. If he didn’t slow down soon, he wouldn’t be able to stop. He’s not planning to stop. Before I’d completed the thought, the sound of metal bending rang through my ears and the seat bounced under me. Stay calm, Kammy. Deep breaths.
“None of your business. But if you really don’t want to deal with it, just call Dad. He’s only settling mi abuelo’s will. I’m sure he won’t mind.”
Enrique turned to leave, and I followed him out.
I grabbed his arm. “I’m sorry. I—I’m sorry you heard that, but I’m not playing with you.”
He sighed.
“Are you upset with me?” I bit my bottom lip.
“No, I’m upset with my brother for being in my business and for accusing you. We’re fine, but I’m not talking about this here. Okay?”
“I’m not agreeing to that because I have to tell you something.”
“What now?”
“You can’t get mad at Luke for telling you what to do, then tell on Toni. Toni is the frat boy, right?”
He shook his head. “He should be at school.”
I nodded, but what I wanted to say was, “and you shouldn’t be dating a loser like me.” I bit my tongue, because I cared about Enrique way more than I should like a guy I’d known less than a week, and I didn’t want to talk him out of dating me.
Chapter 8
When Enrique came to pick me up that night, I blew him off. It was the hardest thing I’d ever done, but I told him he needed to go with Luke to take care of his little brother. True. Though I also thought with the guys gone, I could hang out with Tiffany and Lucí. I didn’t realize how much I missed my sister until I started staying in her house. There was a lot about Tiffany to love, and with Luke away, there would be no one here to remind her of all the reasons to hate me.
“At least have coffee with me later tonight?” he asked when I told him to have dinner with his family instead of me. It was just coffee. No big deal. But that one line was about the sweetest thing I’d ever heard. He was so desperate to see me, and I wouldn’t even let him kiss me. He was interested in me for me, and I didn’t think that had ever happened before.
It turned out that Tiffany was taking a cooking class that night. So much for a chance to talk. I needed ten thousand dollars and quick, so I decided to look for a second job. I dropped by a burger place and a convenience store before I saw the black Escalade behind me. When I noticed Daniel following me, the job search was cut short. I texted Enrique that I needed him to find a way out and meet me.
We agreed to meet at a Starbucks in the same neighborhood as Tiffany’s house. Daniel’s black Escalade tailgated me as I pulled into the parking lot. Enrique was already here, and if not, he would be soon. I was sure of that. So all I had to do was park close enough to the front door that Daniel couldn’t risk whatever he had planned. With outdoor tables on either side of the entrance, there was no way he’d hurt me, and once I found Enrique I’d be safe. But the parking lot was packed. No empty spaces near the door. Hell, no empty spaces near the store. The only thing I could do was park at the bank in the same parking lot and walk. This was bad. Very bad.
The Escalade was on my tail even as I parked. I decided it was best to stay in the parked car. Enrique wouldn’t be able to park either, so he’d see the car and when he did I’d just text him to follow me and leave, but Daniel got out of the car and pounded his fists against my window. Staring straight ahead, I refused to get flustered. Stay calm. Ignore him. He’ll leave.
It worked. He got back in his car and pulled out. He sped off across the parking lot, driving like a maniac. He was going to kill someone, but I couldn’t care because he was driving away from me. Until he circled around at the same speed. What is he doing? The Escalade plummeted towards my car—Enrique’s BMW—way too fast. If he didn’t slow down soon, he wouldn’t be able to stop. He’s not planning to stop. Before I’d completed the thought, the sound of metal bending rang through my ears and the seat bounced under me. Stay calm, Kammy. Deep breaths.