Ramón shook his head no and downed some tequila.
Jaime put his hand on Ramón’s shoulder. “I hate to say this, bro, but do you think she used you?”
“No. Why would you say that?”
“Because she was all too happy to be with you when you gave her a cushy job all the while knowing you were going to close the restaurant and make it a Taco King. But once her community found out, she dumped you.”
Jaime’s words hit Ramón in the gut. Julieta was nothing like theother girls he’d met, but maybe shedidonly want him as long as he did what she wanted.
That wasn’t a healthy relationship.
“I don’t know, man. All I know is I miss her. I don’t know what to do.”
“Well, she has to understand this isn’t your decision alone. Itisstill Papá’s company—he has the final say. He can do what he wants. And we can choose to work for him or not.”
“Right. I don’t even know what she expects me to do. We weren’t the only bidders on the block. Whoever bought those buildings would’ve raised the rent. I’m at least trying to help.”
Benicio turned to me. “You still don’t get it, dude.”
“What? What don’t I get?”
“It’s not about the fact that some other guy would be doing it anyway. It’s about the fact that people in our community are being priced out. They can’t afford to live and work in the areas we have grown up in. We can’t compete with you people. Were the other bidders Mexican?”
“No.”
“Right. So that makes it even worse. You are destroying your own community.”
“I get that, I do. But the end result is the same.”
Benicio threw his hands up and pushed back from the table. “Whatever you say.”
Ramón stood. “Hey, Beni, wait.”
“No, man. I’m going to bounce.”
Enrique pulled Ramón back to the table. “Let him go, dude. You will just make it worse.”
“I just don’t know how to fix it.”
“Well, sometimes you can’t. Maybe you have to face the fact that you and Julieta aren’t right for each other.” He clapped Ramón on the back. “Tell you what. Let’s go out tonight.”
All Ramón wanted to do was forget about his troubles, about Papá, and about the hurt tightening his chest whenever he thought of the woman he loved. “Where?”
“There is this wedding we got invited to. It’s going to be dope.”
“Fine.” Ramón had to get his mind off Julieta.
•••
Ramón arrived at the wedding, which was held at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar resort. The place was incredibly opulent—ice sculptures galore, crystals cascading down from the heavens. This was a La Jolla society wedding if there ever was one.
But his world of the wealthy did seem a little less bright.
Mateo walked up to him. His lip was still busted up, but it did look better.
“Hey, man. Sorry about that again.”
“No worries. The girls dig it.”
