“¿Nuevo novio es blanco, eh?” Chino smirked as soon as Desi and I stepped into the circle. The others chuckled. I glared at him, and he looked up at the night sky. I glanced at Desi, and it was clear by the look on his face that he understood at least some of that.Blanco.
“Ignore them. They’re just jealous that I didn’t wait out front for them.” I motioned for Chino to pour us drinks. While Chino did so, Julio extended his hand to Desi and introduced himself.
“I’m Julio, this is Birdie, Catrine, Chino,” Julio said.
“I’m Desiderio,” Desi replied politely.
“It’s nice to meet you, Desiderio.” Catrine grinned at Desi over her cup. She was eyeing him up and down with a look that made me want to snatch her by her ponytail. She swayed and looked at her best friend, Birdie.
“Birdie and Catrine are my homegirls,” I said to Desi but looked directly at Catrine. “They go with Julio and Creeper.” I pointed to a guy across the lawn playing hacky-sack.
Catrine glanced nervously at Julio and then nodded. “You got that right. Where did you two meet?”
“We met at the restaurant.” I reached for Desi’s arm protectively.
“Blanco—” Chino began but was cut off.
“Don’t be jealous, Chino,” Birdie scolded.
“Jealous of what?” he mocked.
“Jealous that you invited her to the car show and what did she say?” Catrine teased Chino.
“I have to work!” Catrine and Birdie said in unison and proceeded to laugh in Chino’s face.
He threw down the hose to the keg and stormed off.
“I’m not sure what to do here,” Desi said, bringing us all back to the small circle.
“Nothing, he’s just stupid,” I said. “I’m glad you came.”
“That’s all that matters, then,” Desi replied. We shared a look, and it felt like everyone had disappeared. It was just him and I, suspended in the moment. Julio coughed, and we broke our stare.
“I’m glad you came, Julio. I wasn’t sure who would show up now that Brenda’s gone.”
Julio cackled and threw his arm around me, pulling him into a hug.
“Like we’d forget you just because you don’t live that cholo life anymore. You’ll always be one of us, homegirl.”
“Cha Cha is always welcome back whenever.” Birdie raised her hands in the air and began to dance.
“Cha Cha?” Desi snickered.
“Long story.” I rolled my eyes.
“I’d love to hear it.”
“Oh, well then.” Catrine pointed her long fingernails at Desi and smirked. “Let me tell you—” Quickly, I pulled Desi away from my old friends and back toward the house.
“Wait.” Desi laughed. “I want to hear about Cha Cha.”
I stopped once we were away from all the partygoers and reached for his hand. I laced my fingers in his and pushed them against his hard muscular chest. I leaned in and stood on my tiptoes to whisper, “Oh? I thought you’d rather see my room.”
“Well, I suppose the story can wait.”
I laughed and took a step back to direct us back inside when I heard my name.
“Scout!” I turned and squinted. Way in the far back part of my yard, someone was waving to me. It took a moment, but finally, I recognized that it was one of my foster sisters, Gigi. “Can we use this for the fire?”
“Wait here,” I told Desi. “I’ll be right back. I don’t know what they are trying to burn.”
“You want me to just stand here?”
“Go, socialize, have fun.” I waved around the yard and hurried off before my friends tried to burn my garage down.
Desi would be fine for five minutes.
