Allie’s chatting with three boys in the hallway when suddenly she’s snapping her fingers in my face, drawing my attention. “Earth to Bibiana. Where’d you go?”
I shake my head. “Sorry. What’d you say?”
Allie rolls her eyes but smiles before turning to the boy closest to her.
“Bibiana, this is my boyfriend, Roman.” He inclines his head toward me, his way of saying hello. “This one is Aaron,” she indicates the blond boy with the skateboard, “and this ray of sunshine is Dominique.” I know she’s kidding, because Dominique is definitely not a ray of sunshine. He’s wearing the most brooding expression of the bunch, his eyes still trained on the door Emilio just exited out of. Allie elbows him in the stomach and he pretends to wince, rubbing his stomach, but I don’t miss her smirk. She knows she didn’t really hurt him.
“Ignore him. I swear he knows his manners. He just rarely shows them.”
Roman tilts his head back and laughs, a deep chuckle that has Allie’s smirk morphing into a wide smile. God, they’re cute together. My heart gives a pathetic lurch. I want what they have. It looks so easy. They’re so content. What if…no. I can’t get ahead of myself here. It was just sex, Bibi. Stop trying to remember it as anything else. And besides, once you tell him about Luis, he still might want nothing to do with you.
Determination straightens my spine when I think of that. He doesn’t have to like me. He doesn’t owe me any sort of relationship or commitment just because we have a kid together. But he does owe Luis his attention and affections. I just hope he’s the kind of guy who will step up once he realizes what we created together.
“You look…” Dom’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. His head tilts to the side as he scrutinizes my face. “Familiar,” he finishes. “How do I know you?”
Allie’s eyes brighten. “You two know each other?” She bounces on her feet.
“Not really.” I say with a shrug. I’m not sure if I should be answering her or him, so I go with the less intimidating option of the two. “I’m best friends with Monique. His sister. We used to go to school together.”
“Oh! I haven’t met her yet. Is she as stoic and broody as her brother?” She turns to him. “And why doesn’t she go here?”
Dom grunts and I laugh. “She’s Dominique’s complete opposite,” I tell her. “And she’s a senior at Suncrest Academy. Dominique’s parents only let him go here because of the football program.”
Allie’s eyes widen and she whirls on Dominique. “You have a twin!?” She squeals. “Why haven’t I met her yet?”
All three guys shake their heads. “She’s not my twin. She’s my little sister and I haven’t introduced you yet because look how well that worked out for us when you hooked up with baby Henderson. I do not need to add fuel to that fire.”
Aaron and Roman both nod in agreement.
“If she’s not your twin, then how—”
I answer for him. “Monique is smart. Like insanely smart. She skipped eighth grade. That’s why they’re both seniors. She could probably graduate early if she wanted to.”
“Okay, this is great. You know Monique and I’m friends with Kasey. The four of us have to get together this weekend. It’ll be so much fun. Girl’s night!”
The guys groan in unison just as the bell rings, signaling that we’re officially late to class. I should probably be a little concerned about that, but I’m too excited over the prospect of making new friends and finding my son’s father to think about anything else.
“Come on. We’ll sort out all the details after school. We better hurry or Mr. Chu is going to bite our heads off.” I follow her to class, a small ball of warmth unfurling in my chest.
As the teacher drones on about this week’s assignment, I slip my cell phone out from my pocket and fire off a text to my mom. It’s only been a few hours, but I’m not used to being away from my little boy this long.
Me: How is he?
Mom: Perfect.
She includesa picture of Luis sleeping in her arms and I smile, running a finger across the screen before opening a new text conversation and pulling up Monique’s number. There is no way this can wait.
Me: He’s here.
Three dots appear almost instantlybecause of course she isn’t paying attention in class. Like she even needs to.
Monique: Oh my God! Did you tell him?
I roll my eyes.Is she serious? You don’t just see a guy for the first time in close to two years and drop a baby in his lap day one.
Me: No. I didn’t get the chance to talk to him, but at least now I know he’s here.
Me: Also, I ran into your brother.
