I nodded, desperate to give them the news about running into Camilo.
“Yes, they’re great.” I swallowed. “Something funny happened at the meeting though.”
“Oh?” Sanjay looked skeptical and Priya gave me a worried look.
“Nothing bad, it’s just today I was supposed to meet with the director of the residential program. Since he’ll be my point person at the agency once the project gets going. And um, it turns out he’s the guy from the party on Friday.” I broke eye contact then, knowing I had to be turning red. “You know Milo? The guy I was talking to before you guys got there.”
Priya’s cackle was epic and Sanjay just shook his head.
“Oh my god, Tom. The one time you cut loose a little at a party. What did you do?” This was from Sanjay, who I knew was feeling my pain.
“Did he freak out? You made sure he knew you weren’t going to make a big deal out of it, right?” I knew she’d say that.
“Of course, I did.” I winced and moved to grab a cracker. “I mean, as much as I could, given the situation. There wasn’t any time to have a conversation about it, because the executive director of the agency was there, too. But I tried to make it clear I wouldn’t be bringing it up. He looked pretty spooked though.” I covered my face with my hands. “I sort of requested he and I meet weekly for the foreseeable future to discuss the progress, which is completely unnecessary.”
“Wow. Tom Hughes flustered.” My best friend whistled in apparent amazement. “This is new.” Sanjay was having the time of his life watching me squirm.
“Was that a horrible abuse of power?”
I was mostly asking Priya. She entertained no bullshit, and she would give it to me straight.
Priya is as tough as they come.
She came from India on her own at eighteen on a full scholarship to Yale and was from a family without the financial means to support her while she was in school. She worked multiple jobs under the table all four years of college. She met Sanjay there in their sophomore year, when she was working as a server at one of the local Indian restaurants. I had enormous respect for her and also knew she would not let me get away with being a creepy asshole.
She raised an eyebrow at me like she could read my mind.
“Wow, this is a big deal, huh? Normally I would’ve reamed you out for being a manipulative jerk,butI know you too well to dismiss that you going this far means something.” She held up a finger at me. “What I will say is this, please be respectful and careful. He is in averyprecarious position. You haveallthe power, and I’m sure he’s nervous. So when you meet him, make sure you clear the air and let him know how aware you are of your position.”
I nodded in agreement, feeling relieved that she didn’t think I’d crossed a line. “I was planning to; I don’t want him to think I’d take advantage. But when I had the chance to see him again, I just took it.”
Priya’s face softened again. “He’s certainly made an impression. It’s time to take some chances with your heart again.” Her smile was genuine and I’d bet anything she was thinking about our conversation this morning. “I think you should see where it goes.”
I was about to say something to the effect of, “I hope all of this doesn’t end blowing up in my face,” when the email alert on my phone pinged. I looked at the screen and saw I had an emailfrom Camilo S. Briggs. I quickly opened it to see what he’d said, my heart pounding in my chest. After a second, I looked up at Priya and Sanjay.
“Looks like Camilo is available to meet next Wednesday afternoon.”
Priya laughed and looked over at where Libe was zoned out watchingPeppa Pig.
“How convenient that he can meet on the night you have the house to yourself.”
She was giving me and my prowess way too much credit, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a small thrill at the possibility of having some alone time with Camilo.
chapter six
camilo
I winced as the smell of stale cigarettes hit me in the hallway of my mother’s apartment. I rang the bell before I pushed my key in to open her door, so I didn’t startle her, and braced myself for whatever mood I’d find her in. I suspected it wouldn’t be good if she was feeling so out of sorts, she was smoking inside the apartment.
As I walked in, I felt a wave of relief when I saw she was up, dressed in jeans and a sweater, and pulling something out of the fridge in her tiny kitchen.
“Mama. ¿Como estas?” I greeted her as I put down the bagels and lox I’d brought on her breakfast counter.
“Milito, hijo.” She turned around and walked to me with her arms wide open to give me a tight hug and kiss. As she enveloped me in her slender arms, I smelled the peppermint castile soap and the almond oil lotion she used. She’d showered, too, so things couldn’t be that bad.
She leaned back and the lines on the corners of her eyes pulled up as she smiled at me. “Hola, mi corazon.” I squeezed her hand, grateful to find her in a good mood.
My mother struggled with depression. It was tough but manageable most of the time. But every once in a while she’d hit a rough patch and get leveled by it. It was just her and me, so I made sure I paid attention when I came to see her.
