Page 22 of Endless Depths

“Thank you so much for coming, Mrs. Rodriguez, and thanks for the food too.” I move to stand, but she sweeps me away with her hands.

“Rest. Enjoy your friends.”

Gabi perches on the armrest beside Javi. “You guys look like you’re plotting something.”

“Us? Never,” Lawrence says.

Gabi rakes her nails through Javi’s dark hair. “Are you ready, or should I go home with Suegrita?”

Javi pulls her hand from his hair and presses it against his cheek. “I think I need to stay.”

“Then you should.” She strokes his cheek with her thumb and hops down from the armrest. “Bye, boys.” She taps her manicured index finger against her lips. “Wait. I think I’m forgetting someone, someone very important.”

Finn looks up from his plate, dimples flickering with his smile.

Gabi kneels beside Finn’s chair. “Happy birthday,mi amor.Can I have a hug from the birthday boy?”

“Sí, Tia G.” Finn swivels on his chair and stands.

“Ay, perfecto. You’ve been practicing.” Finn dwarfs her petite frame, but she scoops him up anyway, and rocks him side to side, long black hair swishing like a silk curtain. “Love you, baby.” She returns him to his chair.

“Love you too.”

Mrs. Rodriguez swats the back of Javi’s head with her purse. “Mira, hijo. You need to marry that girl.”

Javi covers his head. “Tranquila, mamá.” He crosses to Gabi and rests his hand on her lower back, then ruffles Finn’s hair. “I’m going to walk tia and mamá to the car. Be right back.”

Finn nods and resumes his silent vigil in front of his birthday cake, smile fading.

“You speak Spanish?” Alejo asks.

Lawrence laughs. “No. I just have a lot of practice saying I’m sorry and thank you to mamá Pilar.” He picks up the remote. “Let’s find something really annoying on YouTube to cheer him up. Any ideas?”

“Nah. He hates that stuff,” I say, eyes still on Finn. “Look upHow It’s Made.”

I pull out my phone and text Cole.

Morgan

Cole, please come. Finn needs you here.

I erase it. I’ve sent that text a dozen times before. What difference will it make?

Morgan

Finn’s having a terrible day and I don’t know what to do.

I erase that too.

Morgan

Please. I need you.

Erase. Erase. Erase.

Morgan

Hey.