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While Gabby snapped, “Get back into your seatbelt,” I answered, “Well, now it’s just me because I chased Diego away.”
Miguel spun to me with his mouth falling open. “You did? How?”
“The devil’s son never shares his secrets.” When Miguel merely blinked in confusion, I winked. “Get back into your seatbelt.”
After he complied, I pulled into traffic and glanced at him in the rearview mirror. “I’ve seen you before, you know. But you were running by so fast you were nothing but a blur.”
A proud grin lit Miguel’s face. He puffed out his chest and straightened his shoulders in order to sit taller as he announced, “I’m the fastest in my class. They call me Flash, like the superhero.”
“Really,” I murmured, lifting my eyebrows as if impressed, only to add, “It’s such a pity you use your superpower for mischief instead of good, then.”
Faltering, he furrowed his brow before hesitantly asking, “What do you mean?”
I shrugged. “Nothing really. It was just kind of disappointing to watch you race ahead of your sister the way you were, not bothering to help her carry her heavy groceries, and then going as far as to fill her with worry and dread when you ignored her request to slow down just enough so that she could always see you. I wouldn’t think a true superhero would do that.”
“I—” Not sure how to respond, Miguel frowned before turning to his sister. “He’s right. I’m sorry, Gabby.” He looked truly apologetic as he added, “I won’t race off so far ahead of you again when you ask me to slow down. I promise.”
When she spun around to gape at him as if he’d lost his mind, he turned toward me. “Are you eating supper with us tonight?”
I paused at a red light.
The boy sounded so hopeful by the prospect that I winced before saying, “Some other night, maybe. I have to take your sister somewhere this evening.”
“What?” He sounded more than casually surprised. “You’re going out, Gabs? For real?”
She seemed supremely put out as she muttered, “Yeah. So start your homework as soon as we get home, okay? I’ll help you with it while I fix you and Papá supper.”
Papá?
I glanced at her as soon as I parked in front of her building, wondering who Papá was. This was the second time she’d mentioned him.
From the back, Miguel whined, “Can’t we just do it when you get back from—”
He broke off abruptly when he caught me sending him a look. I didn’t say a word, just lifted a single eyebrow, and he bowed his head before mumbling, “Fine.”
He jumped out of the car, only to stand there, waiting on her to exit. And not racing ahead.
Still inside the car, Gabby spun to me. “What
just happened?” she demanded.
I met her incredulous gaze. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, since the moment I introduced you two, you’ve done nothing but reprimand him and give him the stink eye, and the turd fell right into line, turning into the perfect little angel for you. He even apologized to me and actually did something I asked of him without me having to argue with him for twenty minutes first. What the hell is up with that?”
“Well…” I said before smirking. “You’re welcome.”
Her eyes widened as if she just might physically maim me, so I shrugged. There was only one way I could think to explain it. “I have a little brother too.”
“You do? Really?” She blinked, clearly shocked to hear that. “How old is he?”
“Thirty.”
When she sniffed out a sound of amusement, something in me relaxed, something that hadn’t relaxed in a very long time. “I’ve obviously had more time to perfect the intimidating big-sibling stare than you have,” I offered kindly.
She stared at me for a moment longer, her eyes still lit with amusement before she murmured, “Touché.”
She pushed her way out of the car before I could come around to open her door.
