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“Yes,” Sofi replied with no hesitation as she plated up three tacos, along with her famous rice and beans. Famous only in Blue Falls, but Sofi would take it.
“You can’t win with women,” Mario sighed as he turned from the window. Sofi rolled her eyes as he complained to their mom.
“Have you ever just checked in on Sofi before?” Darla asked. Sofi could imagine her mother’s raised eyebrow, the one that shot high on her forehead anytime Sofi’s brothers did something questionable.
Ha! Sofi wanted to shout with that vindication but refrained. If she gloated about her mother being on her side, Mom would switch in a heartbeat.
“Not in so many words,” Mario hedged.
Sofi chuckled under her breath. More like not in any words.
“I’m doing well,” Sofi decided to answer her brother’s inquiry as she came to the window with the takeout container and handed it to a waiting Darla.
Now that she’d answered the obligatory question, they’d find out why her brother had really come. She had no doubt that he was here for more than checking in.
She poked her head through the window so that she could not only hear but watch Mario’s next words.
“Good, good,” Mario said. “And how’s Rachael?” His voice was a little too casual.
“Ha!” This time Sofi didn’t hesitate to declare the thought aloud. “I knew it.”
“You knew what? I was checking in on you. Now I’m checking in on your friend.”
“My hot, newly single friend,” Sofi corrected as Darla laughed.
Mario turned to their mother.
“What? Sofi’s got a point,” Darla said as she turned back to her work.
Sofi narrowed her eyes at her brother. “Rachael is okay, all things considering. The last thing she needs is some guy who’s never been on a second date asking her out.”
“I’ve been on a second date,” Mario snarked back, irritation covering his handsome features.
Sofi knew that was technically true, but Mario was the definition of a player. She wasn’t sure if he did it on purpose to look unattainable or cool or whatever, but he wasn’t the type to commit. Kind of like someone else she knew. Maybe that was why she was so willing to forgive Austin’s faults. She was surrounded by men with the same issue.
“Stay away from Rachael,” Sofi warned, pointing a wooden spoon through the window at her brother.
“I was just asking how she was doing. A concerned brother of a friend, if you will,” Mario said smoothly.
Sofi rolled her eyes so hard her head hurt.
As she went back to the next order on the docket, her phone vibrated in her back pocket. She let it go. Most people knew that if she didn’t answer, she was probably at work, but when the vibrating started again a second time, Sofi felt a touch of concern.
She finished up the order, passed it to her mom, and pulled out her phone. Three missed calls. All from Rachael.
Sofi glanced up toward the window where she’d last seen Mario, wondering if this was somehow his fault.
Ignoring the other waiting order, Sofi pressed Rachael’s name to call her back. She answered instantly, her sobs greeting Sofi’s ear.
“I know you’re at work, but I just can’t, Sofi. I need you,” Rachael somehow managed to get out between heart-wrenching sobs.
“I’ll be right there,” Sofi promised before hanging up the phone, filling a container with Rachael’s favorites, and hanging her apron on a hook in the mercado office.
“Hey Mario,” Sofi called out, thinking this had to be poetic justice.
“Yo.” Mario stuck his head through the window once more.
“That friend you were so worried about? She’s having a bad night and needs me. Now you get to put your money where your mouth is and step up.”
