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“She’s touching them again,” crowed Daniel, Sofi’s youngest brother.
Sofi dropped her hand and scowled. Her brothers thought themselves so clever, coming up with a game where they ate sweets every time Sofi touched her lips. Let’s just say even though her brothers were doing a cut—unlike Sofi, they were major gym junkies—they were still getting a whole boatload of sugar.
“Shut up,” Sofi snapped at Daniel as he triumphantly pulled a handful of cinnamon candy out of his pocket. Yes, that was how often they got to eat sugar. They actually kept their sweet of choice on their person.
“Hey, I’m not complaining,” Daniel said with a grin before going back to whatever it was that he did at the mercado. Sofi swore her parents hired her brothers just because no one else would. Even as the thought entered her mind, she knew it wasn’t the truth. She was just bitter about the candy thing. Her parents as well as her brothers were the reason the mercado ran smoothly and efficiently, and when they helped her out in the kitchen she never had to worry.
But they didn’t have the defined role that Sofi had. They were kind of jacks of all trade, a lot like their dad. Where they were needed they worked. But Sofi still teased them about being superfluous hires. It was her job, as their sister, to keep them humble.
“Thanks for the chocolate, Sof,” Mario snarked, popping his head into the kitchen to wink at her.
Sofi threw a towel that barely missed him as he laughed his way out of the room.
Why couldn’t her mom have had at least one more girl? If Carlos, her middle brother, had been there that evening, Sofi knew he’d probably have been leading the teasing.
“Just hurry up and clean so we can get out of here,” Sofi yelled back, unwilling to think about anything other than the task at hand. She knew that if her thoughts wandered at all, they’d fly straight to Austin and then she’d touch her lips and they’d be right back here.
But even as she pushed the thoughts away, one still lingered. Why hadn’t Austin called her yet? She’d said to take his time, but four weeks was more than she’d expected to have to endure.
But she always came back to the same place. If this waiting got her to the place she wanted to be, in Austin’s arms, she could endure this momentary pain.
“Plans tonight?” Mario asked nonchalantly, but Sofi knew why he cared. He was hoping she was going out with Rachael. And she was. So Sofi ignored her brother, knowing it would drive him wild.
Served him right for the whole chocolate comment.
Sofi finished up her cleaning as Mario pressed. “Where are you guys going? If I just happen to show up you can’t take any of the blame.”
“The fact that you know someone will have to take the blame if you’re in the same room as Rachael is the reason you will never know where I’m going tonight.”
“I could follow you,” Mario reasoned.
“Even you wouldn’t stoop so low.”
Sofi couldn’t help the sudden rush of memories of another time she’d been followed, but resolutely pushed the thoughts aside. She met her brother’s look with an impassive expression.
“Come on,” Mario pleaded but Sofi stood firm. She knew if she didn’t tell Mario he’d be just fine. He’d go to some party or restaurant or bar and have his choice of women. Women who weren’t Sofi’s friends.
Sofi gazed around at her spick and span kitchen, nodding in satisfaction before hurrying to gather her things. She’d told the girls she’d meet them at nine and it was already approaching nine fifteen. Thankfully, the sports bar, Ernie’s, wasn’t far from the mercado.
“She’ll thank you,” Mario promised Sofi, who was already on her way out the door. Her brothers would turn off the lights and lock up.
“Have a good night, Mario,” Sofi sing-songed before adding, “Bye, Daniel.”
“See ya, Sofi,” Daniel called back as Mario said, “Isn’t it every girl’s dream for her brother to marry one of her best friends?”
“As if you’d consider marriage to anyone,” Sofi said just before the door closed behind her.
The evenings were beginning to grow chilly, and Sofi hurried to her car, hopping in before pulling out of the lot and parking a few blocks over. Sounds from Ernie’s spilled out into the street as she opened her door and stepped out. She’d known the place would be packed, considering it was a Saturday night, but this was busier than she’d even imagined.
Sorry. Just got here. You guys at a table?Sofi texted the group chat with Leia and Rachael.
Walk in and look left,Rachael texted back immediately.
Sofi followed her friend’s instructions but when she looked to her left, the mass of tables were packed with people she didn’t recognize. She kept searching until her eyes landed on a table near the far wall. There they were.
Sofi wound her way around table after table until she finally reached her friends.
She sighed, wishing that they’d opted for a night in, their typical choice of Saturday evening activity. But ever since Rachael had become single, she’d wanted to hit the town. So here they were, eating overpriced apps and watching Rachael down too many drinks. Since neither Sofi nor Leia really drank, they got to stay sober and witness everyone around them progressively becoming more and more drunk. It wasn’t Sofi’s idea of a good time. But she was a good friend, so here she was.
