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Sofi’s face paled as she shook her head.
“Men,” Sofi’s mother revised.
“Yes, men,” Tía Melinda said. All three Tías gave a firm nod in unison.
Sofi only stopped shaking her head to rub her hands over her face. Austin knew she was wishing that when she opened her eyes back up the situation before her would be gone.
“Sometimes it’s easier to date a stranger than someone you all would know.” Austin stepped in to save Sofi the same way she would have done for him.
“Astranger?” Tía Rosa asked in the same voice she would have used to question whether Sofi was dating a murderer.
“A stranger is not safe,” Tía Melinda said.
This time all three Tías were in agreement. Even Sofi’s mom wasn’t on her side.
Sofi was now rubbing a spot at the bottom of her forehead, surely staving off a headache.
Austin had to do something. He hated seeing Sofi hurting in any way.
“I’ll make sure it’s safe,” he spoke up.
The Tías’ ears and eyes perked up as the three heads swiveled toward him.
“I’ll be there on Sofi’s dates,” Austin continued, liking the idea for himself as much as the Tías. He had to admit Sofi going out with a bunch of strangers rubbed him the wrong way. Not that when she dated his friends it had been any easier. In fact, she’d dated one of his best friends just before she’d gone to Mexico the year before and for some reason Austin had gritted his teeth every time he thought of them together. But the relationship hadn’t lasted long, and Sofi hadn’t had another date since. Austin was beginning to wonder if his friend was the reason Sofi was having a hard time jumping back into the dating market. If so, Austin would have to have a conversation with Matt. No one hurt his Sofi and got away with it.
Sofi shook her head. “Nope. Not happening.”
Austin saw she was digging her heels in and knew he’d have to tread carefully.
“Or the Tías could be there,” Austin suggested, realizing too late that it was the opposite of careful. He hadn’t meant to threaten Sofi, but the idea that she wouldn’t have someone there to back her up wasn’t right. He had to be there. She’d met a stranger just the other day at the karaoke bar and if he hadn’t been there . . .
Sofi’s eyes went wide with disbelief and horror as she stared at him with a look of utter betrayal.
“Yes, we could go on the dates,” Tía Melinda said, clasping her hands together as if praising a deity with her delight. Sofi gave a squeak of dismay, too horrified for words.
“I promise I’ll be discreet,” Austin assured Sofi. “I can even have a date of my own if that helps.”
The more he thought about it, the better his idea was.
Sofi glanced from the Tías to Austin.
“And you’ll go out with one of our men,” Tía Rosa added, punctuating her words with a finger pointing toward Sofi.
“This isn’t a negotiation. This is my life,” Sofi said, meeting the eyes of each person in the room and obviously not finding what she was looking for.
“It seems like a fair deal to me,” Leia said softly. “There are lots of crazies out there.”
“Et tu, Leia?” Sofi asked, crossing her arms as she narrowed her eyes at her friend.
Leia shrugged.
Sofi sighed, shaking her head and dropping her arms to her sides.
“You guys are ridiculous,” Sofi said but Austin heard the sound of defeat in her voice.
He and the Tías shared victorious smiles as Sofi scowled.
“But I’m so getting you back,” Sofi warned Austin.
