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His words stayed with me while I put on my clothes, when I ate breakfast, and while I baked the cake. So worried of them fading away too quickly, I slipped his note into my back pocket while I wrapped Lydia’s gift.Shoot. I forgot her present on the entry table. I set it down to put my jacket on and meant to slip the bag on my arm before picking up the cake but was too busy focusing on getting the cake here in one piece.
“You coming,hermano?” Benjamin glances back at me from the open door.
“Yeah, I gotta run to my house real quick. I forgot something. I’ll join you in the back in a little while. I’d rather not risk blowing up when you light the pit anyway.”
His laughter fades as I’m walking away, and I don’t have to turn around to know he’s shooting daggers behind my back with his middle finger up. Smiling wide, I rush to my house and grab the gift. Sliding my arm underneath the two white handles, I carry the bag back to my brother’s house while enjoying the little bits of sunshine on my face. I love warmer days like this. With it being the end of winter and nearing the start of spring, you never know what you’re going to get here.
Instead of knocking, I push my way inside, knowing the door is already open the way I left it.
“Hola, Theo. Everything okay?” I turn toward the stairs at the soft voice to see Lydia.
“Yeah. I forgot your gift and had to go back and get it.” I lift the pink bag covered in gold glitter. The matching tissue tickles the underside of my arm.
Lydia waves her hands in the air. “Oh, you didn’t have to get me anything. All I want today is to be with my family, and I’m already getting that.” She pulls me into a hug, wrapping her slender arms around my neck. She pecks a kiss to my cheek before pulling away. “Is my son here yet?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think so. Benjamin said he was running a little late due to someone getting a flat tire.”
She nods in understanding. “He’ll be here when he can then. My family never shows up to parties when told to anyway. Late is the new on time.”
“If I don’t get somewhere early, I might not even show up,” I say between chuckles. “You know me, I’m not a huge fan of crowded rooms and can’t give myself too much time to decide against not showing up, so I leave the house before I can.”
“I know, and I’m glad you’re here. You are my favorite brother-in-law after all.” She pats my shoulder, shooting me a wink.
“I’m your only brother-in-law.”
“The statement still stands.” She heads toward the backyard and I follow closely behind her. Benjamin has a cloud of smoke wrapped around him and he’s waving his hand in the air to clear it the best he can.
“Is it time to place an order for takeout?” I ask jokingly while bending toward the ice chest to grab a beer.
He kicks dirt my way. “Careful,hermano, or I’ll be sure you get all the burnt pieces.”
“So the same as everyone else then?” I shoot him a shit-eating grin and he sputters a laugh, flipping burgers underneath the lowering flames.
“How about instead of being a pain in my ass, you help yourself to some appetizers on the table over there.” He points to the table with a pink tablecloth. “Zane swung by before you got here to drop off his guacamole, and he helped me set everything on the table.”
“Would this table include Finn’s salsa?” I arch a brow and pop the top of my can.
“Of course. Finn made sure to make a large batch early this morning.” It makes sense now why he left my house a few hours before his shift. Maybe he didn’t need a little space from me after all.
“You can be so irritating, you know that? The only way to handle you most days is in between lots of breathing room.” Austin’s past words stab at my ears like hot blades.
Shaking away the venomous memories, I walk toward the food laid out on a pink, plastic tablecloth, the table holding enough food to open a restaurant. I laugh at how overboard Finn and Benjamin go every year. It’s always so sweet to witness all the effort they put forth to make sure Lydia has the best birthday. They do the same for me too.
I grab a paper plate and fill it with a variety of food—chips, salsa, taquitos, and mini street tacos. I doubt I’ll have any room in my stomach for the main course. The good thing about Hispanic parties is there’s never a shortage of food. You’re even offered a plate to take home at most of them. I’m willing to bet I’ll have enough leftovers to get me through Thursday by the end of the night. Lydia will be sure to hand me as many containers full as I can carry home.
Reaching for the hot sauce, I dab some on my food as loud voices sound from behind me, one I recognize to be Finn’s best friend, Zane. My heart quickens in my chest at the idea of Finn being with him. My smile quickly dies when I turn around to see Zane with someone I don’t recognize. Finn still isn’t here. Why do I miss him so much? We saw each other only hours ago. I’m already getting too attached, and I need to learn to distance my heart before it’s too late.
More people pile in the backyard, setting presents down on one of the tables, making mine less lonely. Lydia is a very loved woman, and it makes sense with her being so caring and sweet to everyone she comes across. I walk through the house and am greeted by more family, some from my side and others from Lydia’s, but no Finn.
The front door opens as I’m walking away from the kitchen with a cup of ice, and my heart stops in my chest when Finn appears wearing his work uniform and his usual perfect smile. “Don’t worry, everyone, the party has arrived.”
“Fenny! I was just asking your mom where you were.” His cousin Glenda rushes to give him a hug. I’m about to walk over to him and then my feet cement themselves to the floor when a familiar blond appears behind him. Kyle. His ex. What is he doing here and why are they together? Kyle’s eyes brighten and he grabs Finn’s arm, leaning against him.
Unable to breathe as easily as before, I set down my cup and rush toward the bathroom in the hallway. When the door doesn’t open, I spin around and retreat into Finn’s room across the way, needing a place to calm down and get my feelings under control.
This is silly. I’ve seen how much Finn has jumped from one guy to the next before. Why am I surprised he’s back to seeing Kyle again? I crash onto the bed and bury my face in my hands, hating how I nearly fell for it all. Stupid. Stupid. Lowering my fists, I pound them into my knees and the heaviness in my chest increases. The fire burning through me has me nearly choking on its ashes as I fight back the storm brewing inside.
The doorknob twists and my attention shifts from my closed hands to the opening door. Finn peers inside, tilting his head in confusion. “What are you doing in here, baby?”
