“It’s complicated.”
“No, it’s not, Dani. It’s very simple: you like each other very much, and you’re happy together. Why can’t you be together?”
She runs her hands over her face. “I’m scared, Raquel.”
“Scared?” That takes me by surprise.
“What I feel for him scares me so much; I’ve never felt so vulnerable.”
Oh. My. God. Dani is the fucking female version of Ares. How did I not realize this? And what have I done to surround myself with people like this?
“Are you serious, Dani?” I cross my arms over my chest. “Are you listening to yourself? Scared? Fuck fear. You’re never going to live life to the fullest if you’re living in fear of getting hurt.”
“I’m not like you,” she admits, licking her lower lip. “You’re so strong. You rise up when something bad happens, and you smile as if life hasn’t hit you so many times. I’m not like that, Raquel. I’m a weak person hiding behind a strong facade, and you know it. I don’t get up easily. I find it hard to smile at life when something bad happens to me, that’s the kind of person I am.”
“You aren’t strong? Who beat up Rafa in second grade when he called me all sorts of names? Who stood by their mother and helped her build a prestigious modeling agency? Who juggles schoolwork and helping her mother with her business?” I shake my head. “Don’t give me that shit about you not being strong, you’re one of the strongest people I know. It’s okay to be afraid, it’s normal, but don’t let fear control your life.”
Her face lights up.
“I’d hug you, but . . .” She points to her pants over her ankles.
“Imaginary hug,” I say, slapping her forehead and leaving the bathroom. “Come on, Morti, we have work to do.”
“Stop calling me that,” she says, and I hear her flush the toilet.
“Look in the mirror.”
I laugh as I hear her squeal.
“By the nails of Christ and the flip-flops of Moses!”
I take the tray with the leftovers downstairs and find Mom in the kitchen, checking the cake in the oven. It’s the perfect moment to talk, and this conversation we’re about to have has to happen sooner or later. Especially since I’ve invited the Hidalgos to tonight’s party. Mom glances at me over her shoulder as she pours some coffee in her cup.
“Mom, I need to tell you something.” I clear my throat, sitting on the kitchen table. “Can you sit down for a second?”
She frowns but sits across the table from me.
“You’re scaring me,” she says. I let out a long breath.
“I know I’ve told you I’ve been hanging out with Ares as friends these past couple of months,” I start, and she sips her coffee. “Ares and I . . .”
“You’re dating,” she finishes with a calm expression.
“You knew?”
“Sweetie, I’m your mother, and this is a small town. I’ve heard it all from different people. How you guys are all working together at Dream Burgers, how happy you seem.” I hesitate because her expression isn’t angry, but it’s not happy either.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I ask.
“I wanted you to tell me. I’ve been waiting for a while,” she replies. The trust and communication between us fractured when the thing with Yoshi happened, and yet she was giving me time to tell her, to trust her. She was closing the chapter and opening a new one. It makes me feel like she should have found out from me.
“I’m sorry, Mom, I should have said something sooner. I—”
“Raquel,” she interrupts.
“No, let me say this. I haven’t handled this the right way, and I’m really sorry about that. You’ve been a great mom, and I just . . . I keep messing up.” For some reason, I’m getting emotional, and tears blur my vision. Mom sighs and extends her hand to hold mine on the table.
“Sweetie, no tears. There’s no need for those. It’s your birthday. We’re okay, Raquel. You’re not a kid; you’re nineteen now.” She squeezes my hand. “My only questions for you would be: Is he treating you well? Are you happy?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s all I need to know.” She pauses for a second. “Oh, are you being . . . you know, careful?” I know what she means.
“Mom!”
“Hey, I’m not ready to be a grandma, and you’re not ready to have a kid.” I laugh a little and she gets up to walk around the table. She leans in for a hug. “We’re a team, no secrets, okay?”