Page 119 of Love me, Maddie Mendoza

“Six?” Nick gasped, offended.

“You never agreed on codenames or training sessions.”

I raised my hand right there, “How about we can do all of that when it’s your turn to get the girl, ok?”

Jason scoffed. “I wouldn’t fuck it up the first time around.”

He was very certain of it, but when Cathy passed by with four huge burly men on her heels, his eyes followed her until one of them warned him with a look. Whatever was going on there, it didn’t seem like Jason had it under control.

I shook my head. “I just want to know if it’s ready.”

Nick nodded, and Jason grinned. I bobbed my head, confident for the first time this year. I patted their backs with a thank you. I was forever in their debt.

I’d gladly come up with codenames for whenever Jason went after Cathy.

I let the chatter grow around us and moved on the balls of my heels.

Today was the day.

Mom’s roast back at Orchid Street was divine, even while she wished I’d agreed to something more. It was perfect. And I got tres leches cake all for me, so I couldn’t understand why she thought it wasn’t the perfect celebration.

I licked my fork, but my foot bounced up and down under the table. I kept touching my phone in my front pocket like I could miss the ping.

Dad was silent but observing. When I touched the pocket for the fifth time, he exhaled and twisted his mouth. “What’s going on, Zeek?”

“Nothing.” The lie came out easily. “More cake?”

“Zeek. What has you so jumpy?”

Mom looked between us, confused. I was about to calm them when my phone finally pinged.

Aisha:Tea Leaves to Blue Commander. The package is on its way.

Aisha:I was told we needed codenames.

Aisha:Maddie is on her way.

I stood up quickly and grinned at my parents. “I’ll step aside for a second.”

“What do you mean by stepping aside? Where?” Mom asked.

“Sit down, Zeek.” Dad sighed.

“I’m just going to the garden, ok?”

I didn’t wait for them to argue with me. Grabbing the lighter from the second drawer, I was quick but not quick enough, so mom asked in panic if I was smoking now. I ignored it and jogged through the backdoor and then through the side gate. As I requested, Jason prepared everything exactly the way I imagined.

Pictures of my life with Maddie now hung from each branch of the two trees between the houses, thirty-three and thirty-five. Each branch told a story of many. Nick and Jason helped me to collect the memories.

On the ground, pillar candles waited to be lit and illuminate the path. I told Jason I could do the tree myself if they helped me gather the pictures without raising suspicions, but Jason really wanted to be involved. Hopefully, he’d use his powers of crafting for good instead of impromptu interventions.

Getting our old pictures without raising suspicion wasn’t that hard. Jay and Nick just had to pretend to be from the graduation committee and soon all Maddie’s family wanted to share pictures of her growing up. And most of her pictures were mine too.

The ribbons and mementos were harder to steal from her bedroom. But if anyone knew how to get in and out of her house, it was me.

I beamed at our joint effort. It looked great. It told our story, and I hoped to hell it was enough to make her see.

I lit the candles and waited. My stomach churned with anticipation, I shouldn’t have eaten so much cake, but mom’s tres leches was the best. I cracked my knuckles and leaned on the tree, breathing slowly through my nose.

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