Page 46 of Sleeping with the Frenemy

“Shut up, Leo,” Sofi said before any sound even escaped. “I can already hear your smug,I knew you were going to keep him as soon as you let him on your bed.” She mimicked his voice. “Well, good for you. I’ll buy you a cookie right after we go to the pet store.” She took off through the parking lot toward his car. “And don’t be too fucking cocky,” she threw over her shoulder. “He’s now half yours which means you’re going to take care of him when I’m at work.”

Leo kept his mouth shut and followed her. He wasn’t the smartest guy, but he knew to quit while he was ahead.

11

Summer in Chicago had always been Sofi’s favorite and nothing kicked it off better than Fiestas Patronales Puertorriqueñas. She still remembered how amazed she’d been during her first Puerto Rican Fest in Humboldt Park. It had been the first time she’d felt so surrounded by her culture since leaving Puerto Rico at age nine. Of course, by the time her first Boricua Fest had rolled around, she’d already been familiar with the Puerto Rican flag arches on either end of Division Street. But there was something about seeing the huge crowds of people all decked out in their favorite Puerto Rico attire walking under and past the arches that had made her eyes water. Even the cars driving along, bumping their favorite Puerto Rican artists while large flags hung out of the windows, made her emotional. When she’d gotten closer to the park itself and saw the rows and rows of vendors under tents, her heart had begun to pound with excitement. There had been everything from freshly squeezed tropical fruit juice to handmade jewelry or art and informational pamphlets announcing community resources. Almost everyone around was speaking Spanish or some version of Spanglish as they greeted family and friends, spoke to customers, and just chatted with their fellow Boricuas. Everything had reminded her of Puerto Rico, the place of her birth that she’d still missed. Now, seventeen years later, she still felt that sense of culture and community as she walked up to the El Coquí booth with Leo on one side of her and her new dog on the other. He was doing pretty well although he didn’t seem to be enjoying the crowd.

After leaving animal control, they’d rushed through the pet store to pick up all the essentials including a new harness, leash, and collar. She’d even grabbed a mesh muzzle just in case. She had a collapsible water bowl in her backpack and a bag of training treats. The only thing she didn’t have for the dog was a name, because she refused to call him Dumpy. That wasn’t happening.

“Mira quien decidió aparecer,” Valeria said when she saw Leo walking toward them. His hair was still wet from the shower he’d rushed through at the apartment while Sofi sat trying to get the dog to let her put a Puerto Rican flag bandana on his neck.

Leo’s dad and siblings, including Liam, who’d been rushing around the booth in their matching El Coquí shirts trying to get things organized and set up turned to face them. They all froze at the sight before them.

“I’m sorry,” Leo said. “But we had something to do.”

“Umm. Whose dog is that?” Kamilah asked with the most confused look on her face.

Sofi didn’t blame her. She still wasn’t sure what was going on and she was the one who decided to keep the dog.

“Ours,” Leo replied a bit too proudly for Sofi’s liking.

Kamilah’s face just became more confused. She looked at Liam, who looked back at her. They had yet another wordless conversation.

“That’s the dog you found in the alley?” Saint asked.

Apparently, Leo had at least told his brother what was going on.

“Yeah,” Leo answered. “We took him to animal control, but they said they thought he was from a drug bust they’d done and they’d already gotten a bunch of other dogs in from it.”

“Dogfighting?” Cristian concluded.

Sofi and Leo nodded. “Neither one of us could leave him there,” Sofi said. “So now we basically have a dog.”

“Wait. Wait.” Eddie waved his hands. “Let me get this straight. So not only are you and Leo roommates, but now you’re co-parenting this dog?”

“I guess,” Sofi said at the same time Leo said, “Yes.”

There was a moment of silence. The only thing Sofi heard was hundreds of strangers’ voices and the old-school Big Pun song about Puerto Rico. Suddenly everyone started laughing. Sofi thought Santos was going to pee his pants, he was doubled over laughing so hard.

“What’s so funny?” Papo asked as he walked up holding hands with Rosie. Right behind him Lola was walking with her grandfather, her arm in the crook of his elbow as if he were guiding her when Sofi was pretty sure it was the opposite.

Liam wiped his eyes. Yes, they’d reduced the most humorless man on earth to tears of hilarity. He gestured to the dog. “Sofi and Leo just adopted a baby together.”

That set everyone off even more. This time Papo joined in. While Lola and her grandpa just looked on in confusion.

Leo rolled his eyes and shook his head. “And you all tell me that I’m a clown.”

“Can I pet her?” Rosie asked, already moving forward.

That sobered everyone up pretty quick.

“Wait,” Saint barked out, coming around the entrance to the booth. “You can’t just walk up to a dog you don’t know.”

“Especially one used for fighting,” Cristian added.

Sofi was offended even though she knew they had a point.

Apparently Leo was too, because he said, “Dumpy is a sweetheart. He let everyone at the pet store come up and pet him.”

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