Page 80 of Penalty Shots

"And he's not digging a hole. I bought him a roasting box to make things easier.

"Though we could always go old school and dig a hole, tie it up, spin it out over the hot coals. We just have to wait until all the blood has drained out."

I set the sandwich back down on the plate. "I think I just lost my appetite."

"Oh, come on. Nothing like a home-cooked pig to get you into the holiday spirit," Dad says.

The thought of a pig hanging from the limb of a tree doesn't exactly scream holidays to me. But it's what my parents both grew up with. It's what I'd eventually want my kids to experience whenever it was time. I'd never want them to be out of touch with their culture.

"Wanna see it?" Dad asks.

I hold both hands up, "No. Thanks, though. I'd rather just eat it without knowing what its face looked like the moment you ended its life."

Dad shrugs. "Your loss."

I laugh. "Yeah, I think that's a loss I'm willing to take."

The night is quiet except for the island's song outside my open window. The little tree frogs that call Puerto Rico home come alive at night to sing an enchanting song for us all.

In the distance, I can hear the water lapping on the nearby shore. My Abuela's house is a nice refuge. But even so, I keep tossing and turning.

I hear the crunch of tires on the rock driveway outside and some doors open and close.

"Are you sure this is it?" I hear a woman's voice say.

"It's what the map brought us to, so I would think so," a man answers.

I sit up in my bed because I recognize those voices.

Another door opens and closes. "Next time, please don't let Libby drive on the curves. We almost got arrested."

Oh my God.

"I'm the best girl for the job. I don't know what y'all are complaining about," Libby hisses. "Besides, I'm pregnant. If a cop’s gonna let anyone off the hook, it'll be me."

There's no way. I toss the light sheet from my legs and slip into my sandals, padding quietly across the living room and switching the porch lights on.

Looking through the small window near the door, I see them.

My friends.

Chapter 23

Keelan

Rina is standing at the entrance of her family's home in that tiny number I recently slipped off of her. The memory of our stolen moment flashes across my mind as she opens her mouth.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"Surprise!" We all whisper-yell.

"I know you probably wanted to be alone," Izzy says, approaching her friend. "But it's Friendsgiving, and we couldn't do it without you, Ri."

"Plus, you were supposed to bring the potato salad before you bailed," Fergie says.

Libby slaps him on the shoulder.

I walk up to Rina, those hazel eyes glistening, and bring her in for a hug.

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