Page 32 of The Five Stages of Courting Dalisay Ramos

“On the counter here, Mama,” Dalisay says.

Finally, through the crowd swarming him, he spots Dalisay near the sink. When she’s at home, she wears more comfortable clothes than the ones she wears to work. Her hair is piled on her head in a messy knot, and she’s wearing yoga pants and a loose-fitting shirt that makes him think she’s just finished a workout. She smiles at him and shrugs, as if to saySorry, not sorryand Evan smirks back.

The woman hustles over to them and hands a notepad to Daniel.

“This is our mom,” Daniel says.

“Yes, yes,” Mrs. Ramos says, barely looking at Evan. She’s got her glasses on a delicate gold chain, looking fashionable in just a knit sweater and long floral skirt. He notices her cast is decorated in flowers in permanent marker. “This is all I could think of off the top of my head. I’ll probably add more, don’t worry!”

Daniel hands Evan the list, and Evan isn’t sure where to keep it. His hands are full, so he pinches it in his armpit while Little Luis tries to crawl over Evan’s head, screaming the whole time.

“Bro, you better roll up your sleeves,” says Daniel with a sly grin.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Dalisay winds up, hefting the ax behind her head, and hurls it toward the target. With a solidFUMPit lands squarely on the wall at the end of the lane. Pinky cheers behind her. “Yeah! Bull’s-eye!”

Dalisay spins around, fist pumping, and laughs. Pinky invited her after work to Axe Me About It, a recreational ax-throwing center near Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s a giant warehouse stacked like a bowling alley, with several private lanes for people to practice their throws without worrying about hurting anyone else. It’s a good thing too, because Dalisay’s aim wasn’t so great at first. On her third throw she lost her grip and let the ax fly behind her, nearly hitting the burly, tattooed instructor. She’s gotten better with practice. The world’s best-kept secret stress reliever, Pinky told her. Everything with Evan, and Nicole’s secrecy, and the fact that Dalisay’s still adjusting to life in America has made Dalisay feel like she’s juggling axes for real. For once, it feels like she can finally think about something else. It’s frustrating not being able to talk to Nicole. Dalisay would never want to put her on the spot, or out her before she’s ready, and yet at the same time she isn’t sure how she can tell Nicole what she knows. It’s a tightrope walk, one that Dalisay isn’t sure she has the dexterity to maneuver.

But throwing axes for fun seems to put that pent-up energy to better use. If only everything in life made her feel this good.

“You’re kind of scary!” Pinky says. “Dalisay, warrior princess.” Then she gasps. “You would look so good in a Xena cosplay.”

“Consider it … considered. I’ve never done anything like that before.”

“It’s so much fun! JM, Evan, and I, we go to Comic-Con every year. We get a hotel room and make a whole weekend of it and everything. You should come! It’s the best.”

Dalisay smiles, dubious. “Evan does cosplay?”

“Yeah! Mostly superheroes. He and JM lift weights at the gym together to get in shape.”

It makes sense then why he looked so good without his shirt. Dalisay bites her lip to keep herself in check. “He’s never struck me as someone who does that kind of thing.”

“What, being a total nerd? Looks can be deceiving. Speaking of …,” says Pinky, smiling over the rim of her beer. “Spill.”

“What?”

“Spill. The tea. I have to know. What torture did you put him through? How’d Evan do with his servitude?”

“Infuriatingly well. He never complained once, not even when my mom had him unclog the shower drain.”

Pinky grins toothily. “He’s all-in, that’s for sure.”

“It’s nice having an extra pair of hands around the house.”

“Is that all Evan is? A pair of hands?”

“Yes.” It’s not a convincing lie.

Even though it’s been days since the dream, Dalisay can’t shake how it made her feel. Howgoodit made her feel. Shehefts another ax, appreciating how heavy it is in her palm, how it gives her something else to focus on.

“You’re really not coming around about him?” Pinky asks, skeptical.

“He’s fine …”

Pinky’s lip curls knowingly because Dalisay might as well be made of glass, she’s so transparent. Dalisay blushes and Pinky throws her head back with laughter.

“Hey!” cries Dalisay, brandishing the ax. “You want to laugh at the person holding this?”

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