Page 34 of Eight Steps to Alpha

A bubble of laughter sprung to Fe’s throat, not because it was funny, but because it was so crazy, so un like her, that she couldn’t quite believe it was true. “Elliot’s brother.” She almost cried.

Somehow, saying the whole thing out loud had the opposite effect than what she was hoping. Somehow, she felt even more panicked about returning home than ever before. “Do you want to go to dinner, Mrs. G? There’s that new Italian place around the corner. My treat?”

Mrs. Gomez tsked her tongue, then came to rest her hand of Fe’s shoulder. “Mija, I know you. You’re avoiding your problems.”

Fe peered down to her hands, took a breath, then tilted her chin upward and met Mrs. G’s eyes. But her emotions were getting the better of her, because her voice wobbled when she spoke again. “I really messed up. I—I don’t know how to fix it.”

Mrs. G placed her hand on Fe’s cheek and met her eyes. “How about ‘I’m sorry’, Mija? That’s always a good place to start.”

Fe took a deep breath, mildly comforted by Mrs. G’s presence. “You’re probably right.”

The old woman smiled at her, then patted her hand. “I’m always right,Mija.”

Fe tried to laugh, but she couldn’t. Because how could she truly laugh, when Elliot was miles away, obviously still mad at her.

“You’re too stubborn, Fe.”

“I know.”

“It will get you in trouble one day.”

She Mrs. G’s eyes and nodded. “It already has.”

Mrs. Gomez laughed, then hitched her bag off the hook by the closet, and headed for the door. “You’re a good girl, Mija. You’ll do the right thing. You just have to trust yourself.”

Fe nodded, her heart hammering with the realization of what she had to do. She waited for Mrs. G to close the door, then fished the cellphone out of her pocket and pulled up Elliot’s number. She hesitated for a minute, but then opened up a text and typed out a message.

Fe: I’m sorry.

Elliot: …

She waited a couple minutes of his reply, but it promptly disappeared.

Fe: I saw the dots. You may as well tell me what’s on your mind.

Elliot: What do you want me to say?

Fe:How about, “Fe, you dumb-ass cunt, why did you invite my sleaze-ass brother to stay with us?”

Elliot: Did you just use the C word?

Fe smiled.

Fe: I did. I deserve it.

Elliot: No. You don’t.

Fe:…

Elliot: I shouldn’t have put my foot down. You’re right. It’s your house too.

Fe:…

Elliot: We were both stupid.

Fe:Especially me.

Elliot: I’ll let you have that one.

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