Page 83 of Insatiable Hunger

I nod.

“I can’t chit-chat any longer without addressing the elephant in the room,” she blurts out, confusing me. “Speaking of you and Zeke… how could you guys lie to me like this?”

My throat feels like it closes as I dart my eyes to meet hers, blood turning to ice. “Uh, wh-what do you mean, Mom?”

Holy shit, she knows. How the fuck does she know?The space starts to spin, nausea churning in my gut. I’m going to be sick.

“I had lunch with Daphne a few days ago, and we got on the topic of you…”

Oh my God. She heard us in his office that one time. Or she saw us outside the office before he flew out. Fuck!

“She told me you’re not working at Alvarez Oil, Elias. What the hell?”

My lungs seem to remember how to work again.Thank God, it’s just about that stupid lie of a job.

“Why would you guys lie?” Her voice is high-pitched. She’s pissed.

Thinking quickly, I spit out, “It’s not a lie, Mom. I did work there, but I don’t anymore.”

Her brows knit together, lips pressed into a thin line. “Well, why not? And why wouldn’t Daphne know that?”

“I was a remote employee. Why would Daphne know anything about that? I reported directly to Zeke. And because...” I gesture my hand nonchalantly in front of me. “It wasn’t for me anymore. I make more money doing social media work anyway.”

It’s moments like this, I’m thankful I can think on my feet. The lie rolls of my tongue effortlessly, and I can see the wheels turning behind her eyes as she processes it.

“Elias,” she breathes, rolling her eyes. “That was a good job with a stable income and health insurance. You cannot keep doing this social media crap forever. You need arealjob.”

“Mom, I know how you feel, but I’m an adult and it’s my decision. Now, can we please talk about something else?”

She looks at me like she doesn’t want to drop it, but her phone rings—literally saving me by the bell. “Oh, shoot. It’s Zeke. I gotta get this.”

At the sound of his name, my heart stammers.

***

Zeke Alvarez

At four thirty-five this morning—Friday—Elena passed away in her sleep, comfortable, and with her hand slid into mine.

In the almost week since I’ve arrived, things have gone downhill quickly. The night I arrived, she was still up and walking around. Granted, not for very long periods of time, but she was. We were able to talk, hold conversations, and we even watched Sixteen Candles together.

When we were little, after we’d already moved to Miami, we’d watch that together a lot. We could both practically recite the movie, word for word, and it never got old.

Watching it with her now felt like old times. I could almost pretend she wasn’t sick—wasn’t dying—and I could almost forget the situation that led me back here.

It feels like it all happened in the blink of an eye. One moment, we were talking about life, laughing at a movie nearly as old as us, and the next, she was having difficulties staying awake, refusing food, and the moments when she was awake, she was disoriented and confused. One minute she was here, and the next, she was gone.

It’s been several hours since she passed, and it’s still hard to believe. Ishouldbe getting some sleep. A part of me, even if only subconscious, must’ve known it was going to happen, because sleep was nowhere to be found. No matter how hard I tried. It’s like the universe knew she was making her exit, and they didn’t want me to miss it.

Elena’s best friend, Chantel, is handling the service, and between her and I, we let everybody know this morning that would’ve wanted to know. El has created her own little found family here in Miami since our mom and brother died. People who helped her raise me would take turns babysitting while she worked, when she didn’t think I was old enough to stay home by myself. They’d cook for us sometimes too.

She has a whole tribe of people who love her and who are going to miss her dearly.

More than once since she passed, I’ve considered calling Elias. But truthfully, I have no idea what I’d even say. And it’s not fair for me to put all of this on him. I did call Valerie briefly about an hour ago to let her know Elena was gone.

She said she and Elias will catch a flight and be here by tomorrow. That shocked me a little. I figured she’d come, but I wasn’t expecting Elias to come too. Which is how I find myself where I am now—the guest room at my sister’s house, clearing out a space for Elias to sleep when he gets here.

This is technically the room I should’ve been sleeping in, but since I arrived, I’ve mostly slept in a chair beside Elena’s bed, or on the couch. Valerie and I can sleep in the room down the hall, across from Elena’s.

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