Page 247 of As the Rain Falls
“This is too kind!” I blink harshly, quickly taking a small bite of one.
The pastry tastes really good, if not a bit cold, certainly from spending the night in the fridge. Sweet things don’t last in Le Port if you don’t put them away carefully; the ants will eat anything they can grab.
“You really didn’t have to!” I add lowly, voice rough with emotion.
Angelina rolls her eyes, downplaying the whole thing entirely. “It was Kayla’s idea, not mine.”
“That makes it even better!” I gasp, fighting a smile.
I am feeling all warm inside. The fact that they’d think of me and plan something together makes me feel so loved and cared for. I’ve never had many friends, but whatever cliché about quality over quantity must be true.
So what if the entire school hates me?
As long as I have these two around my corner, maybe I’ll be okay!
“Do you guys want to try one too?” I offer, wanting to share my sweet treats.
“I do!” Mateo walks in between us, rolling his skateboard all around me before coming to a full stop and placing his foot on the deck, attempting to do an ollie. He fails at it, landing on his ass, but a carefree smile still pops on his face. “You’re finally back!”
“I am,” I answer shyly, taking another bite before handing him half of the donut. And then, remembering there’s usually another boy right by Mateo’s side, I ask. “Where’s Tony?”
I haven’t made an effort to hang out with them again. Maybe I should have. There was something there last time we talked. And though Mateo hasn’t always been easy to read, I haven’t exactly given him a chance. Friendship is a two-way street.
“Probably oversleeping,” he says after a beat, gaze drifting to Angelina. “Did you get my…”
“Yes, I did.” Her cheeks heat up. “Thanks. It’ll help a lot.”
“That’s a lot of donuts just for me,” I mumble, thinking about keeping one for Beckett. Kayla takes one and splits it with Angelina, who promptly puts the remaining donuts back inside the container. I frown. “You don’t want more?”
“No, I’m good. I’ve eaten, like, at least ten of those at home.” She turns to Mateo. “I have something for Fernanda too.”
“You do?”
We all wait as she looks through her purse, evidently trying hard to find something small in the clutter.
“Remember how you said Fernanda doesn’t have a doctor here yet?” She pulls out a note and hands it to Mateo. “Mom still has the contact of the doctor she saw when she was pregnant. He’s the best one in town. If you tell him we gave you his number, well, my mom gave you his number. I’m sure he’ll want to see your sister.”
I close the Tupperware, discreetly shooting Kayla a knowing look as Mateo hides the note in his pocket.
“Thanks, Angie. That’s… Wow, that’s really generous.” He rises and picks up the skateboard, leaning in to press a kiss to her cheek. Angelina blushes, looking like a perfect Russian doll. “My oldest sister… Uh, Fernanda just moved back home. She’s almost six months pregnant, and we’re having to find a doctorthat’s willing to take her in now because her blood pressure gets really high sometimes, which is not good for the baby.”
“Is it a boy or a girl?” Kayla asks, and I nod, agreeing that it’s the perfect question. I want to know it, too.
“We don’t know,” he says and winces. “Nanda is doing this whole thing where we’re not supposed to know the sex.”
My shoulders rise with excitement.
This does sound like something fun.
But what if she buys clothes for the wrong baby?
“I’m hoping it’s a girl, honest to God,” Mateo adds a moment later, sounding a little worried about it. “We have no other guy but me at home. I can’t teach a boy anything.”
“You can teach him how to skate,” I chip in, eyeing his skateboard with newfound interest. I have one at home too, though I don’t use it often. “But I don’t think tricks are your forte, if you know what I mean.”
Mateo rolls his eyes, messing up my hair. “Get fucked, Rivera.”
“No way, I have to survive through the first period first.” I slap his hand away, feeling Kayla start to pull me towards the school. “Priorities, dude.”
