Page 60 of As the Rain Falls
He thinks about the future; about what it could’ve been. I can tell when he gets in his head, lost in thought and searching after all the secret moments they could have shared together. All the love confessions he was never brave enough to say out loud are now wasted, and the unspoken feelings he never got around understanding fully won’t ever lead anywhere.
He loved Lucia, I don’t doubt that.Only, he truly accepted the magnitude of what he felt for her a little too late, and love is not meant to be a quiet thing, at least not when felt this badly. I think they were both too young to know any better.
Some people only learn through loss and pain; my friend is definitely one of them.
“I hate your dad,” he scoffs incredulously, his voice cutting through the sound of the waves around us. “Every time he comes around, you turn into some needy, ugly duckling, tracing after him, trying to get his approval.”
His words make me flinch, giving me whiplash.
“It’s not who you are, man,” he adds, softer this time.
Antony knows me a little too well. Actually, scratch that. Antony Silva is my brother who knows me better than anyone.
We’ve done everything together. From playing little league, to getting ugly haircuts in middle school. I remember fist-fighting our girlfriend’s boyfriends, because we always have each other’s back, no matter what. He’s seen me at my worst and still stuck around, never giving up on me entirely.
If Antony perceives that weakness in me, I can’t deny it because it must be true. The thought of needing approval from someone I don’t even admire pisses me off.
“It’s not like I’m about to let him walk all over me.” My jaw clenches, and I force myself to swallow hard and relax. “I’ll figure something out.”
I don’t care what my father thinks. I’m still keeping Pepé. He is Lucia’s dog, and he might as well become mine now that she’s gone.
“You need to find a solution,” Antony insists, his tone sharp. “You just have to.”
“I know, Tony.” I cross my arms over my chest, giving him a pleading look. “Can’t you keep him at your place for a while? Just until he goes away?”
“No way, dude. That’s a bad idea.” Antony shakes his head profusely. “The twins will get attached, and mom will kill me for it. I already got enough going on trying to graduate. She’s been on my ass about not pushing it this time around.”
“Well, shit!” I groan, throwing my hands up in frustration. “I don’t know what else to do, man. I’m just throwing ideas out there!”
“Why don’t you stand up to him?” Antony suggests, paddling to move forward. “Tell him to fuck off, or something.”
“Sure, Tony.” I smirk sarcastically. “That’ll work great, thanks.”
Thing is, Pepé is large. A big dog who needs a garden, or at least enough space to run and play. He needs to waste all the pent up energy bubbling inside of him.
Finding someone to take care of all that won’t be easy. I don’t have many people I can trust with available backyards, and a dog is such a huge responsibility.
Right then, the solution to my problem hits me.
“Cassandra Rivera.”
Her name slips out of me, sounding like the only logical answer. I stare at Antony dumbfounded, but the realization is so incredibly sharp.
Why didn’t I think about asking her sooner?
Her house is next to mine. She has a big backyard. I don’t think it would be too much trouble to keep him, at least not to her. I think she evenlikesdogs. What if she actuallyenjoyedPepé‘s company, like Lucia did before her?
Antony freezes. “What did you just say?”
“I could ask her to do it,” I speak slowly, trying to get him on board. “I could ask Cassandra.”
His entire face scrunches up before he averts his gaze. I raise an eyebrow at him in question, and he shakes his head.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“What’s wrong with her?” I ask.
“I’ve gotnothingagainst her.”
