Page 127 of The Fallacy of True Love
After a full day of working on a new project, I checked on Inang and then went over to Nikki’s. Eric had gotten back earlier in the afternoon, so we were celebrating his safe arrival and my surviving boot camp.
Jo greeted me with her usual hugs, Nikki with her teasing smile, Eric with his casual questions, and Milo with a snout-butt against my leg. Some of the diners called out hellos to me, but the place was quiet for the most part.
Our table was loaded with my favorite pork barbecue, daing na bangus, garlic rice, bibingka, and fruit shakes. The latter two were heavy on the cheese and buko strips, just as I’d asked for—“cause you made it back without bloodshed,” Nikki told me out of Jo’s hearing range.
Before I could dig into the food, Jo bombarded me with questions about “Tito Ally,” which mostly revolved around why I didn’t bring him home with me. I answered her as best as I could until Nikki finally came to my rescue, saying that Jo should let me eat before the food got cold.
We chatted about the week’s events, with me glossing over mentions of Alonzo to avoid getting Jo excited. But just as we moved on to dessert, my phone rang from next to my plate.
Beside me, Jo leaned forward. She gasped loudly. “It’s Tito Ally!” She reached out for the phone but I beat her to it. “I want to say hi,” she whined.
Nikki came over to our side of the table as I said, “Alright.”
I accepted the call, and another hand darted in and hit the camera button. I glared at Nikki.
Of course, Alonzo accepted the video call request. “Wow, a vid—” He blinked at seeing me with Nikki and Jo. Then he grinned. “Hi, ladies.”
“Tito Ally!” Jo scrambled onto my lap, taking up almost the entire camera space. “Why didn’t you come back with Tita Cammy?”
“I wanted to, but I had class today.”
“But we’re here.”
He laughed. The sound tickled my ears, sending a shiver down my spine. “I know. Don’t worry, I’m planning to visit soon.”
Jo wriggled on me. “Tomorrow?”
“Not that soon,” he answered, his eyes twinkling, and I caught myself grinning like a fool.
“I’ll talk to Tita Cammy about when I can come over, okay?” Alonzo said.
“Okay,” she answered. “Next week?”
“Jo, let’s wait for him to tell us.” Nikki added, “Good to see you, Lonzo. Thanks for taking care of our girl.”
He winked at her. “It was my pleasure.”
Despite his casual delivery, my brain bombarded me with a montage of the different ways he’d taken care of me…and the pleasure we’d both gotten out of it. I felt warm and I couldn’t blame it on Jo sitting on me or Nikki hovering behind me, though they sure added to it.
“Hey, Lonzo.” Eric came around to my side, with Milo trailing after him.
Now everyone in the café seemed to be looking at us.
“Hi, man,” Alonzo said. “How was the work trip?”
“Rainy but productive. I heard you showed Cam a good time.”
My head turned so fast I almost gave myself whiplash. I glared at Eric hard enough to burn my corneas, but he merely raised his shoulders.
“I’d like to think so,” Alonzo answered with what I could only call a shit-eating grin.
I spoke up. “My friends are putting words in my mouth.”
“We’re only helping you say the things you can’t,” Nikki teased.
“Why can’t she say them?” Jo asked.
“Because there are some things grownups have a hard time admitting,” Nikki replied.
