Page 19 of The Fallacy of True Love
Remorse slapped me across the face, and even though it was only past six in the morning, I dialed our group chat.
The phone rang twice, and then—“Hello?” Tala’s voice came through, loud and sharp.
“Ate T.”
“Alonzo!” she cried out. “Thank God. Are you okay? Where are you? Why haven’t you been answering?”
“Finally!” Luna said, joining the call. “Are you?—”
“I’m okay,” I answered before she could repeat Tala’s questions. “I’m sorry I worried you guys. I’m in Juana.”
“What?” Tala exclaimed. “Why didn’t you text us? Or answer our calls? We’ve been worried sick.”
“I kind of…blanked out.” As excuses went, that was lame. But it was also the truth. Between getting in the car and stepping off the bus, I barely remembered anything. I couldn’t even pinpoint the moment I decided to go here. I’d kept my phone off because I knew Dani would try reaching me, and I couldn’t stomach seeing her name or photo flash across the screen.
“What happened?” Luna asked. “Miggy said Dani told him you’d argued and you were upset, but she didn’t say why.”
I screwed my eyes shut and swiped my palm down my face. “I can’t talk about it now.” I could barely admit the truth to myself, let alone to anyone else. I needed time. “I’ll tell you when I get back.”
“When will that be? Don’t forget we have lunch on Monday,” Tala reminded me.
Right. The annual Reyes Christmas reunion, when Tala and Jason were announcing their engagement to our extended family. “I’ll be there by then.” I could take the last bus out tomorrow night and be home by Monday morning. Then I could also make my afternoon shift at the coffee shop.
“Are you really okay?” Tala said again. “We can pick you up, just let us know where.”
“I’m fine. I just need time to myself.”
“Sure?” Luna asked. “Because we don’t mind the drive.”
“Yeah. I promise I’ll be back before the party.” I sighed. “Can you hold Papa and Mama off for me?”
“What do you think we’ve been doing?” Luna grumbled. “We spent hours trying to talk Papa down until Mama finally convinced him to go to bed.”
All I could manage to say was, “I’m sorry.”
“Do you have a place to stay?” asked Tala.
Shit. Another thing I’d blanked on. “I’ll find one after we hang up.”
“What?” Luna screeched. “Where are you now?”
“The beach.”
“This is so not you. I think we should go there,” Luna said.
“No!” I shouted. In a calmer voice, I added, “Please don’t. I need space. I promise I won’t do anything crazy.”
“You mean other than taking off and going to a different state in the middle of the night?” Tala asked.
“I can take care of myself, Ate T.”
“Fine. Just…let us know if you need anything, alright? Anything,” she stressed.
“I will. Thanks.”
“We love you, Lonzo,” Luna said, and it brought a lump to my throat.
“Love you too. See you on Monday.” Then I hung up before she made me any more emotional than I already was.
