Page 44 of The Fallacy of True Love
Her smile was wider than usual. “It’s on the table.”
With that, she left.
I went straight to the dining table, where sure enough, there was a folded piece of paper. A bus ticket. Scrawled on its back was:
Cam—
I really am sorry for crashing into you yesterday and snapping at your offer to help. You’ll probably (definitely) disagree, but I’m glad I met you.
Thanks for the save—and for listening. I owe you one.
Alonzo
The paper crinkled as I reread the note. He must have left it while I was gone yesterday, maybe right before he walked to the bar and ran into Nikki.
Damn it.
Just when I thought I had him pegged, he’d pull a one-eighty on me and have me questioning my judgment all over again. This gesture wasn’t anything grand; just recycled paper and words. But it was tangible—evidence, as he might say, of the events that had marked my weekend. It didn’t erase what happened last night, but it did dull my anger.
I found myself bringing the note to my desk and going back to it after I showered.
As I opened my laptop to work, I placed it under my mousepad, promising I’d throw it out later.
Then I opened my emails and found one from my recurring client. And I forgot about the note for the rest of the day.
Chapter Fifteen
Alonzo
I’d steeled myself for a massive blowup once my parents got home, but what transpired was more of a prolonged sputter rather than an all-out eruption. I credited it to my sisters being there with their partners, not to mention the lingering high of Tala’s engagement. If it took one of my siblings getting hitched for Papa to lay off me, I might bug Gabe about putting a ring on Luna’s finger too.
I had gotten off easy, but I had no doubt the issue would come up again when the celebrations were over. So, I’d enjoy the reprieve while it lasted.
Our extended family reunion had gone on longer than usual thanks to Tala’s announcement. She’d shared it after we finished our traditional lunch and secret Santa gift exchange, and while our cousins argued over the karaoke mic, the titos and titas took turns interrogating Tala and Jason and checking out Tala’s ring. Our most shameless tita remarked that the diamonds were smaller than she expected, proving she really didn’t know Tala.
I excused myself so I could make it to my shift and powered through the next six hours on espressos and a sandwich. During my break, I found a text from Tala telling me they’d pick me up for siblings’ night.
My translation? They were staging an intervention for me. If that was the case, I was just glad we could do it in private. The official story I’d given was that I was burned out from school and needed a quick break. While it was partially true, it didn’t explain my sudden departure and radio silence. I figured my sisters convinced Papa to take it easy on me and let them do the talking.
Was I taking advantage of my privilege as the youngest child? You bet.
At Tala and Jason’s condo, we raided their liquor stash and took our spots in their huge living room. Luna and Gabe sat on one side of the sectional, with Tala and Jason on the other, while I sank into an armchair opposite them. Trying to prolong the inevitable, I swirled my glass of whiskey, letting the ice cubes clink.
When I looked up, everyone was staring at me with varying degrees of concern.
I took a long drink for some courage.
Just get it over with, man.
“Dani cheated on me.” My words echoed in the silence. It was the second time I’d said it, yet it didn’t feel any easier than the first.
After what felt like ages, Luna asked, “What?”
Tala’s eyes were wide, her voice soft as she said, “Lonzo, I’m so sorry.”
Jason leaned across the table to clap his palm on my knee. Gabe frowned. “Do you want me and Jason to step out for a while?”
I shook my head. “It’s alright. You deserve to know too, since you had to cover for me and all. She admitted it when I picked her up for our date.” I huffed out a breath.
