Page 28 of The Fallacy of True Love
“I would love to, but I can’t, Jo,” he answered with a straight face.
“Why not? Tita Cammy did.”
“I’m still in school.”
“Me too! We can study together.”
Nikki put her hands on her daughter’s shoulders. “Jo, it’s not that simple. His life is in Manila. But we’ll go visit him sometime, okay?”
Jo jutted out her bottom lip, obviously wanting to protest. Instead, she sighed. “Okay.”
A customer showed up then, and Nikki told Jo, “Come help me and I’ll get you an ice candy.”
“Okay!” Jo skipped over to join Nikki at the counter, greeting the customer with a cheerful, “Hi! My mama’s the best cook here, so everything’s yummy! Do you want to try it all?”
I stifled a laugh at her less than subtle but extremely charming go at a sales pitch.
“She’s one hell of a saleswoman,” Alonzo commented, killing my amusement.
I gave him the side-eye. “You’re still here.”
“Hey, I was heading out, but Nikki called me over.”
You and me both. If Nikki thought I’d missed her attempt at linking me up with this guy, she was in for a reality check.
“So you do ink in color,” he said.
“Only for Jo. And it’s a skin-safe marker.”
“I figured.” He tilted his head to the side, eyes dissecting my face. “You’re good with her. I?—“
“Cam!” Eric appeared at the side of the booth. “I thought you were leaving.”
I cocked my head in Nikki’s direction.
He let out a short laugh. “Any chance you’re game to open shop again?”
“Eric.”
A heavy sigh escaped him. “I had to try.” Looking past me, he said to Alonzo, “Sorry for interrupting.”
“No worries,” Alonzo replied. “I’m heading out anyway. See you around, Cam.”
With a nod to Eric, he sauntered away, only to be held up by Nikki once again.
“Don’t forget your bibingka!” She sent Jo over with said rice cake to him.
Smiling, he bent down to take it. “Thank you, Jo. I enjoyed meeting you.”
“You’ll carry me again next time?” She gave him an expectant look.
“You bet,” he said as he held up his free hand, which Jo met with a high-five.
“Yay!”
Alonzo straightened and called out, “Thanks again, Nikki!”
“Anytime.”
