Page 31 of The Slayer
She knew he was counting in Spanish, but she couldn’t, for the life of her, imagine what he was dreaming about.
* * * *
“Five, six, seven—”
“Why are you always counting like some pendejo on an exercise video? Just go until you feel like you can’t feel your arms and do five more. About tonight, you come out with me and Carmen, and I help you steal a car after. That’s the deal.”
Chuito looked up at his cousin Marcos, who was spotting him in the garage as he bench-pressed. “Carmen the Cuban?”
“So what?” Marcos shrugged as he stood over him. “I don’t give a shit if she’s Cuban. Have you seen hertetas?”
“Take it,” Chuito grunted, pushing the barbell up until Marcos helped him put it back. Then he rubbed a hand over his face and groaned. “Why do I have to go?”
“She’s got to bring her friend along. Always with the friends. Why? All the chicas do that. So annoying,” Marcos grumbled. “I wouldn’t bring you along if I didn’t have to. What is it with them?”
“It’s probably ’cause they know you’re going to stick your fingers in her pussy the first chance you get. They protect their own.”
“I’m going to stick more than my fingers in her pussy, cabrón,” Marcos assured him as he leaned against the barbell. “As long as you keep her friend busy, I’m going to eat itandfuck it.”
“Her friend’s probably Cuban too. What the hell am I supposed to do with her?”
“The same thing you do with a Boricua Latina,” Marcos said with a grin. “Make out. Suck on her tetas or something. You don’t have to fuck her since you’re obviously saving yourself for marriage. Just keep her busy.”
Chuito sat up and avoided his cousin’s gaze.
“I’m not you, Marc,” he finally admitted. “Chicas don’t like me.”
“Sure they do. You’re Boricua. You’re naturallychulo.”
“I don’t think I’m naturally chulo,” Chuito argued as he turned to his cousin and confessed a fear he hadn’t admitted to anyone. “What if I’m like him?”
“Him?” Marcos pulled back, looking confused for a long moment before he said, “Ay Dios mio.” He came around and sat on the bench next to Chuito. “You are ruining my sex life for that motherfucker? You’re not like him, Chu.”
“Maybe I am.” Chuito shrugged. “I am half him.”
“Okay, I’ll admit you have an unnatural obsession with stealing shit,” Marcos agreed. “And you are a mean motherfucker when you’re fighting. That’s all pretty fucking gangster, but you’re not going to hurt a chica.”
“How do you know?”
“I just know.” Marcos held up his hands in evidence. “’Cause you’re my cousin and I know you, okay? I wouldn’t leave a car unlocked around you. I sure as shit wouldn’t piss you off, but the chicas are safe from you. More than safe. You’re sort of hopeless around them. We have to work on this.”
“I’m fourteen,” Chuito argued. “That’s not—”
“I’ve been fucking for a year now,” Marcos argued. “This is not okay. We need to get your game on, motherfucker, ’cause this shit is hurtingmy game.”
“Can’t you find chicas without friends?”
“Theyallhave friends. Even the skinny ones,” Marcos assured him. “Let’s fucking discuss this. I’ve dragged you along enough times to know you got a little game. What have you done?”
Chuito shrugged, unable to meet his gaze.
“Look, why don’t you just focus on the chicas getting off. Just make it about them. Don’t worry about your dick if you’re so fucking uptight about it. Don’t you like sucking on tetas?” Marcos gave him a harsh look. “Pleasetell me you like sucking on them.”
“I like sucking on them. I just start to worry I’ll lose control and—”
“Have you licked pussy? That’s harmless. Just do that.”
Chuito gave him a sharp look. “I’m pretty sure you’re the only one who knows how to do that. I don’t even hear motherfuckers at the warehouse talking about it, and they get pussy all the time.”
