Page 1 of Naughty and Nice
Chapter
One
Liliana
* * *
“Liliana,” Celeste said as she pushed my office door open and stuck her head inside. “Qué pasa?”
I looked up at the woman I considered a friend. Today her hair was light blond with bright pink tips. Nodding, I feigned a smile. “Estoy bien.” I jutted my chin toward the computer screen. “I’m trying to catch up on a few things.”
Celeste came in and sat on the chair beside my desk. “I thought Izzy did most of the paperwork.”
“She does.” I turned the screen toward Celeste. “This is something else.”
Celeste’s eyes widened. “Community college. I didn’t know you wanted to go to college.”
Pressing my lips together, I shrugged. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. It was Izzy’s idea.” My gaze lowered. “I didn’t think I was smart enough to go to college.”
“Are you kidding?” Her volume rose. “Liliana, you know so much about what’s happening here in the apartments. I mean, Mia is in charge, but you’re the blood and soul of this place.” Her lips curled. “Are you thinking about counseling? Because you’re great talking with any of us.”
“I was thinking about teaching.” I shrugged. “Izzy asked me to put together a class for new arrivals, basic stuff.” My cheeks rose. “It was fun.” I shook my head. “College will never happen.”
“Why not?”
I forced a weak smile. “Hey, I’m supposed to be helping you, not the other way around.”
“What’s stopping you from taking a few classes?”
“My parents. They disowned me after Gerardo died, when I refused to go back to their home.” The bottled-up emotion created pressure in my chest. “If it weren’t for Mia, I would have been forced to go back to them. If I would’ve gone back, they would have married me off again.”
“Chica, if any of us had parents who gave a shit about us, we wouldn’t be here. Besides, who cares what your parents think? Is it too late to register for the spring semester?”
The new semester would start next month. “Can I share a secret, one that I haven’t told anyone?”
“Oh, juicy,” Celeste said. “Qué es?”
“I already applied, and San Diego Community College accepted me.”
Celeste’s eyes opened wide. “Why all the doubt? You’re in.”
“I can take online classes at first, but what if I don’t do well?”
“Oh hell no. You’ll do great. You know Julia is in pre-nursing classes. And Luz is taking general-study courses. They have a study time in the library on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons before Wanderland opens. You could join them.”
“I want to talk to Mia, but she hasn’t been in the office for over a week.”
Celeste scrunched her nose. “How is Mia feeling?”
“Fine. Why?”
“Oh, come on. We know she’s expecting another baby. Everyone is talking about it. El Patrón will have two children.”
Warmth flushed my cheeks. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t supposed to say anything. The morning sickness is the reason she hasn’t been in. I’ve talked to her on the phone. I know I don’t have to answer to anyone, but I feel like I owe Mia so much. I’d really like her advice.”
“Then go see her. You’re a Ruiz, right?”
“I was, for a short time.”
