Page 99 of Dead Set on You
He quit Media Lab, and I should be celebrating, not feeling a dull ache at the thought of Media Lab without him. I want to call him back, to ask him questions, to understand why he stayed as long as he did if it was just “a job.” I follow after him instead.
The bar is more crowded than before, and the dance floor moves to the flow of bodies and beats.
I try to find an undisturbed corner to observe from and find myself beside a table with three tequila bottles. I peer down at them, squinting in the scant light to make out the design. It’s a skeleton with a bony finger to its lips.La Clandestina—Tequila Añejois written beneath it. Another saysTequila Reposado, the lastTequila Blanco. Rafael’s tequila.
It’s hard to believe it. Rafael left Media Lab to start his own business. All those documents at his place? Those were for him—forhisnew venture. It’s the secret he’s been hiding, and I would never have guessed. I thought I knew most things about Rafael, yet I missed this very major, very important thing.
As I watch him among the crowd, I can’t help but wonder what else I might have missed.
The only answer is Bad Bunny rapping on the speakers.
Burning questions aside, I inch toward the crowd, toward Rafael, his family and friends.
If the last few days have taught me anything, it’s that I’ve spent too long living life with checklists for the sake of playing it safe. I’m tired of watching from the sidelines, especially when tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Not for anyone. Especially not for me.
As I go, I kick off my shoes and dance around the others, forgetting about hospitals, unfinished business, and the chance of no tomorrows. The dance floor is crowded, but it’s easy to find Rafael. He spots me—with a wink and a smile that hits dead center. He circles around me when he can, close enough to almost touch. I go with it, allowing myself to be Vela’d.
And on the dark dance floor, where anything is possible, so is dancing with a ghost.
We dance around each other until the crowd thins and the remaining guests are buzzed enough to have kicked off their heels and loosened their ties. Until people canoodle in the booths and others are almost half asleep by the bar.
“We have a special request!” The DJ speaks into the mic. “This one goes out from the birthday boy to a special someone.” My chest constricts as a familiar melody blasts through the speakers. “Dancing Queen.”
I can’t help but laugh as Rafael begins to shake his hips. The other dancers move to the beat, even if the song is unlike the other club hits that have played all night. Some begin to sing along. Rafael’s oldest sister, Gloria, commands the dance floor with her moves, and everyone claps along as she throws her hands into the air and lives the classic song with her entire body.
“It appears at least one Vela has been converted,” Rafael shouts over the music as he dances beside me.
“Appears so!” I shout back, shimmying to the beat. I sing along, and I notice Rafael’s lips moving to the words as well. “Aha! Busted!”
He shrugs. “I guess it’s contagious.”
If anyone sees him talking to himself, no one says anything. My lips itch to remind him of his conditions, which he’s broken considerably more often than me.
“Thanks!” I shout instead. “I’m honored to be your special someone.”
“Who said it was you?” Rafael frowns.
I clutch my chest. “What? I thought I was your only rival!”
“Is that what we are? Rivals?”
I dance around him, pondering his question as ABBA wraps up one of their greatest hits.
“Evie!” Rafael nudges when I haven’t answered.
The song comes to an end, leaving me breathless and without a cover. “Rafael,” is my only answer.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIXTWELVE DAYS AFTER (EARLY, EARLY MORNING)
Rafael says we have one stop to make before we go home, but he doesn’t tell me where the Uber is headed.
We’re dropped off near the Adler Planetarium. Rafael guides us right past it. Past the food stand not too far from it. He continues walking, to the beach, across the sand, motioning for me to follow—and because I haven’t had a rational thought since I’ve been knocked out of my body, I do.
“Where are we going?” I shout, following him like we’re tethered together. In some divine, inexplicable way, we are. How else do I explain waking up at his place each morning? Or him being the only one able to see me? Or the way I internally combust from the way he looks at me?
“You ask too many questions!” He laughs, the sound caught by the wind and the waves and carried into the night.
I roll my eyes and rush after him. “Rafael!”
