Page 64 of Brews & Bartenders

“Hell no, it isn’t. I’ll do whatever she asks with a smile on my face. And I think Carlos would do the same for you.”

He’s got a point but I can’t say anything else about it because David and the girls are in hearing range. “Are y’all ready to go?”

Carlos’s sisters look nervously at each other. I know they can feel the tension and want to know what happened. They won’t hear it from me, though. Carlos is their brother, and it’s not my place to say anything. “Yeah,” Gabi smiles. “My brother wants to know if he needs to leave a key out for us in the morning.”

This is…more awkward than I thought it would be. He usually comes over for breakfast with us in the mornings before he heads to his mom’s or work. We’ve already fallen into a routine with him and this interruption will be difficult. “Probably, just in case.”

“I’ll text him.” Marisol pulls her phone out of her pocket and taps on the screen. “So, pizza?”

“Yes, definitely pizza.” And I hope like hell they don’t judge me because I’ll be having wine with mine.

We hug my mom and brothers, telling them goodbye before piling into my car. “We’ll stop and grab the pizza on the way home. Start thinking about what movies y’all want to watch.”

All three of them sit in the backseat with David in the middle. I pull out of my spot and start driving toward downtown. “Just don’t let her talk you into her weird vampire and werewolf love stories.” David groans and I feel bad for making him endure my favorite movies.

“What?” Marisol gasps. “You don’t like vampires and werewolves?”

“Not really.”

“They’re our favorite.” Gabriela adds before listing off her favorite movies.

David puts his head in his hands and groans. “Dang it. That’s what we’re watching isn’t it?”

“We’ll see,” Marisol looks up and winks at me through the rearview mirror.

Her familiarity with me is amazing and will make it that much more heartbreaking if I can’t make Carlos understand why what happened earlier wasn’t good. It was everything that needed to be said, but not the right time. Tonight, though, I’m going to enjoy the time I have with his sisters. Even though he gripes about them, they are funny. And they include David in all their conversations. I couldn’t ask for better people to be in his corner.

Let’s hope they continue to stay there. Even if things don’t work out the way I’m hoping.

While I'd like to say David lost and we got to watch all the vampire swooniness? That's not what happened. Marisol and Gabriela thought it would be mean if they came and interrupted his day of victory. So, we're watching another superhero movie. Thank goodness it's almost over because we've seen it like a thousand times already.

While they finish the movie, I get up and head to my bedroom. I have a few board games tucked away in the back of my closet. We only get them out whenever my brothers and mom come over because some of them are just no fun when there's only two players.

I pull out Monopoly and Sorry. Both are games that are sure to piss everyone off, but in a fun way.

Closing the closet door behind me, I glance at my phone on the nightstand. Before we started the movie, hell before we ate, I decided it was best to put it in here. Otherwise, I would have the urge to text Carlos or see whatever bullshit Nathan is blowing up my phone with.

The pull to check it is strong. But so am I.

I'll text Nathan tomorrow and let him know if he's going to act like an asshole, he's not welcome at any of David's games. If I have to get a court order to make it happen, I will. I'm done playing these stupid little games Nathan wants to play because he wants to have some sort of control over me. I'm over it. We haven't been together in years. And honestly, I'm a little sick of myself for putting up with it for that long.

My brother was right. I've never stood up to him. Not until today. And I intend on keeping those boundaries in place. Not only are they healthy for me, but they are healthy for David. His dad can pick him up on his appointed weekends and days or he can’t see him. Those are the only options. Plus, he can't tell me he'll take me back to court because that is what the papers say. One night a week and every other weekend.

Carlos…well, that's an entirely different conversation. Both of us need to cool down and get our heads on straight. Because what happened today after the game and cannot happen ever again.

When Nathan left me, I was the ass end of everybody's jokes. Because somehow it was my fault that I couldn't keep my husband. I've worked damn hard to make sure I don't give people a reason to gossip about me since then. All I know is I don't want this to be the thing that breaks us.

I'm in love with him, and have been since the day he put me on the counter so I wouldn't cut my feet on the glass. It helps that I also had a crush on him before he ever asked me out. But he doesn't know that, or need to.

“Mom.” David pokes his head in the door. I didn’t realize I’ve almost made it to my nightstand. “Are you coming?”

“I’ll be there in a second. Can you get the table cleaned off so we can play in there?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He trusts that I’ll be right behind him, and takes off toward the front of the house.

My phone lights up and I reach for it, but don’t pick it up. I will not do this tonight. One day, that’s all I need to get my thoughts under control. Then maybe I can finally tell Carlos how I feel about him. How I have for weeks.

“Come on, Mom.” David hollers loud enough for me to hear him.

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