“You’re joking, right?” Gloria asked.
I shook my head, crossed my legs and belted back half my margarita.
“We had sex today. A lot of sex. It was fucking amazing, definitely worth the f-word.” I realized who was in our circle and turned to Gloria, “Sorry.”
“Don’t mind me,” she said, grinning at Indy.
“I’m seriously screwed, in more ways than one.” Then I giggled to myself and luckily, everyone giggled with me.
“Maybe that margarita wasn’t a good idea,” Gloria remarked.
My purse was laying in my lap and it started ringing. I handed my margarita to Indy and dug out my cel .
“Probably Tex, he’s pissed at me that he missed the shoot out.”
Gloria’s eyebrows rose to her hairline and I flipped open my phone.
“Hel-lo?” I sing-songed.
“Nice dress,” a male voice I knew too wel because the memory of it was burned in my brain, said in my ear.
I sobered immediately and my entire body stil ed.
“Maybe I’l make you wear it when I do you,” Vince said.
Chil s raced down my spine, bile came up my throat and my voice went on vacation.
How he got my phone number, I’d never know. I didn’t even want to know.
“I’l shove it up around your hips…,” he paused. “Oh, now, that’s sweet. Here comes your wetback boyfriend.” My head came up and I saw Eddie walking my way.
Dear Lord.
Vince could see us.
I stood on shaky legs and looked around in a panic, trying to find where Vince was hiding. The yard backed up to an al ey and had houses on either side. There were people everywhere. The shakes in my legs hit my torso and I wrapped my arm around my stomach.
“Yeah. I’m watchin’ you bitch. Waitin’ for my moment. I don’t give a fuck what protec—”
The phone was ripped away from me and Eddie was there. He put the phone to his ear and listened for a minute.
Obviously, Vince wasn’t done talking.
Eddie’s faced changed to an expression I’d never seen before. It was beyond what he wore last night. It was beyond anything. It was indescribable.
He flipped the phone shut and stared at the ground for a second, his jaw working.
I held my breath.
Then he turned and, with a vicious side arm throw, he threw my phone across the yard. It slammed into the margarita pitcher with such force, the glass pitcher exploded, and so did my phone, bits of it went through the glass and skipped across the table and most of the yard.
Everyone went silent and turned to look.
I stared in the direction of my phone.
“Eddie,” It was Lee, standing close, his voice low, his eyes serious.
I realized my mouth was dry and I swal owed.
Eddie’s eyes went to Lee.
“Fratel i,” was al he said.
A muscle moved in Lee’s cheek.
“Mi hijo.” Blanca was there and speaking quietly in Spanish to Eddie. He responded in Spanish and his mother’s startled eyes came to me. “Sí,” she said.
Eddie turned to me. “Your mother stays here tonight, tomorrow she moves to Tex.”
It wasn’t the time for discussion and certainly not the time to argue. Eddie was beyond angry: I was scared speechless. Trixie and Ada arrived, Mom leaning on Trixie, al of them looking worried.
I nodded.
“You’re with me.”
I nodded again.
“The party’s over,” he finished.
Chapter Fifteen
Whacked
Once Eddie announced the party was over, I learned how Blanca could pul off such an extravaganza so quickly.
Eddie’s sisters and aunties went into action; clearing, cleaning and tidying while the interested parties moved to Blanca’s living room: me, Eddie, Mom, Trixie, Ada, Blanca and, for moral support, Indy and Al y.
Hank and Lee came with us and stayed for a bit, then, when Tom brought in my mother’s chair and handed Trixie’s keys to her, they al went into the hal and formed a male huddle with Malcolm, talking in quiet voices with tight faces.
Hank and Lee peeled off and disappeared. Malcolm and Tom hooked up with Kitty Sue and left.
I noticed this and didn’t, mainly because I was busy trying to tel Mom about the mess I was in without giving her another stroke. I sat on my knees on the floor in front of her, she was sitting on the couch and Eddie was standing beside me.
I told her the story of my week.
Mom’s face got pale.
Then her eyes got hard.
When I was done she said, “Your fucking father.” Wow.
I didn’t think I’d ever heard Mom say the f-word.
“Mom, stay calm,” I said.
“I’m calm. I’m calm enough to say when they put me away for murdering your father, they’l know it’s premeditated. One-armed or not, I’m gonna kil that jackass.” She looked up at Eddie, “Sorry Eddie.” He cocked his head slightly, indicating he wasn’t going to cuff her just yet.
Mom’s eyes turned back to me. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I didn’t—” I started but she interrupted me.