Carlos pats me on the back. “Aren’t you up to date with the social events, princess? It’s the party the team holds when they win.”
Of course, how could I forget the infamous Panthers’ parties? I’ve only been to one because Dean invited us. Unfortunately, on that occasion I was completely invisible to Ares. He was always in a crowd of people.
We walk past the field as we head to the parking lot. I can’t help but glance over to where the players are gathered, talking. Ares is there, completely drenched in sweat, his hair sticking to the sides of his face the same way his uniform is sticking to his body. How can he still look sexy when he’s all sweaty? I need professional help.
His eyes meet mine, and I freeze. He gives me a mischievous smile and takes the edge of his shirt and pulls it off over his head. A lot of players walk around shirtless, so no one thinks it’s strange. My eyes travel down his torso to where the word Witch has already faded. I bite my lip.
I hate my hormones.
Shaking my head, I look away and continue walking. I only manage to take a few steps before I crash into Yoshi. “Ow! I didn’t see you!”
“Let’s get out of here,” he says. Yoshi takes my hand, and I let him even though I just told Carlos off for doing the same thing. He drags me to the parking lot, where everyone else is already waiting for us in Dani’s car. Apolo has taken my place in the passenger seat, so I sit in the back in the middle of Yoshi and Carlos. They both smell great. I love it when a guy smells good. Ares smells divine.
Shut up, hormones!
The party house is located east of town, about ten minutes from my house. You can hear the music from outside, bass booming off the walls of the giant two-story building. There are groups scattered around the garden with plastic cups in their hands. I’m surprised to see so many people there already. They sure move fast when there’s a party.
As we head to the front door, I try not to cover my ears. Electronic music vibrates throughout the house. The main lights are off, and the only light comes from a few dimly lit colored lamps. The DJ is in the living room. He’s a thin guy with long hair and tattooed arms who looks completely focused on what he’s doing.
“Let’s get some drinks!” Dani grabs my hand so that we don’t get separated in the mass of people.
The kitchen is full of teenagers, but somehow Dani manages to get us all a drink. Taking a sip of whatever’s in that plastic cup, I can’t help but remember the last time I drank at Ares’s house, the tequila, his smile, his kisses.
No, no, Raquel.
I am here to distract myself, not to think about him.
As if Dani can read my mind, she yells, “Let’s dance!”
We head to the middle of the room and start shimmying to the rhythm of the music with our cups in the air. For a second, I let my mind fly away from any memories. I dance, I drink, I laugh at Carlos’s crazy movements, and at Apolo’s blushing face when Dani dances next to him. I’m free.
Yoshi takes my arm and turns me toward him. I play along, putting my arms around his neck and dancing with him, and then I make the severe mistake of looking up. Because when Yoshi’s eyes meet mine, the intensity in them takes my breath away. I’ve always thought Yoshi was cute, but something about this moment, maybe the mood or his closeness, fuels something within me.
“Pillow Talk” by Zayn Malik plays in the background and the soft, seductive rhythm makes us move slowly against each other. His hands slide down my waist until they linger on my hips. My lips open and he licks his, wetting them. I want to kiss him.
These sensations take me by surprise. Yoshi presses his fingers into my hips and leans into me until his forehead touches mine. His nose is touching mine. Memories of all the times we’ve shared come flooding back, all the times he has made me laugh, forget my problems, and how he’s always been there for me. He’s my best friend. Up until a few years ago, that was all I thought, but then that innocent boy transformed into a cute boy. I’ve been attracted to him more than once, but I never dared to do anything about it for fear of losing his friendship.
Yoshi sighs, closing his eyes. “Raquel . . .”
I tense up at the seriousness of his tone. Yoshi always calls me Rochi. He only uses my name when he’s talking about something very intense or delicate.
With my heart in my throat, I answer. “Yes?”
“I’m dying to kiss you.”
My heart skips a beat, and he watches for my reaction. I just nod, giving him my consent. I can almost feel his lips on mine already as I close my eyes.
Ares’s face suddenly appears in my mind, making me take a step back. Yoshi looks at me confusedly, and I’m about to say something when a guy with a microphone interrupts us.
“All right, boys and girls! Time to welcome the players.”
Everyone shouts, raising their cups. The team walks into the room, all freshly showered and in regular clothes. Ares is with them, wearing a black shirt that suits him. In fact, black is a color that suits him too well for my taste.
The guy who I recognize as the team’s goalkeeper continues, “First of all, let’s welcome the captain, who gave us three beautiful goals today.”
“Ares! Ares! Ares!” Everyone joins the cheers, and I lower my head.
“Captain.” The goalkeeper slips an arm behind Ares’s shoulders. “You played like never before today, but we also know that you dedicated a goal to a girl.”
“Yes!” the people around me shout.
“I think we all want to know who the lucky witch is.”
A girl from the audience raises her hand. “I’ll be your witch anytime, handsome!”
“Will you reveal her identity?”
Ares laughs, shaking his head. “She knows who she is, and that’s enough.”
“Boo! Tell us! Tell us! Tell us!”
Ares shakes his head again and walks away.
The goalkeeper shrugs his shoulders. “Okay, back to the party. Enjoy!”
Yoshi grabs my hand and drags me through the crowd.
“Hey, Yoshi!” I complain, surprised by his force.
We leave the house, and he takes me to the sidewalk, far enough away from the people in the garden. He lets go of me, and I can see how annoyed he looks. “What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Please tell me it wasn’t with him.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Tell me you didn’t lose your virginity to that idiot.”
I freeze, not knowing what to say.
“Raquel, tell me! Ah! Shit! Ares Hidalgo? That arrogant asshole who treats women like dirt? What were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t thinking! I was … just . . .”
“You what? You what?”
“I got carried away by my feelings!”
“Feelings? Are you in love with him?”
I want to say no, I want to scream no, but the words stay in my throat. Yoshi looks so disappointed that it hurts. It hurts me to see him like this. “Yoshi . . . I . . .”
“You are. You’re in love with him.” He puts his hands on his head and lets out a long sigh of exasperation.
I don’t know what to say. I’ve never been so confused in my life, and then Yoshi starts to talk, disconcerting me even more.
“I like you, Raquel. I really like you.”
Everything stops, I can only look into those honey-colored eyes flooded with tears.
“I’ve always liked you, I thought you and I would end up together like some overused romantic cliché.” A sad laugh escapes his lips. “I guess it was too perfect to be real.”
“Yoshi . . .”
“I’m leaving. Tell the others. Enjoy the evening with your idiot.”
“Yoshi. Wait.”
He doesn’t listen to me and starts to walk away. My heart is beating like crazy. I don’t want him to leave, but what will I do if he stays? What do I tell him?
But then Yoshi stops a few feet away and turns to me again. I watch him in surprise as he walks toward me quickly. His eyes are full of determination.
“Fuck it all!”
“Yoshi, what—”
He takes my face with both hands and kisses me.
TWENTY-FIVE
The Celebration