Have you ever tried to move someone taller and stronger than you? It’s like pushing a huge rock.
“Ares, please,” I beg him. He has to move before Yoshi calls my mom, and she calls me, and the mess starts. “I’ll explain later, please go upstairs, and don’t make any noise.”
“I feel like a lover when the husband arrives,” he jokes, but he starts to move and it’s a relief. Once he’s disappeared up the stairs, I don’t know why, but I fix my hair and head to open the door. I pray everything goes well, but Yoshi knows me too well, and he knows when I’m lying or nervous. Too late I realize that Ares’s cell phone is on the small table in front of the couch. I cross my fingers that Yoshi doesn’t see it.
Virgin of Abdominals, please help me!
THIRTY-THREE
The Testosterone
Things don’t have to be perfect.
Perfection can be so subjective. Ares’s confession might seem unromantic to others, but to me? It was perfect. To me, he’s amazing, moodiness and all.
Maybe I’m blinded by love, maybe I can’t see beyond my feelings, but if there’s even a slim chance of being happy with him, I want to try. I want to be happy. I deserve to be happy. Who wouldn’t like that decision?
Yoshi, that’s who. My sweet best friend is shaking with rage. He’s holding Ares’s cell phone.
“He’s here, isn’t he?”
I open my mouth to deny it, but no sound comes out. Yoshi presses his lips and diverts his gaze, as if facing me was fueling his anger.
“You just don’t learn, Raquel.”
I clench my fists at my sides. “And what are you going to do about it? Tell my mother? You’ve been very good at that lately.”
Before he can say anything, I continue. “Tell me, Joshua.” He winces hearing me use his full name. “What else can I expect from you? Will you tell her about the first time I got drunk? Or the time I skipped class to sneak out with Dani to go bowling? Tell me, so I can be prepared.”
“Raquel, don’t do this, don’t paint me as the bad guy. Everything I’ve done has been because—”
“Because you’re in love with her, and you’re a jealous jerk.” Ares’s voice startles me, and I turn to see him walk down the stairs, his cold eyes fixed on Yoshi.
Yoshi instantly gets defensive. “This is none of your business.”
Ares stands next to me and, with one arm, takes me by the waist and pulls me close. “Yes, it is. Everything that has to do with her, has to do with me.”
“Really?” Yoshi lets out a sarcastic laugh. “And when did you earn that right? You’ve only hurt her, and you’ll keep on doing so.”
“At least I didn’t screw up the relationship she had with her mother in a fit of jealousy.” Ares shakes his head. “Do you have any idea how selfish you are? You should learn to play fair.”
Wait a second, how did Ares know about Yoshi? I have a feeling that Dani must have told Apolo, and he must have told Ares. Dani and I are going to have a talk. She’ll listen to me.
Yoshi makes a face. “I’m not interested in talking to you. I’m here for her, not you. You shouldn’t even be here. You should leave.”
Ares gives him a cold smile. “Make me.” Ares releases me and walks toward him. Yoshi suddenly looks very small. “Come on, try to make me leave. Give me an excuse to beat you up for doing something so shitty to my girl.”
My girl . . .
That makes me hold my breath.
Yoshi stands firm. “Typical, you resort to violence when you don’t know what to say.”
“No, I resort to violence when someone deserves it.”
“Then you should beat yourself up,” Yoshi replies with a venomous tone. “No one deserves a beating more than you.”
I can see Ares’s shoulders tense up as he clenches his fists. Immediately, I step between them.
“I think that was enough.” I give Yoshi a pleading look. I consider telling him to leave, but I know that’s only going to make things worse. The only way to control this is to make them both go. “I think you should both leave.”
I glance over my shoulder at Ares, and he doesn’t seem surprised. He raises his hands in the air.
“As you wish.”
He walks halfway to the door and stops, waiting for Yoshi, who gives me one last sad look before leaving. Part of me fears they’ll fight out there, but they’re off my property now, and they’re both mature enough to make their own decisions.
I let out a long sigh, walk into the living room, and immediately fall on the couch. What a morning! Not only did I have Ares’s confession, but I also had to deal with Yoshi. Somehow it’s Ares’s words about Yoshi that stick in my head: Because you’re in love with her and you’re a jealous jerk. At least I didn’t screw up the relationship she had with her mother in a fit of jealousy. Do you have any idea how selfish you were?
Is Ares right? I’ve tried to believe that Yoshi betrayed me because he wanted what was best for me. With that logic, maybe I could forgive him. However, if he only did it out of jealousy, that makes forgiving him almost impossible.
I hope he doesn’t tell my mom that Ares was here. I don’t want any more drama.
I’m so fucking in love with you.
My heart races at the memory of those words. I still find it hard to believe. Ares is in love with me. He has feelings for me. I’m not just another girl he uses for fun. He’s hurt me so many times, but now, for the first time, he’s put into words what he feels for me.
The idiot has a heart. I remember his confession, and the intensity in his eyes, and I can’t help myself: I let out a childish little squeal. I’m not the only one in love.
With a stupid smile on my face, I go up to my room. Despite everything, I manage to fall asleep again. I know, I have a superhuman ability to sleep under any circumstance.
THIRTY-FOUR
The First Date
Ares has asked me on our first date, and I have nothing to wear.
This is not one of those typical moments when an indecisive person has a lot of clothes to choose from and doesn’t know what to pick. I literally have nothing to wear. My mom washed all my clothes, and the only things left are the stuff I don’t wear, and obviously I don’t wear them for a reason: they don’t fit anymore or they’re simply too ragged.
Why did Ares have to ask me out today? I still remember his soft voice on the phone when he asked me to please sneak out. How could I say no? I obviously hadn’t thought it all through when I said yes. The only one who can save me is Dani.
I call her, and she answers on the third ring. “Funeral Home Las Flores, how may I help you?”
“How long are you going to do that, Dani? I told you it’s not funny.” She lets out a guilty chuckle.
“It’s funny to me. What’s the matter, grumpy?”
“I need you to pick me up.”
“Aren’t you grounded?”
“Yes.” I lower my voice even more. “But I’m going to sneak out.”
“What, what, what, whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?” Dani exaggerates her tone. “Welcome to the dark side, sister.”
I let out a long sigh. “Just come and get me, but wait for me at the corner of my street.”
“Okay, but you’re leaving out the reason why you’re going to sneak out. Will you go out partying with me today?”
“No, I have . . . plans.”
“With?”
I hang up the call and tuck pillows under the sheets to make it look like someone is in my bed, although I know my mother won’t check. She doesn’t think I’m capable of sneaking out, and, well, honestly, until a few hours ago I didn’t think I was either.
I carefully leave the room. The lights in the house are already off, so I poke my head into my mom’s room. I never thought I’d be so happy to hear her snoring. She’s sleeping soundly, probably because she had a shift last night and hasn’t slept at all until now. A pang of remorse stops me for a second, but then I think of a certain pair of dazzling blue eyes, and that’s enough to motivate me to get out of the house.