“Martine?” He glanced down the hallway and headed into the kitchen, trying to keep his annoyance from bleeding into his voice. “How did you get this number?”
“Don’t be mad, but I called your mom. My mother still had her number. Apparently, they still go to the flea market together sometimes on the weekend.”
“I see.” Great, now his mom would be calling him about that nice Velasquez girl. Because although his parents knew about his unconventional relationship, they weren’t exactly enthusiastic fans. His mother wanted big church weddings and piles of grandkids from her children, not a son who brought home a tattooed gringo and the girl they shared. He had a feeling his mom hadn’t completely gone off on him yet because she thought he was going through a phase.
“So I know I’m supposed to wait for you to call me or whatever, but I have the afternoon off today and I thought maybe we could grab that lunch.”
“Marti—”
“I know it’s last minute, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about seeing you the other night, and I just want to talk and catch up. Things haven’t been—well, they haven’t been so great for me lately, and it’d be nice to spend some time with an old friend from back home.”
The request was delivered with that trademark sweetness of hers that wedged guilt right through him. He knew this was more than an I-want-to-catch-up-with-an-old-friend thing. But he also sensed she was being honest about going through a tough time. He could hear that lonely edge to her voice. He also had no interest in being the guy to fix that for her. “I’m sorry to hear things aren’t going well, but I’m leaving town for a week in a little while. And even if I weren’t, it’s not a good idea for us to strike up that kind of friendship.”
“Don’t trust yourself with me?” she asked, her ton
e light and teasing but the challenge there.
He raked a hand through his hair, his patience on a short tether. “It’s not that at all. But I’m friends with people who respect my relationship and my choices, and I get the feeling that you don’t.”
He could picture her pressing her lips together on the other end. “Your mother said you have problems with commitment and that’s why you can’t decide between your boyfriend and your girlfriend. She said I should—”
Unbelievable. “This conversation is done, Martine.”
“Wait!”
He blew out a breath, silently counting to ten in his head.
“Look, I’m sorry. This is all coming out wrong. Of course, I wouldn’t try to mess up things for you if you’re happy, but I don’t see why we can’t be friends.”
“Fine. You want new friends? When I come back, you can have lunch with me . . . and Evan and Jace. You’ll have three new people to talk to.”
“You want me to—? I—”
“Is that a problem?”
“No,” she said quickly, sounding not at all confident. She was probably already picturing Andre open-mouth kissing Jace in public or something. “I mean, I guess that could work.”
“Great. I’ll give you a call when we get back. Until then, don’t call this number. I’m on vacation from everything and everyone.”
They exchanged a quick good-bye and he tossed his phone on the counter with a sound of frustration.
“Was that the ex?”
Andre whirled around, finding Jace standing in the doorway of the kitchen. “Yeah. Fucking tracked down my number through my mother.”
Jace smirked. “Mama Medina still trying to play matchmaker to get you away from your life of sin?”
Andre shook his head. “Something like that. My mom informed her that I have issues with commitment. I can’t even decide on a gender to love.”
Jace laughed. “Nice. Think what we have in mind will make a difference for her?”
“Doubtful unless there’s a priest involved at some point,” Andre said, picking up his phone and tucking it in his pocket. “But I’m over it. I’m too old to worry about what other people think, even if those people are in my own family.”
“At least your sister is on your side.”
Andre smiled. That’s because Cela was doing her own living in sin with her boyfriend/dom and was thankful that most of the family’s frowns were aimed Andre’s way instead of hers. Though, he didn’t doubt that Cela was also genuinely happy for him. “So is our girl all ready?”
“Yeah, the water turned off a few minutes ago.”