“As serious as it gets.”
“Are you… like… seeing her?”
“Not officially, but I’d like to be.”
“Dude…”
“What?”
“It’s just… you know… not like you to be into a single mom.”
I keep my gaze fixed on her and Mateo. If she’s anywhere near me, I can’t help but look at her. “She’s special.”
“How so?”
“I can’t explain it. She does it for me.”
“What does she think of you?”
“She likes me, but the girls told her to stay away from me. The word ‘toxic’ was used.”
Domenic cracks up at that. “I bet it was.”
“You’re supposed to be on my side.”
He holds up his free hand. “I am. Always. But, Nico… A single mom? Really? You can’t do what you do with her.”
The comment pisses me off. “I know that.”
“Isn’t her son sick, too?”
“He was. He’s better now, but he has a long way to go before he’s fully recovered. I like him as much as I like her. He’s the sweetest kid.”
Domenic places his hand on my forehead. “No fever.”
I push his hand away. “You can fuck off if you’re going to be a jackass about it.”
“Wow, this is more serious than I thought.”
“I don’t know how to convince her I’m for real.”
“I suppose you just show up for her—and her son—consistently with no games, no bullshit, no nonsense.”
“I can do that.”
“Maybe some romance, too.” He gives me a side-eye look. “You know what that is?”
“Fuck off, will you please?”
Dom loses it laughing, which doesn’t surprise me.
“She’s checking you out, too.”
“What? She is?”
“Jesus Christmas.” Dom rolls his eyes. “You’ve barely looked away from her. You can see as well as I can that she’s watching you.”
That information makes my heart do this weird flipping thing that leaves me light-headed for a second, until I see Miguel step onto Abuela’s patio with a concerned expression on his face. When he finds me in the crowd, he tilts his head, asking me to come to him.
“What’s up?” Dom asks.
“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.”