“Hola!”
We both look up at the young girl who’s showed up with glasses of water and plastic straws. She introduces herself to us, takes our drink orders, and then disappears.
“Maybe we should wait until we have our food before talking business,” he suggests with a chuckle.
So we sit in silence for the next forty five minutes. Me, exchanging text messages with my sister, and him watching the game on the small television hoisted onto the wall behind me.
“I think it’s safe now,” I say once the server is out of earshot.
“Huh?” he asks absentmindedly, his eyes still on the television.
“We’ve been served,” I say with a laugh. Enzo glances down at the plate in front of him and shrugs as he reaches for his beer and takes a swig. As soon as he sets it down, he swipes one of the tortilla chips off my plate and pops it into his mouth.
“What’s the name of this place, again? These are phenomenal!”
When he tries to swipe another one, I give his hand a gentle smack and reach for one of the smaller plates, load it up with chips, then pour some of my queso over it, pushing it toward him.
“Stop touching my food,” I tell him, making a face. “God knows where those hands have been.”
“Or where they can be.”
I smooth the cloth napkin out on my lap, then look up at him. He’s grinning at me like a goddamn wolf and it’s all I can do to not toss my glass of water in his face.
“Right, anyway,” I say as I reach for one of my quesadillas, “Any news on Miguel?”
Enzo scoffs as he reaches for his beer again, but I’m faster, and snatch it away before he has the chance.
“Is that why you dragged me all the way out here, Tati? To ask about him?”
The anger in his tone is steady. He’s doing his best to maintain his temper, which I have yet to witness. Though, I have heard stories that when he reaches breaking point, bad things happen to whoever he’s with.
Regardless of their standing.
I nod before I take a bite of my food, then place it on the plate. I hold a fist to my mouth while I chew, then reach for my water. After taking a sip, I set it down and inch his bottle back toward him.
It’s not my life I’m concerned for. The young people who work here shouldn’t have to suffer anything because he’s dangerously close to having a temper tantrum.
“What does your father say?”
“About Miguel?” I ask thoughtfully. Enzo nods and I shrug. “He doesn’t. That’s what’s so fucking weird about this. It’s like he just vanished into thin air.”
“And that bothers you?”
“Mm, no,” I reply, shaking my head briefly, “I just know that if this mystery isn’t solved soon enough, Papa will send his sicarios out to look for him, and honestly, I don’t want my sister getting hurt.”
He eyes me for a moment, leaning back against his seat. I have no idea what he’s thinking, nor do I really think I care, however, I invited him out here, so I know I’ll have to sit through this until we’re both ready to go.
“How is Sofi? I haven’t seen her since Altata.”
My face screws up in confusion, “Why would you?”
I see the corners of his lips twitching before he clears his throat and runs his tongue over his teeth.
“I can’t ask about La Carnicera?”
“No, you can’t,” I snap at him.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re jealous,” he remarks with a smirk.