Page 56 of A Dish Best Served Hot

The woman’s head swung between them, face red and blotchy. She stood there staring at Lola as if waiting for her to jump in and defend her.

When Lola stayed silent, because really what was there to say after that set down, the woman got even more upset.

“I’m going to report this incident to the principal,” she threatened. She stalked off to where Dolores was standing by the other set of back doors talking to some parents.

“What does she think the principal is going to do to you?” Lola asked, shaking her head at the lack of logic.

“I’m not sure. I think she just felt a quite strong urge to talk to the manager.” He emphasized the “uite” part ofquite.

Lola laughed.

He turned to her and smiled. “By the way, I think you look good today.” He accompanied that with a lick of his lips and another look up and down her body.

Lola’s pussy swooned. Stupid lady parts.

Stop that right now.

“That’s inappropriate, Mr. Vega.”

“Oh, I thought friends could compliment each other. Sorry.”

She heard the unsaid “not sorry” in his tone and did roll her eyes then. “I have an after school meeting, but I’ll be ready to check out some more places after.”

Papo came strolling forward with Rosie.

“Text me when you’re ready.”

“Okay.” Lola turned away then remembered something and turned back. “Rosie’s report card is in her backpack. It’s going to freak you out, but don’t worry. It’s because I could only grade the things I had data for.”

Before he could say anything she spun on her heels and rushed back into the building. She hated walking into meetings after they already started.

Luckily Dolores was also running late. They met up at the door to the library.

“Am I in trouble?” she asked the woman with a smirk.

The principal snorted and rolled her eyes. “Absolutely not.” She paused. “Unless you don’t share with me where you got that skirt.”

“I’ll send you the link,” she said, striding into the room.

13

“Vez. This is why you need a wife.”

Saint cut a look at Rosie to make sure she still had on her princess headphones and was fully engrossed in the show she was watching on his phone, while she devoured her M&M’s cookie sundae, before he shot his abuelo a serious scowl. Usually that was enough to get anyone bothering him to stop talking. Abuelo was one of the very few people immune to its power.

“A wife wouldn’t let you spoil her with video games and ice cream after the report card she got,” he continued.

“I already told you that Lola could only give Rosie grades for the standards she had data on. Everything else had to be marked minimal because it was from before Lola was there. Plus, this was your idea,” Saint reminded him.

“Well, I’m her favorite abuelo, so it’s my job to give her ice cream even when she brings home bad grades. You’re her dad. You’re the one who is supposed to stop me.”

Saint snorted. Yeah right. There was no force on earth that could stop Abuelo from doing anything. “I’m serious,” Abuelo continued. “She needs a mother, and you need a wife.”

Saint fought the urge to growl at his grandfather and tell him to mind his own business, like he would to anyone else who dared say something so completely asinine to him. “She has a mother and I have a wife,” he said instead.

“She had a mother and you had a wife,” Abuelo corrected, straightforward but not unkindly. He took in Saint’s pained expression and his face softened. “It’s been almost five years.”

Saint stirred his rapidly melting Turtles sundae and watched the fudge and caramel swirl into the vanilla soup in his bowl. “Four years, one month, and fifteen days,” he murmured. When there was no response he looked up.

---