Page 35 of The Broposal

“Yes…?” Mary said with a knowing look in her eye. She glanced down at our hands and back to my eyes. I glanced over at Han, who nodded his confirmation.

“Han and I are together,” I said.

Silence. Probably the first time since I’d known this family that there had been an extended moment of silence. Soon enough, Mateo broke the quiet with a shrill baby-giggle. I didn’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t exactly this.

Tío Nacho was the first to speak.

“Well…” he started, taking his time chewing before whatever was coming next, “I kind of figured.”

“Oh,youkind of figured? No one else?” Mariana laughed. Had they also assumed Han and I were together?

“Good job getting this one to commit to something.” Mariana squeezed Han’s shoulder, then fed some baby food to Mateo. Han glared at her, his leg bouncing again.

“Thanks.” I smiled, exuding faux confidence at the achievement I fake earned.

Tía Mary reached across the table and put her hand on Han’s, then gave him a teary-eyed smile. “Mijo, I’m so glad you finally feel safe telling us. You know we love you no matter who you love.”

Heat rose in my cheeks. Han’s whole family seemed like they’d just beenwaitingfor him to come out. Even though they had already come to the correct incorrect conclusion, this was a good thing for our cover. If we didn’t even have to try to convince our families, then convincing strangers would be a breeze. I grinned. Maybe this would actually work.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

HAN

The fact that my tíos, Mariana, and Leti allexpectedme to come out gave me a strange feeling. Almost like theyknewI’d never felt anything with a woman before. Like they knew Ihadfelt… something… when I kissed Kenny. I shook the thought away. I wasn’t ready to question things any more than I already had.

After the socially exhausting day I’d had, I needed some time alone to chill, so I had Kenny drop me off at the park down the street from our complex. It was close enough that the walk back wouldn’t be too harsh on my ankle but far enough that I could get some time to myself. I sat on the park bench and breathed. The image of the quinceañera sobbing as her father was dragged away was burned into my brain. I’d refused to get emotional at dinner, but now that I was alone, I could drop the facade. My fingers throbbed from clenching my fists. None of this was fair.

I needed to stay calm. That would never happen to me. Not if this wedding went according to plan. This was going to work. It had to.

If even one person didn’t buy it, they could ruin everything. And it wasn’t just me in danger anymore. My best friend was putting his freedom on the line now. Did that make me a horrible friend?

My chest tightened. Would he really go through with this? Would I ever forgive myself if he did?

Close your eyes. Breathe steady…

Back to polyp.

By the time Kenny and I were twelve, I’d been to his house countless times, but this was the first time his parents had entrusted us to walk there on our own. I’d been used to walking around on my own, but Kenny’s parents always picked him up from school, so this was a big deal for him.

I hadn’t paid much attention to our walking formation, but when we turned a corner and I started switching places with Kenny, he immediately put himself between me and the road.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“I think you should stay on the inside, and I’ll walk closer to the road.”

“Why?” I couldn’t imagine why it mattered which side we walked on.

“You know…” He shrugged like the answer was obvious. “Safety.”

To this day, Kenny never let me walk on the side closest to traffic. I didn’t understand then, but now it made sense. He wanted to protect me. He wasstillprotecting me.

But a wedding was way bigger than anything he’d done forme before. Of course he wasn’t just trying to make Jackie jealous. Protecting me was in his nature, and I felt like a colossal piece of shit for letting him.

But I was selfish. I’d wanted citizenship so bad for so long, I couldn’t pass up my first real opportunity to get it. And I felt awful about that.

I got out my phone and stared at Leti’s name in my contacts. I wanted to vent, and I knew Leti would understand. Hell, they might have been able to help. Before I could be too tempted, my screen lit up with a WhatsApp call from my mom. So she was alive after all. She hadn’t answered any of my calls for months (which, okay, I’d only called like twice), but whenever she disappeared like that, my mind went to the worst places.

As much as I wanted to talk tosomeone, I couldn’t bring myself to answer. My mom was the last person I wanted to vent to. I needed to unload, not do more work. She probably wanted to ask for money. I made a mental note to send some to mydad, who could be trusted with it.

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