Page 89 of The Broposal

“Just hear me out here. It was my fault he was late. I got pulled over while I was dropping him off.”

“He should have prepared for that and left earlier,” Daniel said without looking up from the papers in front of him. “Besides, I think we solved our little stealing problem. I’ve suspected it was Han for a while now. So, no need to double-count for missing money. I’ve got that covered now.”

My face grew hot. “Are you serious? You can’t just fire peopleon a hunch that youthinktheymightbe stealing! Han wouldn’t do that! He needed his job too much. He was the best cook you’ve had since I’ve been here. He’s shown you nothing but hard work. He didn’t deserve to be fired and you know it.”

“You’re overstepping, Kenny. Unless you want to follow in your boyfriend’s footsteps, I’d suggest you let it go.”

Wow. Would Daniel really fire me for asking for Han’s job back? Was that something I was willing to gamble on? An idea formed in my brain.

“That’s discrimination.”

Daniel rolled his eyes. “How is that discrimination?”

“You fire two queer people of color back to back, and you don’t think that looks bad?”

Daniel finally met my eyes. I made sure to hold the gaze. It felt like a challenge, though I felt pretty confident I would win. Daniel wouldn’t want to fire me after another server had just quit. He needed all the servers he had. Finally, Daniel shook his head. “Go home, Kenny. I’llthinkabout calling Han. That’s not a guarantee.”

So much for him suspecting Han had been stealing money. I knew that had just been an excuse. “Thank you so much, Daniel. I really appreciate it! I’ll work overtime, whatever you need.”

“Yes, I was just about to suggest that. Now go. I have work to do,” he said, shooing me away, as if he didn’t want the conversation to last even as long as it already had.

I was happy to work as many hours as Daniel needed if it meant Han could get his job back. I had to dosomethingto help him. I knew I’d never be able to fully make up for what I’d done—what Jackie had done—but I could at least ease some of Han’s problems right now. Getting him his job back was a start.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

HAN

Iwas the only one in the family who wouldn’t be able to go to the memorial service for my mom this week. My tíos, Mariana, Mateo, and Leti would all be leaving me alone in the house for a week while they went to my mother’s memorial service in my hometown. The whole thing was so messed up, I couldn’t think about it. While everyone else got their suitcases together and prepared for the road trip, I lay on the couch strumming my guitar.

Leti did their usual thing where they moved my legs so they could sit on the couch, but then set them back down on their lap once they were settled.

“I think I’m gonna stay here with you.” They sighed.

I stopped strumming. “What? Why?”

“The fam over there isn’t exactly thrilled about, you know… me.”

Oh. I knew my grandparents and tíos over in Mexico were less supportive of the LGBT+ community than Tío Nacho and Tía Mary. If I were Leti, I guess I wouldn’t really want to see them, either.

“What are you smiling for?” Leti asked, slapping my knee.

“Just glad I won’t be the only one here.” I knew it was selfish. But Leti being here was going to make things 99 percent less miserable.

“Yeah, that’s the other reason I wanted to stay.” Leti grinned. “Mexico would be so boring without you.”

I laughed. I’d never thought of Xalapa as boring before. I had dreamed of going back to visit ever since I’d left. And I thought when I was marrying Kenny that I would finally be able to soon. But that wasn’t going to happen anymore.

Maybe it was better if I just thought of it as boring.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by my buzzing phone, and the number for the immigration lawyer, Mr. Jones, displayed on the screen. I let it ring. There was no way I’d be able to afford that lawyer without Cedric’s favor, and I assumed that with no wedding, that offer was off the table.

I sulked on the couch while everyone got ready to leave, but when all their suitcases were packed and ready to go, they didn’t go out to the car. Instead, everyone gathered up in the living room, Mariana, Mateo, and Tía Mary all sitting on the couch with me, Leti and Nacho sitting on the floor.

I raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on?”

Tío Nacho cleared his throat, then offered me a sad smile. “You look just like her, you know.”

I forced a smile back. He used to tell me that all the time, but I always hated it. Every time someone told me I reminded them of my mom, it only made me want to distance myself from her further. I didn’t want to end up like my mom. But now that she was gone, I found myself ashamed of those feelings.

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