Page 73 of XOXO, Valentina

The warm puff of his breath against my neck made me shiver. I remembered that delicious French toast he’d made and what he’d done with the syrup.

A loud throat-clearing noise sounded from close by. I leaned forward and saw a young woman in the black server’s uniform with her hands on her hips, staring at us. She looked so much like Joey, she may as well have been wearing a name tag that read “Joey’s sister.”

She raised her chin and pursed her lips, flicking her glare between us.

Joey started to speak, but she cut him off with a rapid-fire Spanish that didn’t sound like approval.

Joey responded in an easygoing tone, his musical laugh punctuating his words.

She glared at him harder and then turned her attention to me.

“I hope you’re half as smart as you are pretty and you don’t fall in love with my stupid little brother. He’s a heartbreaker who never visits home.”

Her advice hit every nerve in my body. I tensed, and Joey rubbed my leg in soothing strokes.

“I’ll be home all summer,” he said. “You’ll be sick of me.”

“I’m already sick of you.” She tossed her head. “No manners,” she said. “Introduce us, Fernando.”

Joey slid his arm across the top of the booth.

“Gabriella, this is my older sister, Rosa.”

Rosa’s hand lashed out, and she slapped Joey on the back of the head. “I’m not that old.”

He laughed and rubbed his head. “And you wonder why I don’t come home,” he mumbled with a sly grin.

“Qué jeta!” She narrowed her eyes at Joey, then turned to go. “I’m going to get Angela.”

I tried to translate what Rosa had said. “That mug?” I asked when she was gone.

Joey chuckled. “She basically called me a jerk.” He shrugged. “She always calls me a jerk. But I’m her favorite. I’m everyone’s favorite.”

I could see why. It was impossible not to fall for Joey’s charm.

“Would you like wine?” he asked.

I thought of meeting the older version of Rosa in a few minutes and nodded. “Please.”

Guilt pierced the bubble of my happiness. I thought of how I would feel if Shane came to visit me and was distracted by a woman. I needed some liquid courage to face Joey’s mother.

A waiter approached the table, smiling broadly. “Fernando!Cómo estás, mae?” His gaze darted from me to Joey with open curiosity.

They exchanged a warm greeting, and Joey introduced him as Mateo, a cousin.

“A bottle of the best red you have,” Joey said.

“Big spender.” Mateo teased. “My rich American cousin.”

“There’s a big tip in it for you if you bring the wine before Angela comes out of the kitchen.”

Mateo grinned and hurried off.

When he was gone, Joey turned the full wattage of his smile on me again. His attention was like a star, burning bright in the night sky, and I wanted to bask in the glow even if it burned. “You like Italian food?”

“If I said no, would we go somewhere else?”

Joey’s smile didn’t falter. “Of course. Would you rather have Chinese?”

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