Page 67 of Outspoken

“Yes, mijo,” she says with a bite to her words. The TV is blasting in the background. “What do you want?”

I frown. “What kind of greeting is that?”

“You’re out having fun, aren’t you? We’re watching a movie. You interrupted a good scene.”

I laugh. “You’re saying there was no reason for me to call?”

“Why are you calling me?”

“To check on you. Dustin wants to stay out longer, so I’m checking in.” I glance at him and Brody as they chat.

Mom says something to Lupita that’s muffled, then she says to me, “Yes, yes. I’m fine. Lupita can stay tonight so you can go meet women.”

I frown again.She’s always pushing for that.“Why do you assume that’s what I’m doing?”

“That’s what you should do.”

“Well, I’m not.”

“You should. You tell everyone how much you want a family and a love you can cherish. Go meet women.”

I sigh at the pavement. “That was before. That’s not important now.”

“Mmm, it is. I won’t be around forever. You need to find someone who will accept all the love you have to give.”

I stare blankly at the ground, my chest heavy. I wish she would stop talking about not being here. It’s not something I like to think about.

“Stop fussing over me,” she says when I don’t respond. “Stay out late, mi cielito. You worry too much, so have fun with your friend, okay? Te amo.”

She hangs up on me before I can say 'I love you' back.

I return to Brody and Dustin, feeling a bit wary but deciding to go with the flow of what's happening. “We can go to the party and watch your sister,” I tell Brody. “What's she look like?”

“A pain in the ass,” he grumbles while doing something on his phone. “Sent you a pic. Thanks for this. Oh, and don’t tell her I asked you to watch her. She’ll shut me out for weeks if she knows I was checking in. Makes things difficult.”

I nod and then we say our goodbyes.

As we climb into Dustin's truck, I check my phone. The picture Brody sent is a photo of him next to an older woman—probably his mom—and a girl in a graduation gown. It's a high school graduation because I recognize the colors—the same colors from the high school I went to. Small world. I'm guessing his sister must be older now if she's out drinking. There's also a sign in the picture with a date from a few years ago.

The pic is blurry, but I can make out a roundish face and blonde hair. And the top of her head reaches Brody's armpits. Not the best image for identifying someone.

“What's his sister's name?” I ask Dustin as his beat-up truck pulls onto the freeway.

He rolls his window down to inhale the crisp air. “Amber. I haven't met her, but he talks about her almost every time we hang out. She sounds difficult.”

I shrug and settle into my seat. When we exit the freeway, we meander through rich people's neighborhoods. It's a nice night—cool air—so I roll my window down to enjoy the vibes. The neighborhood is elevated, so I catch glimpses between houses of the twinkling city lights stretching for miles into the distance. The ocean is out there somewhere in the darkness, beneath the clear black sky. I even see a few stars.

Maybe Mom is right. Lupita is with her, so she’ll be taken care of, and I should relax, try to have fun, and just be more open to whatever the night brings.

“Shit. This place is packed,” Dustin says as his truck eases toward the mansion.

Brody was right about the palm trees—the place is choking on them. Cars are parked like jigsaw pieces over the large lawn, spilling into chaos along the street. We park a few houses down and walk.

Music and voices crowd the air before we cross the lawn, groups of drunk people blocking the entrance. This isdefinitelynot my scene. I prefer laid-back parties where you can connect one-on-one, really feel people out. This place is better for sloppy fucks in a stranger's bed.

As we push through a group to get inside, a guy leans over the second-story balcony and pukes. It lands on a woman below who screams.

Dustin laughs. “This should be fun.”

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