Page 50 of Here to Stay
But because I at least succeeded in holding on to the last ounce of self-control I had left, I forced myself to stay firmly in my role of supportive friend. “She’ll be fine. They’ll take care of her.”
He didn’t look too convinced, but turned back to the woman, who had even more information to share with Rocco. I stayed by the bench, hoping to get my shit together.
I needed a talking-to ASAP.
I texted Alba, hoping she would bring me back from the ledge I’d walked onto in the last five minutes.
Julia: Are you still pretending to be asleep to get out of helping with cooking?
Alba rejected all domestic activities and gender roles with a militant zeal, so the yearly ritual of her sisters and her mom preparing a meal for the assorted males in their family was not something she willingly signed up for.
She regaled me with a string of red-faced emojis before I got an answer. While I waited I looked up and found Rocco staring at me.
“Everything okay over there?”
He nodded and pointed to the door of the examination room. “We’re about to go in. It shouldn’t take too long.”
He looked mortified, like back at my apartment. It was almost as if it would hit him by moments how extra he’d been this morning by showing up at my house. Immediately I wanted to soothe him, reassure him that everything was fine. That I was glad to be here for him.
Calm your tits Julia, he’s not your man. You don’t need to fix this, or him.
I waved my hand and said, “No worries, take your time. I don’t need to rush back to the pernil-making insanity that is happening at my apartment right now.”
He nodded and I thought I detected the tiniest bit of longing in his blue eyes at the mention of my family. This was not going to end well.
I went back to my phone, hoping for a distraction, and saw Alba’s message.
Alba: Did the crew make it there? Are Yolanda and Pura ransacking your place already?
Julia: You knew?!
Alba: *eye roll emoji* DUH. Of course, Yolanda told my mom weeks ago, but swore me to secrecy.
I couldn’t bring myself to actually be annoyed; it had been a nice surprise.
Julia: Traitor.
The heart eye emojis softened the blow.
Alba: Whatevs. I know you love having them there. But seriously what are you doing? Is Rocco Fucking Quinn still setting your pantalones on fire, or did he finally do something douchy and you’re over it?
I looked up again and saw that the very non-douchy man in question was in the examining room with his new pet, then tapped on my phone to answer.
Julia: I’m actually at the vet with him right now. He found a cat under a car or something and showed up at my place in a panic asking for help.
Alba: Okay, that’s pretty adorable.
Understatement of the year, since I was ready to fight the vet technician when she looked at him for too long, but I was not going there with Alba.
Julia: It is somewhat heartwarming, yes.
Alba: Ummmmhummmm... Only a matter of time, before you’re letting Rocco Fucking Quinn pet another kitty, Julia del Mar.
She thought she was cute with her cat and eggplant emojis, and nobody had to know I was twisting my mouth into a knot to keep from laughing.
Julia: You’re filthy.
Alba: I speak truths.
