Page 66 of Hard to Love
Yeah, that wasn’t gonna happen. Because even if Nic was innocent, José was guilty as hell. “Just drive home.”
“Your father, your brothers, they would be ashamed,mijo.”
What bullshit. Nic had barely known his papá, and his brothers had done way worse from the stories Nic had heard from hiseses.“It’s over,” he said, closing his eyes and slumping down in the threadbare seat. “So just leave it alone.”
“Do not tell me what is over and what to leave alone. If you get into trouble again, we will pack this car and move straight back to Georgia.”
He didn’t bother to open his eyes. It didn’t matter whathis mamá said, because there was no way he would go away and leave José alone and unprotected.
Chapter Eighteen
The first day the public was allowed into the village, Alex stayed in his booth, his back to the aisle and his head down. Even with all the noise and people standing behind him trying to see what he was working on, he was able to make decent progress on a pair of boot tops.
He’d shoved a pair of headphones on and cranked up Muse, but the music didn’t block out all the buzz. It did, however, create a white noise that seemed to actually enhance his creative groove.
It wasn’t until he felt a light touch on his shoulder that he looked up and realized five hours had flown by. He turned to smile up at who he assumed was Greer, only to spot a woman holding a picnic basket. Someone he hadn’t seen in way too long.
“Mamá.” He jumped out his chair and wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off the ground in his pure pleasure. She still smelled of Mexican chocolate and chalk dust.
She awkwardly patted his back with one hand, her only option since he had her arms pinned to her sides. “MyguapoAlejandro.Mijo, I have missed you so much.”
Over his mamá’s shoulder he spotted a dark-haired, scowl-wearing teenager. Backwards baseball cap, purple jersey, and lowrider jeans completed the kid’s rebelliouslook. Nicolás.
Alex kissed his mamá on the cheek and gently placed her back on her feet. When he reached out to Nicolás, the kid shuffled away, chin up and palm out. “I don’t go for none of that girl crap,güey.”
The last time Alex had set eyes on Nicolás, he’d still been up for piggyback rides and cheap popsicles.
“Nicolás Emilio Rafael,” their mamá scolded, “greet your brother.”
The kid grudgingly held out a hand for a knuckle bump.
“I brought tamales. Your favorite. Can you have lunch?” All smiles, his mamá held up a picnic basket Alex recognized from years ago. And as wonderful as it was to see her now, the lines around her eyes and mouth stabbed at him. She’d aged since he’d last seen her.
That’s when it hit him. His mamá and his baby brother werehere.In Texas instead of Georgia. “What are you doing here?”
“Visiting you, of course.” She patted him on the cheek the same way he’d seen her touch his father a million times before his death.
“No, why are you in Texas?”
Hugging the basket to her chest, she wouldn’t meet his gaze. “Lunch first. Talk after.”
“Give me a sec.” Alex locked up his leather in a set of metal drawers. “We can eat outside.”
He led his mamá and a shambling Nicolás down the aisle toward the doors. They were five feet from escaping all the noise and commotion when Greer popped out of another artist’s booth and smiled at him in that way she had. The smile that hit him mid-chest and rippled out to all his other body parts.
“Alex, I’ve been…” She glanced at the two people with him, looked back at him. Just that quickly, her gaze swung back to Nicolás. Dammit. She knew. “I…ah…”
“Alejandro, don’t be rude,” his mamá said. “Introduce us to your friend.”
He did as she asked, and Nicolás looked Greer up and down with speculation.
Alex popped him lightly on the ear. “Mi señora.”
“Que pedo.” Nicolás’s dark eyes narrowed, saying he wasn’t as indifferent as his words.
With a shaky smile that made it clear his mamá was uneasy, worried about answering his earlier question, she turned to Greer. “We are having lunch. Would you like to join us?”
“Tamales,” he said.
