“I’m sorry, Romero. She’d set this up a long time ago.”

With his heart already pounding away, he attempted to speak. “Why would she still expect you to go if you’re with me now?”

She didn’t say anything. He stopped what he was doing and stared, feeling the hurt pummel through him. She still hadn’t told her sister.

“I just didn’t think it was a big deal to get—”

“Not a big deal? You lied to me!” She flinched when he yelled and he immediately regretted it. That was it, if he didn’t get out of there now, he might do or say something worse that he’d regret.

Feeling his temper reach a level there was no turning back from, he slipped on his other shoe and grabbed his shirt, rushing past her.

“I’m sorry, Romero,” she said, as he walked past a very stunned looking Valerie.

“I’m sorry, too. Go call him back, Isabel. Make it happen.” He grabbed his keys and wallet and rushed out.

He fought the incredible urge to go back and demand to know what the f**k was so fantastic about Friday night. No guy would call a date fantastic if nothing had happened. That’s the reason why he stopped her before she answered. If she so much as kissed the guy, he would’ve gone off the deep end for sure.

What confused him most, was he was used to the rage. That he’d been dealing with it all his life. And like today, he’d gotten pretty good at keeping it down to a roar. But the pain he felt now was new. At first because she lied to him, but then when he realized she was obviously too ashamed to tell her family about him. Still. Even after the bullshit about her not being sure about their status. That was harder to take than her having gone on that f**king date.

Not that he wasn’t beyond pissed about that. But it almost felt like the times when he’d been physically hurt as a kid. The lie had been the blow that knocked his teeth out, making him see stars. The realization that she was ashamed of him, was the swift knee to the groin that followed immediately after. That pain overpowered everything else.

He drove past his apartment, knowing Isabel would most likely come by since she knew he’d taken the day off. The entire day—to spend with her. He didn’t want her to see him like this. If she already didn’t think enough of him to tell her family, what would she think if she saw him lose it? The way he felt now, he was one flick away from losing it completely.

He drove to his uncles’ house instead, and went straight to their liquor cabinet.

“What’s with you?” Manny asked, as Romero downed a huge swig of tequila.

Romero didn’t respond.

“You drinking tequila in the morning now? What are you, stupid?”

Manny was a strange one. He had drug dealing in his past, gambling and even ran a titty bar but he didn’t drink—never had.

“Leave me alone.” Romero said, feeling the burn in his throat… and his heart.

Max walked into the room. “What’s wrong with you, Moe?”

“Nothing. Just leave me alone.” He took another swig.

“What do you mean—”

“I don’t wanna f**king talk about it! Can we just drop it?”

Manny stalked over to him and grabbed the bottle out of his hands. “No! I won’t drop it!” He put the bottle back in the cabinet and slammed the door shut, pushing Romero into the chair behind him.

Romero put his elbows on his knees, and ran his hands through his hair, letting them both rest behind his head. Despite the pain and anger her felt, he wanted nothing more than to be with Isabel again.

“What’s your problem, boy?” Manny nudged him with his knee. “Business not so good?”

“Business is fine.” He knew his uncles well enough to know they wouldn’t let this go.

As annoyed as he was that he chose to come here, he knew why he did it. He needed to be near them. Needed to be the only place where he knew he was accepted even with all his flaws.

Max walked over and crouched down next to him, putting his hand on his shoulder. “Is it a girl?”

Romero nodded, still not looking up.

“What?” Manny said. “All this for a skank?”

Romero jumped up, out of his chair and stood right in Manny’s face. “She’s not a skank. Don’t you ever call her that.”

Manny stared at him for a second, before smiling. “Well, well, well. Look’s like you got it bad.” He laughed. “Who is she? How come we haven’t met her?”

Romero was still breathing hard from what Manny had said. Max stared at him, looking more concerned, and not quite as amused as Manny. He thought of Manny’s question, and felt like a complete hypocrite. He’d always prided himself in that these were his uncles and he loved them no matter how unrefined they could be. If anybody didn’t like it, they could go f**k themselves—until Isabel. At least she’d told him about her family, warts and all. He’d hardly mentioned Manny and Max to her at all. He’d never actually admitted it to himself, but he had to now. He hadn’t really mentioned them to her because he was afraid of what she’d think.

“You’ll meet her soon,” he said. “We just had a fight, that’s all. I’ll get over it.”

He grabbed his keys off the table.

“You sure, boy?” Manny asked. “You looked real upset there for a minute.”

Romero smiled and hugged him. Then turned around and hugged Max. “I’m good.”