Even though he knew Sofia was probably halfway home by now, his heart still nearly gave out when he opened the door and saw Angel standing there. He didn’t look too happy, either. Eric held his breath.

“What’s wrong with you?” Angel asked.

Eric shook his head, still waiting for Angel’s fist to come at him.

“Get dressed. Romero’s piece of crap broke down again. We’re gonna have to push it off the road,” Angel laughed, lightening up the mood. “He’s stuck in the left lane holding up traffic.”

Eric laughed more out of relief than humor. “Give me a minute, and I’ll be ready to go.” He hurried to his room to change. His heart had been hammering away from the moment he saw Sofia, but now it hammered for an entirely different reason. After today, there was no going back. If he knew Sofia, things would progress to places he knew could only be deadly for him. As much as he told himself he wouldn’t let it go there—he’d convince her they couldn’t—he didn’t think he had it in him to stop it.

What he felt when he was with Sofia was something he’d never experienced. As levelheaded as he’d always been, no amount of willpower would keep him from going along with whatever she wanted. And he’d seen it in her eyes today, felt it in her kisses. She wanted a lot more.

CHAPTER 6

Just one time

It was only two weeks before Eric was a regular at the Moreno’s residence and restaurant again. Although Alex was cold with him at first, he eventually came around, but things had changed. Sofia knew things would never go back to the way they once had been.

Angel knew Sofia had feelings for Eric. She’d told him the morning after the New Year’s Eve outburst. She wouldn’t hide it anymore. If her brothers wanted to believe she was still a child, they could. But they couldn’t force her to hide the enormous affection she had for Eric. He was back to eating at their place regularly. Sofia fawned over him, making him special meals and deserts.

Alex and Angel watched, pretending it wasn’t any different than how she behaved before New Year’s. But she saw the look of irritation when Alex would walk in the kitchen to find her laughing with Eric. The jabs about him being in their kitchen more than they were began to take a different tone, especially from Alex.

Sofia didn’t care. After months of sneaking around, she’d mastered a few things that drove Eric insane. He’d returned the favor, and they’d been so close to going all the way several times. She loved stripping down to nothing for him at his house, but the fear of pregnancy kept them from doing what she wanted to so badly.

It was only a few months before she turned seventeen. Years Nfavoago, her father made a comment she never forgot. “You can’t have a boyfriend until you’re seventeen.”

At the time, she thought it was completely absurd. Now that it was only months away, it didn’t sound so bad. She could hardly wait. Her dad had probably forgotten, but she would be reminding him.

Though she and Eric were making the most of their stolen moments, and she was tired of lying about where she was going all the time. The sneaking was exciting, but they’d had too many close calls. She wanted to be able to just say, “I’m going to be with Eric all day.”

More than anything, she wanted the damn girls at school to know Eric was off limits. They’d already had another argument about a girl who was all over him all the time, and even asked him to the prom. Eric promised that if he couldn’t go with Sofia, he wouldn’t go at all. Sofia felt bad. She didn’t want him to miss his prom, but him taking someone else was out of the question.

Sarah and Angel were back together, and as inseparable as ever. It was a Friday night and all the guys and Sarah were over. They were out back playing pool. Angel and Sarah were cuddling in the corner, while Alex and Romero played. Sofia stood next to Eric as usual, laughing it up. Alex glanced up from where he’d bent over, ready to take a shot. Sofia caught the glare and smirked. “Who’s winning?”

“Who do you think?” Alex said, easing up his expression.

“This just isn’t my game,” Romero said, “Try me at bowling. Then you’ll lose your ass.”

Alex rolled his eyes and took a shot.

“You guys wanna go bowling tomorrow afternoon?” Romero looked around.

“I’m down,” Angel said.

“No.” Sarah raised her eyebrow. “You have a fitting tomorrow.”

Angel groaned. “That’s tomorrow already?”

“A fitting for what?” Romero asked.

“His tux, for the prom,” Sarah answered for him.

“No shit.” Romero laughed. “You’re actually wearing a monkey suit?”

“Aren’t you?” Angel stood up off his bar stool and walked over to the small fridge next to the bar.

“You have to.” Sarah added.

“I dunno. I’m not sure if I’m even going.” Romero turned to Eric. “You going?”

Sofia tensed up. Eric shrugged. “Depends.”

Romero glanced up from where he was ready to take a shot. “On what?”

Eric took a deep breath, glancing at Sofia. “If these guys will let me take Sof.”

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Sofia almost choked on her gum. Both Alex and Angel stopped what they were doing and stared at him. She had no idea he was going to just put it out there like that. Before they could answer, he added, “Otherwise, I’m not going.”