“Hi, Mrs. Moreno.”

“The boys are in the garage.”

Sofia gave him a knowing look. “But first you have to try some of my mom’s flan. It’s delicious.”

Mrs. Moreno smiled, proud. “There’s plenty. Take some to your father.”

“Thank you.”

Once in the kitchen, Sofia was all business after serving him a heaping helping of the desert. She leaned against the counter in front of him. “So what happened?”

The smell of the shampoo from her still-damp hair distracted him. Her big eyes waited in anticipation. He tried to concentrate. He told her about the small talk his mom had made at dinner and how he tried to make a joke and it toowike and tally bombed. Sofia laughed.

He loved hearing Sofia laugh, even if it was at his expense. “I don’t know if it’s ever gonna not feel weird. My dad says it’ll get better with time.”

“It will,” she said, sounding completely convinced.

“You think?”

“Of course. It’s only weird because she’s your mom. Think of all the times you meet someone for the first time at school. After a few times of talking to them, it’s like nothing.” She laughed. “The fact that you tried to make a joke says a lot. Remember the first time you said you didn’t feel like saying anything else but yes or no?”

Eric smiled. He’d forgotten about that. He’d been mad at his dad for making him go. Sofia was right. Compared to then, things had gotten a lot better. They talked for a while until he finally got up and headed for the back door toward the garage. Before he walked out, he turned to Sofia. “Thanks.”

Sofia smiled, holding the dish out. “You’re welcome. Remember, my mom said to take some to your dad.”

Eric looked at the plate, then back at her. “Well, that too, but I meant thanks for the talk.”

She smiled even bigger. “Anytime.”

Eric took that to heart. From then on, Sofia was the only one he talked to in-depth about his relationship with his mother.

Age 15

Sofia fixed her mascara in the restroom of her family’s Mexican restaurant. Eric would be there any minute. She stepped back and examined the polo she wore. She was now a full C cup and she knew Eric had noticed. She’d caught him looking several times.

Many of her friends already had boyfriends, but her brothers were still not having it. She thought as she got older, they’d ease up. Instead, it was just the opposite. They were worse than ever. It was infuriating. No one in her school dared ask her out. Worst thing now, her brothers had grown into these big guys, especially Alex, who spent more time in the gym than he did at the restaurant. He’d quickly become the biggest guy in school. Top that, with his legendary temper—no way would anyone come near her. She could literally feel the shaky nerves in the voices of any guy that spoke to her.

Things were different with Eric. She got to be around him all the time. Lately, there’d been a change. Many times when they spoke, he gazed deep in her eyes no matter what the subject, almost as if he was trying to tell her something without saying it. Her insides would always turn to mush around him now. She liked it. It was exciting.

As she walked out into the main dining room, her mother came toward her. “Oh, there you are. There’s a young man here to see you.”

Sofia pinched her brows. A young man? “Who?”

“I don’t know, but he’s out front by the entrance.” Her mom rushed into the kitchen.

Sofia walked through the restaurant wondering where Alex could be. Sal was away in college and Angel was hoe tAngel wme, but Alex was here somewhere. She didn’t want him embarrassing her. She turned the corner to the front of the entrance. Ah, hell.

Ronald, a senior on her track team, stood at the front entrance. He was new to the school and apparently one of the few that hadn’t heard about the cavemen in her life. Alex spoke to him.

“You’re kidding right?” Alex sounded almost amused.

“No, why? Is that a problem?”

Alex was as intimidating as ever. “Of course it is.”

They were both about the same height, but Alex probably outweighed him by at least forty pounds.

Sofia cleared her voice. “Hey, Ron.”

Ronald turned at the sound of her voice and smiled. “Hey, Sof.”

He walked away from Alex, coming over to where Sofia stood. He pulled something out of his pocket. “I went to Old Town this weekend. I saw this and thought of you.”

He handed her one of the little tiny turtle bobble heads she’d mentioned collecting. She smiled, taking it from him. Alex came over and stood behind her.

“Let me see that?” He took it from Sofia, examining it, as if he hadn’t seen all the ones she had just like it in her room. Then he asked, “How old are you, Ron?”

Ron gave him a strange look. “Eighteen.”

With that, Alex snapped the head off the tiny turtle and handed it back to Ron.

“Alex!” Sofia said, horrified.

“What’s your problem, man?” Ron asked.

Romero and Eric walked through the front door, oblivious to what was going on.

Alex got in his face. “My problem, ass**le, is my sister is fifteen. I could call the cops on you, for trying to mess with a minor, but I’d rather kick your ass myself.”

A few customers walked in, forcing Alex to refrain from doing anything. The only thing that would hold him back from hitting the guy was his dad’s outrage if he made a scene in the restaurant. Still, Sofia stepped in front of him to separate them. Alex didn’t make it easy. “Stop, Alex. We have customers.”