Page 20 of American Sweethearts

Juan Pablo: Nah. You’re my only assignment.

Why did my belly have to flip over like that?

Priscilla: She gave you the toughest case then.

Juan Pablo: Always, but she knows I like a challenge.

I didn’t have to wonder; I knew what this was.

We were flirting, and for the first time in days, I felt something loosen in me. Felt the tightness around my mouth and in my shoulders ease just a little bit. It had taken eight words from Juan Pablo. I could come up with a thousand reasons not to do this. To steer very clear of playing a game with J that would end up with my heart torn out of my chest. But right now, I didn’t want to let go of this easy, light feeling I had.

Priscilla: I know you do, but yeah, I’ll be there.

I saw the three dots pop up and disappear a few times, until a bubble with a message finally appeared.

Juan Pablo: See you then, Pris. Take care of yourself, all right?

I was unreasonably annoyed at the disappointment I felt when that was all he had to say. I should’ve left it alone. I should have walked into the store and had Dominican lunch with Bri and Reyes. Juan Pablo was abiding by the boundaries I’d set and I should do the same. Instead I stepped right onto the Road to Perdition and sprinted.

Priscilla: Okay. Looking forward to seeing you, J.

I closed the message app before the three dots on the screen could turn into a message from Juan Pablo and pushed the door open to the store, where I found Bri doing what could only be called canoodling with Reyes.

“Dimelo,” I said, as I walked up to Reyes for an air kiss hello.

I looked around the store, the prints on the wall and the racks with t-shirts and sweatshirts all original designs. Reyes as always was wearing some of his merch. He was a big guy, but kind of precious. The very definition of a bear. He was fucking gone for Bri, and I really loved him for it.

“What’s good, Pris? Are you two staying out of trouble?” He asked as he tightened his arms around Bri, who was leaning against him.

“We try.” I pointed at Bri’s shoes. “That hustle is really bearing fruit, huh.”

Reyes gave a lopsided smile as he looked down at Bri, a besotted expression on his face. “I can’t complain. The sweatshirts and hats with the design you wanted are in.” He pointed in the direction of a rack of black sweaters. I’d asked Reyes for them after seeing him post about them on Instagram right after I’d gotten back from the wedding. My heart sped up remembering who I’d wanted the sweatshirt for.

Juan Pablo. It was a simple design but this had El Bronx emblazoned in a heavy gothic-looking white font in the center. I picked one off the rack smiling. Repping the Bronx was basically J’s brand. It occurred to me that he and Reyes would have a lot to talk about if they ever met. I found myself thinking I’d like to see that. I waited for the self-recrimination that usually came with ideas about Juan Pablo, but in the end, I didn’t have the energy for any of it. I wanted to give him the sweater. See his gorgeous smile as he read what it said.

Just to make it less reckless, I grabbed a fitted hat that said Uptown for J’s dad. A solid birthday present. I placed them both on the counter as Reyes and Bri observed me.

“Your mood has shifted. Shall I take a guess?” That was Bri.

I lifted a shoulder and tried not to give too much away, because honestly, I wasn’t too sure what I was doing anyway.

“Same old. Same old.”

I left it at that and averted my gaze from Bri’s knowing eyes. Because that piece was a lie. Nothing about this felt like the same old thing. Juan Pablo felt new in ways which made me feel like there was something worth exploring there, even if just until I figured myself out.

chapter fourteen

juan pablo

You know when in a book someone says something mad extra like, “I could feel when she walked into the room”? I’m here to tell you, it’s not all bullshit. Because I swear I could sense Priscilla coming into the crowded room where we were hosting my dad’s party. Before I even heard her, the hair on my arms stood up and the back of my neck prickled, like my entire body was picking up her vibrations.

She hadn’t arrived in time for the actual surprise, but both her parents were there and had assured me she’d just gone home to change after work and was not far behind. It didn’t even faze me that they acted like she and I were still a thing since my parents were the same exact way.

“Look who’s here!” That was my dad. When I turned, I saw her walking in wearing a short parka and jeans so tight, I had to swallow hard to keep my tongue in my mouth.

It was like my field of vision honed in on her and nothing else. She smiled wide at my dad as she unzipped her jacked to reveal a tight bloodred sweater. She had her big gold hoops in her ears and tall brown boots on. Her hair was pulled back tight in a fluffy long ponytail that bopped along as she walked.

She looked just like the girl I’d fallen hard for at sixteen and who had been my first everything. I wondered if we’d ever be able to be around each other without me feeling like she was theonly person in the room. Even when I could barely stand to be around her, I could never keep my attention off Priscilla for long.