“I’m sure you can find some time.” His dad dismissed his excuses.

All through breakfast, his dad made subtle remarks about how much Eric and Jennifer had in common. It was so obvious what he was doing. Ever since his dad saw him so upset that summer, he’d been pushing more than ever, but Eric couldn’t believe he’d take it this far.

He had to admit Jennifer was something to look at. Though Sofia had thh Selie most amazingly sexy eyes, he couldn’t help being distracted with Jennifer’s long auburn lashes. She’d even caught him looking once and smiled. Just because she was attractive didn’t mean Eric had an iota of interest in her, the way he knew his dad was hoping.

After yet another mention of how Eric and Jennifer were both computer whizzes, Eric finally nudged his dads knee. His dad just smiled and started telling Jennifer about the time Eric fixed his teacher’s computer in the sixth grade. Exasperated didn’t even begin to describe what he felt. This was going to be a long week.

CHAPTER 16

Below the belt.

The New Year’s Eve/birthday party was a combination of both family and friends. Some of the family from Mexico had even come over for it. Normally, Sofia’s parents spent the entire week after Christmas in Mexico, but this year, they’d come home early for the party. They brought aunts and uncles home with them. The house was already bustling that morning when Sofia left for the restaurant. They’d only be open a half day and since it was Angel’s party, so Sofia agreed to go in so he could stay home and get everything together with Sarah.

Sal hadn’t arrived when she left that morning. Alex only went into the restaurant to pick up the food for the party. She dreaded Sal telling Angel and Alex about Brandon following her. The only good thing was she wouldn’t be there when he did.

On her way home, Sarah called her. She slowed down, wondering if maybe she was going to ask her to bring something else home from the restaurant and she’d only driven a few blocks so far.

“Sofia, where are you?”

“I just left the restaurant.”

“Don’t come home yet.”

Sarah’s tone alarmed her. “Why?”

“Brandon’s outside. I thought Alex was gonnah Selirah kill him. He hit him pretty hard, but Brandon still refuses to leave. He’s so drunk.” Sofia’s felt her stomach cave in. She pulled over when she heard the women in the background. Her mom and aunts shrill voices talking a mile a minute, telling Sarah to make sure Sofia didn’t come home yet. “I know, I know, she’s not,” Sarah assured them.

Sarah must’ve walked into another room because the noise subsided. “The whole neighborhood is out there, Sofie. It’s such a scene. He showed up asking to see you, and Alex unloaded on him. Thank God you have so many uncles here. I don’t know how else they would’ve stopped Alex. I’ve never seen him so mad.”

“Oh my God.” Sofia was suddenly overwhelmed with dread. “Why won’t he leave?”

“He’s drunk. Even with a fat lip and a his eye nearly closed shut, he just keeps saying he wants a chance to explain and that he wasn’t leaving until he talked to you. Hold on, Sofie.” She heard the women in the background again, only they seemed a bit calmer. Sarah was obviously walking through the house. Sofia waited, trying to listen for clues as to what was going on. After what felt like an eternity, she heard Sarah ask someone. “Did he leave?” Suddenly she heard a lot of men’s voices, and Alex cursing. “He left, Sof. You can come home now.”

“Yeah, tell her to come straight home,” she heard Sal say.

Sofia didn’t hang up until she got more information from Sarah. Apparently, Alex and Angel were already pissed because Sal had told them about Brandon following her. But they both promised to stay cool until after the party. Then a few hours later, Brandon showed up slurring, demanding to see Sofia. After hanging up, Sofia noticed the couple of texts from Eric.

Getting close to New Year’s over here. The party’s not half bad but it’d be better if you were here. How’s everything over there?

The second one was worse. Since she normally responded almost immediately, he’d waited fifteen minutes after the first and wrote.

Is something wrong?

She covered her face with both hands. Would this nightmare ever be over? She thought long and hard before responding. She hated not telling him something of this magnitude, but she also didn’t want to ruin his New Year’s Eve.

Everything’s fine. I do need to talk to you, but it can wait until tomorrow.

She’d barely turned on the ignition, when her phone rang. Seeing his name on the caller ID made her cringe. She slipped the earpiece in, took a deep breath and answered.

“What happened?”

Sofia didn’t even know where to begin. She started by telling him about her talk with Brandon at the beach, leaving out the part that he followed her, but Eric didn’t miss a beat. “How’d he know you were there?”

“He said he followed me because he wanted to know if I really believed what my brothers were saying about him planning the whole thing last summer.”

“And you said?”

She didn’t know what she dreaded more, getting home to a houseful of people who were no doubt just waiting to interrogate her, or having to answer this question. “Eric, he swore he didn’t, so I just said I believed him.”

“Do you really?” Eric’s raised his voice. “After everything he’s done, you’re still falling for his shit?”