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That really caught his interest. “You did?”

  “Yeah, my mom said she was always the same way too growing up. She says it’s sad, but so many girls are so dramaticas. Boys are so much more laid back.”

  Alej thought about that. Did this mean she’d be hanging out with the boys at school more now? Cido had since made another comment that week about her being cute. A comment that’d had Alej muttering under his breath since Cido hadn’t been the only guy he’d seen eyeing her in a way that said they thought so too.

  The only good thing was, while the guys in this town might be more laid back than the “dramatica” girls, they were all pendejos, his best friend Cido included. Here Alej had only spoken to Isabella for a few minutes, and already he could tell she was far more self-confident and more mature than any of the boys he knew, himself included. Though the two years he had on her helped him play it off a bit.

  “I’m sorry about your mom.” Her statement broke him out of his thoughts. “I heard about the accident. That had to be so hard for you.”

  Alej stared at her for a moment. He hadn’t thought about his mother’s sudden death in a while. His sister had taken it so much harder than he had. Not that it hadn’t been hard on him as well. But seeing how utterly destroyed his sister had been by the unexpected loss of their mother, had made him step up along with his dad and be strong for her.

  “Yeah, it was tough.” He stared out into space as they continued to walk slowly down the dirt road. “We’d been going into the city every weekend for as long as I can remember. So, coming home that weekend without her. . .”

  He shook his head unable to finish. This wasn’t what he’d imagined his first conversation with the girl he’d been daydreaming about all week would be like. He swallowed hard, trying not to get emotional. The last thing he wanted was for her first real impression of him to be that of a sniffling marica.

  “If I tell you something you promise you won’t share it with anyone?”

  Alej turned to her, surprised by this. As if she’d read his mind, she went on before he could respond to that. “I’m only sharing this with you because I don’t think it’s fair that I’d know something so personal about you before ever speaking to you.”

  He shook his head. “That’s okay. It was in the paper, and in case you haven’t noticed, chisme travels fast in this pueblo. So, everybody who lives here knew about it before we even got home that night. But yeah, I promise.”

  She took a deep breath, staring ahead. “We didn’t really move here because my mom was recently widowed and we couldn’t afford living in the city anymore. I don’t even remember my dad. My dad was killed during a drug deal gone wrong in the city when I was just a baby.” She turned to him and rolled her eyes. “My mom had no idea he was involved in anything like that, but according to the police and witnesses, he was the one doing the selling, and they robbed him then shot him. So, it’s not like we’re chusma, only my grandma thinks it might make us look bad. The widow and daughter of a drug dealer, you know?” She lifted her hands, making air quotes. “Qué dirá la gente?” What people will think or say is all my grandmother ever worries about. She’s the one who’s been insisting for years we move away and get a fresh start somewhere where nobody knows us. She originally wanted us to go along with saying she was my mother and my mom and I were sisters and that my mom had never been married. Since my mom married so young and still looks young enough, we could pass as sisters. But my mom refused. The most she’d go along with was moving and saying she was just recently widowed after my dad got sick and died. But we did move out here because it was cheaper than living in the city.”

  Their eyes met, and he took a deep breath when she smiled again, and the deep dimples made another appearance. “Thanks for holding those for me, Alejandro.” She reached out for the bag of beans.

  Alej hadn’t even realized they were already just a few feet away from her house. “No worries.” He handed them to her. “And next week, if the girls give you the cold shoulder, you come hang with me.”

  Anyone who may’ve heard the invitation would think it just that. That he’d worded it wrong and meant to say, you can come hang with me. But Alej had worded the phrase that way for a reason.

  She smiled almost knowingly. He’d been spot on with his first impression about her. She was far more mature for her age than would be expected. Her sharing such a secret and explaining why it was one also confirmed something else he’d picked up about her. Isabella couldn’t care less that he or likely anyone else knew about her dad. She was that poised even at her young age. But she’d honor her grandmother’s wishes by at least trying to keep it on the downlow. Already there was so much to like about her than just how damn cute she was. But if she was going to hang out with the laid-back boys instead of the girls, it was him she’d be doing it with. He’d make sure of it.

  Capítulo 2

  Escuela Secundaria

  Middle School

  Isabella

  Ever since the day Alejandro had walked Isabella home from the town’s mercantile that first week she’d arrived at the pueblo, they’d slowly become best friends. As expected, the girls did turn out to be drama. Isabella’s mom and grandma assured her a lot of girls were just sangronas with other girls. Her grandmother went as far as to say women were naturally catty to one another and in her experience in life you only ever really had one or two good friends and had to watch out for the others. Though Isabella saw plenty of them hanging out together in groups of more than two just fine.

  Alejandro had a different theory. One he was adamant about. “They’re jealous.”

  Isabella, who was now Isa to Alejandro, had laughed, a bit embarrassed when she first heard him declare it so matter-of-factly. “Of what?” she’d asked.

  “Are you kidding me?” he’d retorted incredulously. “Look at you! Even way back when you first walked into the classroom, when you were a timid little fourth grader, you were beautiful and full of confidence. It’s what I loved about you from the moment we started hanging out. Those girls knew they’d never stand a chance against you when it came to vying for any boys’ attention.”

  It reminded her of the one thing she and Alejandro had never discussed but both knew she was well aware of. In hindsight, Isabella knew now why those girls had been so eager to befriend her that first day. They’d been hoping to embarrass her by teasing her about the fact that Alejandro Moreno had said he was going to marry her.

  After getting a better look at him and being caught in his intense eyes that first week, she’d been beyond flattered, not to mention excited. Only at that age she had no idea how to react to something like that. So, she’d done what her mom and grandma had always told her to do to avoid getting teased mercilessly. She’d pretended it was no big deal, as if she didn’t have the incredible urge to giggle nervously like the schoolgirl she’d been, along with them. The cutest boy in class had declared this about her. Even now, it made her smile silly.

  By the end of that first week back then, she’d been labeled conceited and full of herself. So, the following week after their walk home from the pueblo’s mercantile, she took him up on his offer. Technically, Alejandro and Cido were her two best friends now since Cido and Alejandro did everything together. This meant Cido was always around. But her relationship with Alejandro ran so much deeper .

  At fourteen, she still wasn’t brave enough to say it. She was far too young to even be thinking about it. And with her grandmother still being the ever-worrying queen of,”¿Qué dirá la gente?” Isabella dared not admit this to anyone. But she had every intention of holding Alejandro to that declaration he’d made when he first saw her. As if she hadn’t thought him cute from that very first day, over the years he’d gotten even more attractive. Taller than most of the other boys his age, even at sixteen he was already looking so manly. His father making him take on the role of the man of the house whenever he had to go out of town for a few days had really made him seem so much mature than his young age.
/>   Watching him climb on and off Atrevido, his beloved mustang in full caballero attire, Isabella had to remind herself not to appear too awestruck. She’d seen him tip his bangora at other girls who seemed just as awestruck as she felt when he did it to her. As much as she liked him now, she’d be damned if she let him think she was like all the others.

  She’d keep up the whole “we’re just best friends” thing until she ever had to make it clear to him or anyone else for that matter, that she considered him so much more. So far, he’d made it pretty clear that his feelings hadn’t changed since that first day. He’d never actually said it or threatened any boys outright, but everyone could see how protective he was of his mejor amiga. And recently it’d begun to border on territorial. So, if he was going to stake his claim on her even in a nonverbal way, so could she. Only she had to be discreet and ladylike about it. Respectable señoritas, especially ones as young as her, had no business laying claims on men.

  It was bad enough her grandmother had begun protesting about her spending so much time alone around two boys. “It’s how rumors get started, Isa,” she’d warned more than once already.

  But her mom knew Alejandro was a respectable young man and liked him well enough. He, Cido, and their fathers worked hard as a team with their street food-vending business. Every day during the week when Alejandro and Cido got home from the preparatoria in the city, they’d take over for their dads who hustled all day selling elotes and esquites all over town. Then on the weekends, they went into the city and sold in the bustling plaza. Her two hardworking best friends had talked plenty of times about their dads’ dreams of one day opening up their own taco shop or small restaurant in the city. Though Alejandro had secretly shared with her that his dad’s ultimate dream was to go to Los Estados Unidos and open up a taco shop or restaurant there. He said the US was the land of opportunity and his dad had no doubt that, with some hard work, they’d be successful.

  Alejandro, however, didn’t share his dad’s enthusiasm, or rather he thought his dad was dreaming too big. He said just getting the permanent visas would be hard enough but saving the kind of money they’d need to make such a move would be an even bigger challenge.

  Cido’s dad, Octavio, was content with being able to get a permanent spot in la plaza in the city. Small permanent vendor spots with gas outlets and running water were available for rent where they could extend their menu to more than just elotes and esquites—a goal Alejandro said he thought was more attainable. All Isabella knew was she had no idea what she’d do if Alejandro ever did move to the US. So, she preferred not to think about it too much.

  Done with her chores for the day, Isabella rushed out into town to look and listen for the bell of Alejandro and Cido’s vending cart. She found them over by the middle school where the kids in the late classes were just getting out. Isabella was in the morning classes this year, which allowed for her to get out early enough to go home, do her homework, and finish her chores in time to meet up and hang out with Alejandro and Cido wherever they happened to be set up.

  The stupid girls were forever flirting with them and trying to score free elotes. It burned Isabella because, just as Alejandro had made it clear in his own way to just about any boys who ever flirted with her that she was off limits, the girls also knew how tight Isabella and Alejandro were. She’d done enough glaring to make it obvious their throwing themselves at him was not appreciated. And while Alejandro didn’t flirt back, nor did he give into their pouting about not having money to pay for their corn cob, it didn’t help that Cido was always flirting and often times did give in.

  For as clear as Alejandro made it that he still felt for her what she’d felt from him from day one, she’d inevitably begun to feel insecure—and she hated it. Now that he was going to school in the city, she couldn’t help wondering if his interest for her had just been child’s play. The older girls were getting more and more blatant about their interest in him.

  Isabella slowed as she nearly reached them when one of those older girls in particular, Imelda, who Isabella couldn’t stand, stood smiling and giggling in front of their cart. Alejandro was busy fixing her elote with the works.

  “Will you be at the dance this weekend?” Imelda asked Alejandro, twirling her hair in her fingers.

  Alejandro didn’t even look up from the corn cob he was slathering mayonnaise on. “I might. Depends on what time we get back from the city.”

  “Isabella’s too young for dances, right?” she asked, lifting her brow.

  Now Alejandro looked up at her. “Yeah, she is.” He reached for the cotija and started sprinkling it on the cob.

  “Good to know.” The bitch fluttered her lashes as she took the corn from Alejandro and handed him her money. “I’ll look for you.”

  Glancing in Isabella’s direction, Imelda’s eyes widened when she realized how close she’d been and heard the exchange. But it only made the girl smirk before murmuring good-bye to Alejandro and sauntering away. The next people in line were waiting for the esquites that Cido was in charge of.

  “Hey,” Isabella said as she reached the cart.

  Alejandro smiled big when he saw her as he always did. “Hey.” He reached under his cart and pulled something out. “Got you this on my way home from school today.”

  “Obleas con cajete,” she said, smiling. “I didn’t even know they made them this big. These must be expensive, Alejandro.”

  He tilted his head, giving her a look as if she should know better. “Nothing’s too much when it comes to you.”

  Alejandro had been saying this to her for years. Ever since she’d mentioned Obleas being one of her favorites but only once in a while splurged on the ones with cajete because they cost more than the plain ones, he got them for her every chance he could. Only they were usually smaller.

  Despite the gesture and his sweet words, her head was back to what she’d been thinking before he handed her the candy. Trying to hide the jealousy she still felt over the possibility of him hanging out with Imelda at the dance that weekend, Isabella glanced away when their eyes met.

  As usual, he picked up on her disquiet immediately, and when she turned back to him, his eyes narrowed. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” She lifted and dropped her shoulder.

  The girl waiting on her esquites from Cido interrupted Isabella’s thoughts with her loud question. “How come I never see you guys at the rio parrandas Saturday nights anymore?”

  “Because those river hangouts are for middle school kids,” Cido said, taking her money. “We’re preparatoria men now. We’ll be at the dance this Saturday instead.”

  Isabella rolled her eyes. Ever since Cido and Alejandro started high school in the city, Cido acted like he was all grown up. It’s why it was so hilarious when he made his dad angry, and he was called a clueless mocoso in front of everyone. Another group of kids walked up to the cart and ordered cobs from Alejandro. One of the guys in the group, Juan Carlos, a boy in Isabella’s class, was immediately smiling when he saw her.

  “Hey, Isabella. You going to the parranda this Saturday?”

  Alejandro noticeably slowed his slathering of butter on the cob and eyed Juan Carlos, but then went back to focusing on what he was doing. Juan Carlos hadn’t lived in Pueblo De Oro long enough to know about her and Alejandro’s history. Taking advantage of this, Isabella smiled, feeling evil. But it was a necessary evil.

  “I might, since I’m not allowed to dance yet.”

  Juan Carlos smiled even bigger. “I’ve only been to a couple since I moved here, and they’ve been cool. I looked for you both times.”

  “Yeah, I haven’t been to any lately. But I have been before, and you’re right. They are fun. I’ll try and make it out this weekend.”

  “Good.” He smiled sheepishly. “Last two times I brought my guitara. I’ll bring it again and play for you.”

  As Alejandro finished preparing Juan Carlos’s corn and then his friends’, Isabella asked Juan Carlos more about hi
s guitar playing. She knew Alejandro as well as he knew her, and instantly picked up on his change in demeanor during the conversation she continued to have with Juan Carlos. Even if he hadn’t said a word throughout .

  Isabella made sure to lay it on thick and did a little extra giggling at anything even remotely silly Juan Carlos said. When Alejandro was done with their food, she realized she may’ve laid it on a little too thick because Juan Carlos was suddenly a little too confident.

  “So, what are you doing now?”

  “Um . . .” She glanced at Alejandro, whose intense glare practically burned a hole through her, then turned back to Juan Carlos. “Nothing. Just hanging out.”

  “Come hang with me at the placita. We’re just—”

  “She can’t,” Alejandro said, making her heart spike.

  Juan Carlos’s eyes narrowed in obvious confusion. He glanced at Alejandro then Isabella then back at Alejandro. “Why not?”

  “Because she’s hanging out here,” he said, simply then added, “With me.”

  It took a moment for Juan Carlos to understand Alejandro’s attitude, but once he did, he nodded, even as his friend chuckled. Lifting his elote at Alejandro, he then tipped his bangora at Isabella but said nothing before walking away.

  Alejandro eyed Juan Carlos then turned to Isabella. “I’ll be there with you at the parranda this weekend.”

  Isabella did her best to hide the smile as her insides burst with excitement. “But I thought you’d be at the dance?”

  “Is that where you want me to be, Isa? While you’re at the river listening to this guy play guitar for you?”

  “No,” she said too quickly then backpedaled. “I mean I heard you tell that girl you might be at the dance.”

  “That was just me being polite with a customer, Isa. Why would I want to go to a dance without you?”

  Feeling her heart flutter, Isabella shrugged. “Well, I thought because Cido said you two—”

  “Cido,” he said openly and without bothering to lower his voice since their other best friend was busy flirting with three girls buying esquites, “says a lot of shit, but you should know by now he doesn’t speak for me. So, wherever you’re at Saturday night, I’ll be there right next to you.”