I kept glaring.
He kept watching me.
We went into a stare down.
I became aware of the other people in the room and I thought it was probably rude to continue a stare down so I gave in.
But I didn’t like it.
“Oh, all right.”
His mouth moved like he was fighting a smile.
I looked at Daisy and rolled my eyes.
She let out a Christmas bells giggle.
Then Jet said something that threw me.
“We better go. I promised Blanca I’d help her get ready for La Reunión.” She looked at Eddie. “Are we all going together?”
Even though Jet asked Eddie, Hector answered, “Sadie’s gotta change.”
My heart leapt into my throat.
“Change for what?” I asked.
Hector’s eyes came to me. “La Reunión.”
I blinked, thinking I knew what he was talking about but hoping I did not.
“Why do I have to change?”
“Mamita, you aren’t wearin’ that f**kin’ skirt out of the house unless it’s to walk out to the Bronco and walk into the brownstone to get changed before goin’ to Mamá’s.”
My heart in my throat grew to about ten times its size.
“I’m not going to your mother’s,” I whispered.
“You are.”
My eyes went wide.
“I’m not. It’s a Family Meeting, I’m not family.”
The air in the room went electric, Hector’s eyes grew dark and his body went tense.
Sensing the change, Eddie, Jet, Daisy and Marcus cautiously moved away.
“You shittin’ me?” Hector asked, oblivious to our audience.
Now, I was confused.
“No,” I answered honestly.
“Mujer, your mark is on my back, my mark is on your hip and you’re sayin’ you aren’t family?”
Oh my.