Oscar leaned forward and started yel ing at Eddie in Spanish and Eddie returned fire.
“Stop!” I shouted.
I’d had enough. I hadn’t slept in over twenty-four hours, my car wasn’t working, I’d had a knife to my throat and Eddie just announced that he was making me his business.
I couldn’t stand anymore.
Both men quit yel ing.
“It’s sorted out, Oscar. It was something stupid I said to make him think it in the first place. But he doesn’t think I’m a racist anymore. Just chil .”
Oscar wasn’t done being angry and he turned to me.
“You worry your mother,” he said.
Wonderful.
“Oscar, everything’s under control.”
“Bul shit, Mamita. Your Mom says—”
“Stop listening to my mother and stop interfering. I can take care of myself.”
He leaned into me. “Yeah? I don’t think so. I got two eyes in my head, don’t I? You’ve lost weight; you look run down and ready to drop. How’re you gonna take care of yourself when you’re so f**kin’ busy takin’ care of—”
“Oscar!” I shouted, “Shut up! And quit talking to my mother.”
He stared at me a beat and then was quiet. The arrow went out of the red zone and dropped down to green. Once it hit green, he looked at me with concern in his eyes.
“Jet, you need someone lookin’ out for you.”
“That would be me,” I told him.
He shook his head and sighed.
“Mi Cielo, you break my heart.”
It was then I knew we were out of danger. Oscar blew quick and blew out just as quickly.
I smiled at him, “Go get a donut.”
“Don’t have time for donuts. I’m late for work as it is.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek, sent Eddie a glare and then took off.
Before I could react, Tex showed up to our little circle.
“Thank Christ for you, Loopy Loo,” He boomed, handing me a cappuccino. “Things were beginnin’ to get borin’
around here.” Then he went back behind the counter.
Everyone was staring at me, Eddie, Lee and Indy.
“Oscar’s a little over-protective,” I said to diffuse the mood.
“I’l say,” Dad chipped in.
Lee and Indy’s attention switched to Dad but Eddie kept looking at me. His eyes were active again and his hand moved from my waistband to hook an arm around my neck, curling me into him. We were nearly chest-to-chest and I had to splay my hand against his abs to push a bit away from him. His arm tightened, holding me where I was.
His head dipped and he said in my ear, “I’ve just added a couple of things to my list of shit we need to talk about.” That was not a good thing.