Chapter 9 #2
“I love him already,” Nikki murmured as she watched him with Jo.
“Go for it.”
Shaking her head, she said, “For you .”
“Not happening.”
“He’s a lot better than any of the guys you’ve hooked up with.”
I grunted, because there was a possibility she was right.
Alonzo gave Jo one last turn and set her on her feet. Giggling, she looked up to me and said, “Did you see that, Tita? I went round so fast.”
“I did, Joey girl. Did you have fun?”
“Yes! Can you move here, Tito Ally?” she asked innocently, eliciting muffled laughter from Nikki.
That nickname though. Priceless.
“I would love to, but I can’t, Jo,” he answered with a straight face.
“Why not? Tita Cammy did.”
“I’m still in school.”
“Me too! We can study together.”
Nikki put her hands on her daughter’s shoulders. “Jo, it’s not that simple. His life is in Manila. But we’ll go visit him sometime, okay?”
Jo jutted out her bottom lip, obviously wanting to protest. Instead, she sighed. “Okay.”
A customer showed up then, and Nikki told Jo, “Come help me and I’ll get you an ice candy.”
“Okay!” Jo skipped over to join Nikki at the counter, greeting the customer with a cheerful, “Hi! My mama’s the best cook here, so everything’s yummy! Do you want to try it all?”
I stifled a laugh at her less than subtle but extremely charming go at a sales pitch.
“She’s one hell of a saleswoman,” Alonzo commented, killing my amusement.
I gave him the side-eye. “You’re still here.”
“Hey, I was heading out, but Nikki called me over.”
You and me both. If Nikki thought I’d missed her attempt at linking me up with this guy, she was in for a reality check.
“So you do ink in color,” he said.
“Only for Jo. And it’s a skin-safe marker.”
“I figured.” He tilted his head to the side, eyes dissecting my face. “You’re good with her. I?—“
“Cam!” Eric appeared at the side of the booth. “I thought you were leaving.”
I cocked my head in Nikki’s direction.
He let out a short laugh. “Any chance you’re game to open shop again?”
“Eric.”
A heavy sigh escaped him. “I had to try.” Looking past me, he said to Alonzo, “Sorry for interrupting.”
“No worries,” Alonzo replied. “I’m heading out anyway. See you around, Cam.”
With a nod to Eric, he sauntered away, only to be held up by Nikki once again.
“Don’t forget your bibingka!” She sent Jo over with said rice cake to him.
Smiling, he bent down to take it. “Thank you, Jo. I enjoyed meeting you.”
“You’ll carry me again next time?” She gave him an expectant look.
“You bet,” he said as he held up his free hand, which Jo met with a high-five.
“Yay!”
Alonzo straightened and called out, “Thanks again, Nikki!”
“Anytime.”
Finally, he left, cutting through the crowd with quick steps.
“Who was that?” Eric asked.
“Some guy from Manila. Where’s Milo?”
“Where else?”
Right. The dog always gravitated toward Jo and probably went straight to her.
“Why was he here in Nikki’s tent?” Eric persisted, staring in the direction Alonzo had gone.
“She called him over, and Jo wanted me to give him our tatt.” Like I would ever let anyone outside our group have Jo’s flowers too.
Brows drawn together, Eric looked at Nikki. She was shaking her head but laughing as Jo dangled what appeared to be a piece of food out of Milo’s reach.
“They look like they’re having a good time,” he murmured.
“They are. It’s a great event, Eric,” I reassured him, knowing how much time and effort he’d put into ensuring it ran smoothly.
“Apparently not great enough that you could finish your shift,” he said drily.
Damn it. “I’m sorry. I’ll estimate how much I would have made and cover the cost.” My bank account would take a hit, but I deserved it for backing out of my commitment.
Chuckling, he said, “I’m kidding. I’m just glad you agreed to do it in the first place. But you still need to tell me why you closed early.”
I groaned, knowing it was the least I could do. “Tomorrow, over drinks.”
Nikki’s parents had come over for a late Christmas celebration, and they’d agreed to babysit Jo tomorrow evening so Nikki could have a rare night out sans mommy duties. We planned to meet at our favorite bar and drink our stresses away.
Again, it hit me how far I’d come from being the girl who had no one and belonged nowhere.
When I first came to Juana, it was just supposed to be a temporary stop—a place where I could pick myself up, get my bearings, and regain the confidence I’d lost when the people I trusted betrayed me.
Then Nikki, Jo, Eric, and Inang burrowed under my skin. I found a rental room that had become my own, a café that felt like a second home, and go-to places around the small town that fit me like no place ever had.
I’d built a life here. It wasn’t fancy or fast-paced, but it was right for me.
Sometimes, the doubt crept in that I’d never become financially stable without the college diploma I’d given up earning by leaving Manila. But I’d made that choice. I had to own it and find success my own way.
With any luck, the new year would bring new—and better—job opportunities. At least out here, I had friends I could count on. I would never take that for granted.