Chapter 20
The driver drops us off at an exclusive club near Center City.
As we walk through the dark hallway toward the VIP area, a mix of Spanish, hip-hop, dance, and pop music plays. A large dance area is in the center of the club, and the DJ booth is in the corner. It's dark, with only the lights overhead and the ones under the couches.
I sit next to Javier on the black couch. He invited me so he wouldn’t look like the third wheel, and I understand why. Julia has been texting Rey all night because he has been glued to his phone screen, and not once has he sent me a message. I’ve checked my phone like a lovestruck idiot in the car on the way here. According to Javier, Rey doesn’t want anyone to know he is deaf. I know there is more he doesn’t tell me, but I don’t want to pry.
After fifteen minutes and two shots, the liquid courage has me firing off at Rey.
Ari: I didn’t know you dated?
The light from the phone shines over his face, and his lips form a grim line.
Rey: Julia is a close friend I met in high school when my mother moved us here from Puerto Rico when I started boxing. We go out sometimes. I didn’t think it important to tell you about her.
My heart feels like a fissure in a glass about to shatter. With just one push, it will break into pieces. My hope evaporated like smoke. I haven’t taken my coat off because I feel stupid for dressing up for him.
Ari: It’s none of my business.
Rey: Look, Ari, we had one kiss and a few texts that would be considered flirting. I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you.
Javier says something. I nod even though I haven’t been listening. I hope he doesn’t expect me to answer.
It was a stupid kiss, Ari. It meant nothing.
Julia shifts on the couch. She leans close and surprises Rey with a kiss on the lips. I swallow the bitter taste of hurt on my tongue.
I look away and press send.
Ari: I understand, and you’re right, it was a mistake.
“Is everything alright, Ari?” Javier asks.
I place my phone in my bag. “Yeah”
“Would you dance with me, Ari?” he asks with hopeful eyes and an adorable smile, worried I’d say no.
I slide my hand in his and he helps me stand. Julia and Rey look up.
Julia’s mouth is smeared with lipstick .
I grab a small white napkin from the table next to the bottle of champagne, hand it to her, and say, “Javier and I are going to dance.”
“I’ll see if Rey wants to go, too,” she says brightly.
“Good luck with that,” Javier says playfully. “You know how Rey feels about dancing.”
Javier helps me remove my coat. I adjust the hem of my dress.
“That dress is gorgeous on you, Ari,” Julia blurts. “Thank you,” I reply politely.
Javier lowers his voice near my ear. “I guess I’m the lucky one tonight.” I turn away with a blush. He places his hand on my lower back and guides me to the dance floor.
We dance to a few songs, but he senses the tension. He must feel it.
He leans in and says over the music, “My brother wants you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie, but he must see it because he says, “It’s why Julia was all over him. I know something happened between you two.”
I play dumb. “What?”
“You looked like I did when a girl broke my heart for the first time. I won’t let him do that to you, Ari. He’s my brother, and I respect him, but you don’t deserve that.”
“We kissed,” I admit. “It was a mistake. I was surprised when I saw Julia. I felt guilty, but he told me the truth.”
He frowns. “I’m sorry, Ari. I didn’t know, but it was me...I invited her.”
I shrug like it’s no big deal. It was Javier who invited her even though deep down, it matters. It matters because it hurts to be rejected.
The music changes. I dance to the beat seductively, trying to think of anything else while maintaining a respectable distance .
“Where did you learn to dance?” he asks.
I lift my hair and fan myself. “I was on the dance team during high school. We won the state competition four years in a row.”
His eyebrows rise, impressed. When he turns us around, I spot Julia with Rey on the edge of the dance floor by the speaker.
Rey looks uncomfortable watching people dance, and Julia awkwardly moves her shoulders. You can tell she isn’t a good dancer.
It seems Rey is trying to follow the beat, but Julia’s dance moves make it hard for him to find a rhythm.
I look away when he catches me staring. Javier’s hands slide to my waist, and he pulls me closer. “My brother doesn’t like me dancing with you. I’m sure you are wondering if he can hear the music,” he says over my ear. “Since it’s so loud, he can pick up the beat or feel the speaker’s vibration.”
“He can hear the music?” I say, not wanting to ask why he thinks Rey is bothered.
Javier nods. “Yeah, if it’s this loud. It’s like a soft beat, whispers that fade in and out. I’ve asked him a bunch of times. It’s why he wears headphones when he trains. He plays music as loud as it can go,” he says with a smile. “It’s better than nothing.” I nod in understanding.
That is why he wears the headphones when he works out.
“Will it always be like that?”
Javier shakes his head and says, “One day, it will be gone, Ari. He will wake up and not even hear that.”
My heart sinks. That’s horrible. He must feel helpless. He will be left in the dark while the world and everything he cares about will move on. To hear and then, one day, silence.
If he waits to have a family, he will never be able to listen to his wife say I do or his baby’s first word .
Julia walks up, fanning herself. “Hey guys, I could use another drink.”
“I’m okay,” I rush out. “I’ve had enough for the night.” She turns to Javier, hopefully. “How about you?”
“I’m good,” Javier says.
“At least come with me,” she whines.
Javier grins, but he doesn’t want to go to the bar. “Are you okay with staying here with Rey until I get back, Ari?”
“Go ahead. I’ll be right here.”
“Yes,” Julia exclaims as if she’s won a prize.
They both head to the bar, and I’m left with Rey on the dance floor.
He steps closer to me as the crowd grows thick. A couple bumps me from behind, and I catch myself from falling forward by putting my hands flat on his chest. I feel his muscles twitch underneath. I look up. His eyes dip to where my chest meets his torso. He places his hands on my lower back, and his fingers play with the tips of my hair, causing tingles to snake up my spine.
Relax, Ari.
I look over at Javier and Julia at the bar. Julia laughs and takes shots while snapping selfies as Javier holds her steady. He chuckles at her clumsiness. She laughs louder when she sways, not because of the music.
The DJ saves the day and plays a dance beat, amping up the crowd. I turn away and dance.
When I sneak a glance at Rey over my shoulder, he is looking at my ass with his head tilted to the side. He grips my hips and pulls my back close to his front. His breath on my neck is like fire igniting my skin.
He matches my movements, grinding against me. His hand slides to my lower stomach and then up slowly to my ribs. Everything fades away until it is just us. Just the feel of his hands on my body. I have to remind myself we are just dancing, but I’m going out of my mind. I try to ignore the tension he creates over my skin. The feel of his hard body on my back. The air from his breath on the back of my neck.
When it’s too much, I turn around, and he places his thumb over my beating pulse. It feels like it’s running a mile a minute.
He holds me close, tight against him, his nose buried in my hair as I grind my hips.
The song moves to another and then another. After the fourth song, he pauses, scans the other couples, and watches them dance Spanish bachata.
I step slowly to the side so he can follow. In high school, I learned to dance to this from a Dominican girl on the dance team.
His eyes fall to my lips for a few seconds after he catches on. It feels like my heart is beating to a love song.
After a few seconds, a bright light shines overhead. Rey squints. The DJ announces over the mic, “We have royalty from the boxing world with us on the floor tonight, every‐ one. The Silent King is in the house!”
The crowd erupts in cheers. He realizes he’s been spotted but doesn’t miss a step. He pulls me closer, sliding my leg between his.
His eyes hold mine when he slides one hand on the side of my neck under my jaw.
My hands are on his shoulders, and we are one. Lost in the magic of the lyrics.
When the song ends, we head back to the VIP area, where we find a drunk Julia pouting playfully at Rey. And I don’t think Rey is a fan.
“I should have been dancing with hiiim,” she slurs. “I wanted to be picture recorded.” She continues incoherently.
Javier shakes his head and laughs.
Rey: Are you ready to go?
Ari: Yes.
Javier settles the bill with the server. Rey has to guide Julia because she is walking like Bambi in her heels toward the exit. She can hardly keep her eyes open when she is seated in the car.
“Why did you dance with her and not with me?” she slurs, lolling her head to the side.
She’s talking to Rey, but I don’t think she remembers that he can’t hear.
He glances at Javier, and Javier signs. Rey glances at me and then at Javier with a tight expression.
I have learned a bit of ASL in class and studied when I can, but Javier is moving his hands too fast, and I can’t follow.
As I watch, I feel a pang of sadness as Rey's arm encircles Julia, her head resting on his shoulder as she sleeps. It is intimate.
Rey's eyes widen with urgency when he notices me watching, but I look away. The tiny light of hope fades into the dark.