Chapter 6 #2
This isn’t some girl fight. I prefer punches to scratches, but when this woman goes back to her boyfriend or husband and the rest of their gang, I want everyone to know the woman she targeted fought back. I want to leave one mark that screams a woman beat the shit out of her not a man.
The hand in her hair moves to her throat as her fingers dig into my shoulders.
I squeeze as hard as I can, driving her into the metal box again.
My free hand delivers a punch that cracks her cheekbone.
I step back as Toria points a blade at her.
She brings the tip of it just beneath our assailant’s eye on her uninjured side.
Guess she had one in her pocket after all.
“Say it. Say that word. Give me a reason to carve my fucking name in your cheek, so everyone knows those men’s women left you for fucking dead.”
Someone pounds at the restroom door. It’s definitely a man. I don’t trust the woman, so I don’t look over. The pounding continues along with someone yelling.
“Tre! Tre!”
“We’re okay, Joaquin.”
Toria trails the blade down the woman’s cheek. It’s not a deep cut, but it leaves a trail of blood.
“You got lucky, you cunt. You can thank my cousin for your life. Irony’s a bitch.”
My friend drives her fist into the woman’s temple, and she crumples to the floor. Neither Toria nor I look at her as we walk to the door. Joaquin looks between our shoulders as I pull the door open.
“Tre, what happened?”
“We took care of it.”
“That doesn’t answer my question. What happened?”
“That woman had too much to say. We need to hurry, or we’ll miss the beginning of the movie.”
Joaquin doesn’t move. He glares at me before looking at Toria. I know she’ll back me up.
“And what am I supposed to tell Alejandro?”
“Nothing. I’ll explain.”
He shifts his gaze back to me and narrows his eyes.
He doesn’t like that my friend will tell her husband what happened, but I won’t tell him.
That’s the difference between a date and a husband.
I don’t owe Joaquin anything. After the way he left me floundering at the dinner, I’m not inclined to trust him completely.
He can tell, so he steps aside. Toria walks out first. He snags my wrist as I step past him.
“You may be able to take care of yourself, and so can Toria, but you do not lie to me when it comes to your safety or hers. You will tell me what happened because you don’t want to know the consequences if I have to hear it from my cousin.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
I try to pull my wrist free, but his hand’s a fucking manacle.
This time, Joaquin positions himself between Toria and me, so he doesn’t have to let go.
This isn’t how I saw the date going. We make it back to our seats, and Toria whispers to Alejandro.
He leans forward, glancing at me before locking gazes with Joaquin.
I don’t understand their silent communication, but Joaquin stands.
Alejandro’s gentle when he helps Toria to her feet.
He trades seats with her, and Joaquin hurries down the stairs before disappearing out of the theater.
“Where’s he going?”
“You both should have told him the truth. We’ve been having more trouble than usual with The Brand. They usually steer clear of us. That one of their women approached you is beyond odd. We need the rest of our men to sweep the building and the area outside. Joaquin’s going to take care of it.”
“Are—are you angry with Joaquin?” I have a sinking feeling.
“No. Why would I be?”
“He didn’t check the restroom before we went in. When I didn’t answer him, he didn’t come inside to check on us.”
“Joaquin knows Toria can defend herself and you. I’m certain you learned to fight off an attacker. He was confident the two of you together would be all right. If you weren’t, you would’ve called out for him. It was important he remained outside to ensure no one else could join in.”
“Okay.”
“Really, Tricia. I’m not mad at him. He did what he was supposed to. I’m sorry this messed up your date. He has to be my wife’s bodyguard now rather than your date.”
I hadn’t thought about it that way. I didn’t consider Joaquin was acting only as Toria’s guard when he left.
I thought he was looking out for both of us.
I nod and sit back in my seat as the trailers begin.
We’re twenty minutes into the movie before Joaquin returns.
He slips into his seat as though nothing happened.
He’s watching the screen as I watch him.
Eventually, he turns his head to look at me. I furrow my brow, waiting for some sign of reassurance. His lips twitch downward as if to say it’s nothing. Then his attention’s back on the movie.
That’s all I get?
What the hell?
I settle back into my seat, handing him the popcorn.
I’m no longer interested in the food or the movie.
The next hour and a half drag, even though I admit the movie was pretty good.
Joaquin didn’t touch the popcorn, and I realize it wasn’t his mood that turned him off to it.
He got the popcorn just for me. I feel like an ungrateful bitch for wasting it.
My shoulders droop as I follow him down the stairs.
I feel even worse when he tosses it in the trash.
“Tre?”
Alejandro’s helping Toria into the SUV when Joaquin finally looks at me.
“I’m sorry I was so demanding. I was worried about you. I know you can take care of yourself. I overreacted.”
My chest tightens. I don’t want him to regret how protective he was. I’m still annoyed about the silent treatment at the dinner, but I was wrong earlier. I trust him.
You trust him implicitly.
I really do. I didn’t realize it until just now.
Despite the disasters each time we’ve been together since the reception, no man’s ever made me feel as seen as Joaquin does.
I know he hears and sees everything I do.
Not in a stalker kind of way, but more like I’m the most important person in the room to him.
I love seeing him with his family. Nothing’s more important to me than mine, so it warms my heart to see he prioritizes his as much as I do mine.
Still waters run deep. He may not have talked much at the reception, but when he did, he was insightful and intelligent. He can even be funny.
I felt like I could be myself with him. Like I could talk about things that interest me, and he’d actually listen, even if he wasn’t into it too.
That he wasn’t waiting to turn the conversation toward himself.
We had so many interests in common that it surprised both of us.
At the same time, he accepted when our opinions differed without trying to change my mind or making me feel wrong.
I felt like my intelligence, ideas, and opinions held value. We just clicked.
I don’t know why I was unwilling to tell him what happened tonight. Maybe I didn’t want him to think I was weak. Maybe I wanted to keep him from overreacting. Maybe I was wrong.