Leti #2
“Because you have a million things going on in your life,” I tell her. “We haven’t hung out by ourselves in ages. This isn’t exactly the kind of thing that can be explained through text.”
“Leti, come on.” She grips my arm. “You know I always have time for you. You’re my sister. Don’t pull this you-don’t-have-time-for-me crap on me.”
“It’s not crap.” I shake my head. “You have kids and Diego and a full-time job. My dynamic with Andrew alone exasperates you. Be real with me. If I asked you to keep this kind of a secret from Andrew, would you really have gone along with it?”
“Well, maybe not.” She crosses her arms. “I would have at least convinced you to tell Andrew you knew each other. Adults don’t have secret friendships, Leti. That’s ridiculous.”
“Not for me. Is it really so bad that I wanted my relationship with Julian to be completely separate from Andrew? At least for a little bit?”
At this, Elena lets out a long sigh. “No. I guess I can understand that.”
“I should’ve known it would blow up in my face, though,” I tell her. “You probably would’ve warned me about that.”
“You’re damn right, I would’ve,” she grumbles. “So, what exactly are you and Julian to each other?”
“Tell me about the fight first,” I say. “Is Andrew okay?”
“Andrew’s fine.” Elena shakes her head. “Julian’s the one who got hurt.”
“What?” I turn away from them, immediately grabbing my purse and keys off the counter. “How bad is it? What hospital are they at?”
“We think he got a concussion after Andrew tackled him,” Elena explains. “He hit his head pretty hard on the leg of the patio table. God, you should’ve seen Andrew’s face when he puked on his shoes.”
My blood boils at the thought of my brother giving Julian a head injury.
But even though the fault lies with Andrew, there’s a pit in my stomach that I can’t easily overlook.
I’m the one who kissed Julian. I’m the one who asked to keep our friendship a secret from my brother.
I’m the one who keeps relying on him like a crutch, like way more than a friend should.
At the end of the day, I’m the reason Julian is in the hospital.
I dial his number in the stairwell, my heart in my throat as I wait for him to pick up. But it isn’t his voice on the other line. “Leti, it’s me. The doctors are seeing him now,” my brother says. “They don’t think it’s serious. I’m assuming Elena told you what happened.”
“You tackled him?!” I don’t bother keeping my voice down. I run down the stairs as fast as I can. “Andrew, what the hell were you thinking? I always knew you were an asshole, but this is taking it to a whole new level, don’t you think?”
“It was an accident.” Irritation laces his tone. “Don’t you think I feel bad enough as it is? We already talked it through. We forgave each other.”
“I don’t give a fuck if he’s forgiven you, because I never will!
” I don’t register the tears streaming down my cheeks until the cool night air hits my face.
“You can say whatever you want to me, Andrew. I’ve been taking it for as long as you’ve been alive.
It doesn’t faze me anymore. But I thought he was your best friend, that he was the last person you’d ever want to hurt.
I thought whatever amount of decency you’re capable of extended to him, at least, if not to your own sister. ”
“Did Elena bother to tell you that he hit me first? Does that mean anything to you, or am I still dead last on the list of people you care about?”
“You’re not the one sitting in a hospital room being checked out by doctors, are you?” I scoff. “Where are you guys?”
“We’re at Methodist, but we’ll probably be out of here by the time you arrive,” he says. “He already got cleared to leave. They’re just giving him instructions for tonight.”
A well of relief washes over me. He’s not staying the night at a hospital, which is a good sign. He’ll be home soon. But it’s not enough to ease the ache tightening in my chest.
“Put him on the phone.”
“Leti, come on.” He huffs, like I’m being unreasonable. “He’s had a long night.”
“Put. Him. On. The. Phone.” I grit my teeth. “You think I’m gonna believe your word alone when you’re the reason he’s there in the first place?”
He lets out a long sigh, and then there’s some static and shuffling before a new voice comes on the line. “Leticia.”
All the fight in me deflates at the sound of his voice. “Julian. God. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” he says. “We’re heading back now. I didn’t mean to worry you—”
“I’ll be worried if I want to be,” I grumble, the sound of his chuckle filling my ear. “You’re really okay?”
“I’m not allowed to sleep uninterrupted tonight, but I’m okay,” he assures me. “No more bleeding, and my head barely hurts anymore.”
I’m sure he’s lying, but I let him think he’s comforting me anyway. “I’m glad to hear that. You’re on your way back now?”
“Yeah, I’m all clear,” he says. “Perfectly fine. Trust me.”
It’s not that I don’t believe him. That’s not what’s keeping me from walking back upstairs.
That’s not what’s leading my feet to his front door instead.
It’s only that I need to see him with my own two eyes.
When we hang up, my back hits the wall outside his door and slides down until I’m crouched on the floor.
And then I wait.