Page 89 of Revv

He tried to make sure I understood that one man leaving didn’t mean they all would.

It didn’t work.

If anything, Daniel only showed me how rare a man like him actually is.

“Daniel already told everybody at work you’re playing Sol Fuego,” Mom says, like she can hear me thinking about him. “He wanted to print the festival poster and hang it in the break room.”

My mouth falls open. “He did not.”

“I stopped him.”

“Thank God.”

“I did let him send it to the family group chat, though.”

“That thing has, like, thirty-seven people in it.”

“Thirty-nine now. Your tía added two cousins from Texas.”

“Of course she did. I don’t even know those cousins.”

“They know you now.” Mom smiles and gives my arm a gentle squeeze. “Daniel is proud of you, mija. We both are.”

Bex leans over the island, grinning. “Your whole family is basically running a marketing campaign.”

Mom laughs softly. “Ay, déjalos. They’re excited for you.”

“Excited and nosy.”

“In this family, it’s the same thing.”

Bex lifts her empanada in agreement. “That’s why I love it here.”

“You say that because they feed you.”

“It’s one of many reasons.”

Mom turns back to me, and the teasing in her expression softens. She reaches up and moves a piece of hair away from my face, smoothing it behind my ear the same way she’s done since I was little.

“I’m so proud of you, Cecilia.”

My throat tightens immediately, which is rude because I have expensive lashes on and no interest in getting emotional in my kitchen.

“I haven’t even played yet.”

“That doesn’t matter. You worked for this. Nobody handed you anything, and you kept going even when people made you feel like you didn’t belong there.” She cups my cheek for a second, her thumb brushing beneath my eye. “You belong there, mi amor. Don’t forget that this weekend.”

I look down at the foil container in front of me so she doesn’t see how badly the words hit.

“Okay,” I murmur.

“Okay what?”

“I won’t forget.”

“Good.” She kisses my forehead, then reaches down to scratch Guacamole under the chin. He immediately starts purring against my arm like he wasn’t screaming at her through the door thirty seconds ago. “And you behave while your mamá is gone.”

“Like that will ever happen.”