Page 45 of Raspados & Regret

We all stare at each other, and my sister’s eyes drop to my face. Then to where I’m pressed against the shelf like a haunted slut. Then back up.

“Oh. My. God,” she says. “No mames güey.”

I point at her. “Don’t.”

“Mi hermanito… you’re hiding in the pantry,” She chuckles. “You came out of the closet years ago so why are you trying to crawl back in?”

“I’m checking inventory.” Even though I have no clipboard.

“You look like inventory checked you back in.”

“You know… Mom should have swallowed you.” I cover my niece’s eyes and flip her off.

“Like I haven’t heard worse.” She gives me the finger back. “So you’re sexting him or what?”

I bend and kiss Fatima’s head and groan. “No, I’m not sexting him.”

“Booooring.” She pushes past me and grabs a stack of cups. “I for real though thought something was happening because you look like someone just whispered ‘good boy’ in your ear, and you’re trying to pretend you didn’t like it.”

My face goes hot. “Get out.”

She gasps and presses a hand to Fatima’s back. “You do like that?”

“Anita.”

“Does Fabián know?”

I hold up a finger to her. “I will tell Julio you called him illiterate again.”

That only makes her laugh. “He knows he is illiterate. The pendejo has a tattoo that says Antia.”

I point at the door. “Out.”

She points both sticker rolls at me. “Fine. But I’m watching you.”

Anita leaves, laughing, and just like her mother, Fatima laughs too.

Betrayal is genetic, apparently.

I stand there for another second, trying to remember my own name. My phone buzzes again.

Fabi.Sin.Filtro

You got quiet.

I laugh once, and it comes out soft—I’m completely fucked.

Lalo.Con.Limón

Sorry.

Had to go scream into dry storage for a sec.

Fabi.Sin.Filtro

Dramatic.

Lalo.Con.Limón