“She’s going to have to repeat the semester if she doesn’t go back soon,” Emilio tries again.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to storm in there and tell them that “she” is right here. That she doesn’t need men deciding her future for her. But the fact Emilio is going to bat for me, even though I know he doesn’t want me to leave the house, means a lot.
“What if we go with her?” Elias asks.
“You gonna go to college, Elias?” Tío E laughs.
“Not me, but Emilio can. Esterio can. They both can pass as students.”
I don’t agree, but I still don’t go in there.
“If you two go with her, I’ll send Hudson too. But she is never to be left alone. Remember, she’s your weakness, Emilio. They will use her to get to you,” my dad tells him.
“I’m aware,” Emilio grits out.
“Hey, I was starting to waste away from starvation. Are you slaughtering the cow out here?” I ask as I walk into the kitchen.
“I’d slaughter a cow for you, Frankie,” Emilio says.
“And they say romance is dead.” I laugh. I look around the room. “What’s going on? Why do you all look more grouchy than usual?”
“You’re going back to school,” Emilio announces.
“Really?” I smile wide. “Is it over?”
“No,” my dad says. “The threat is very much still out there, sweetheart. You’re going to take your brother with you and your… cousins.” Dad pauses, and I roll my eyes.
“Okay.” I shrug.
“Okay?” My dad and Tío E look at me with puzzled looks on their faces.
“Okay,” I repeat.
“Just okay? No argument about how you don’t need babysitters or bodyguards?” Dad raises a brow.
Usually, Iwouldargue, but Emilio went to bat for me. He made this happen. I’m not going to bicker over the terms. The point is, I’m going back to school and getting out of this house.
I shake my head. “No argument.”
“Good. Make sure you stick with them. Don’t go wandering off alone,” Dad says.
“I won’t. So who is coming with me today? I can be ready in half an hour and make my afternoon lecture,” I ask.
“Me.” Emilio smiles. “Always wanted to see what the college fuss was about.”
“You went to college,” Tío E reminds him.
“Yeah, in Mexico. I want to know what American college is all about.”
“It’s boring,” I grumble.
“But you’re there. It would be impossible for it to be boring,” he says.
“Okay, I’ve got shit to do that’s not watching this crap,” Dad groans and walks out of the kitchen.
As soon as he’s gone, Emilio wraps his arms around me and pulls me up against him. “Go get dressed. I’ll make you a sandwich to go.”
“Deal.” Leaning up on my tiptoes, I press my lips to his and whisper, “Thank you.”