“Güey, what’s wrong?”
I watch as Marcos plasters on a fake grin. “What? Can’t a guy visit his sister?”
“Don’t be stupid,” I admonish him. “Of course you can. It’s just that a guy would usually inform his sister ahead of time so she could be prepared.”
“I’m easy. Why would you need to be prepared?”
“Who was at the door, Lovely?” Teagan’s voice travels from the bedroom. Marcos and I both jerk our heads in that direction as my gorgeous boyfriend drifts down the hall, wearing nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs.
God, he looks good enough to eat, even hungover. He’s rubbing his hand over his hair when he stops short, eyes going wide before narrowing at my brother, whose arms are still around me.
“Hullo there. Who the feckare you?”
Marcos, sensing an opportunity to fuck with me, pulls me closer, placing a smacking kiss on my cheek. “Clearly you didn’t tell him about me. What am I going to do with you,preciosa?”
“Cerdo. I hate you,” I seethe, untangling myself to step toward Teag. He winds a possessive arm around my waist as I lay a hand on his chest. “This is my oldest brother, Marcos. He’s an idiot.”
Teagan lets loose a relieved breath and then extends his hand. “Sorry, mate. I’m Teagan O’Brien, the boyfriend.”
Marcos grips the outstretched hand, muscles flexing as he squeezes harder than necessary. “Marcos Diaz. Nice to meet you. Especially since she failed to tell me she had a boyfriend.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m surprised Mami didn’t tell you.”
“Oh, she did. Butyoudidn’t.”
“Really, Marcos?” I give him a scathing look. “How many of your girlfriends have you called to tell me about, hmmm? Pretty sure I meet a new one every Christmas.”
“None of mine have ever been serious enough to move in with me though,” he says, looking pointedly at Teagan.
“No, mate, we’re not…” he tries to interject.
“No. No, no, no, no, no, no,” I spit out rapidly, shoving my finger into Marcos’ chest. “You do not get to show up on my doorstep, unannounced mind you, and start throwing around judgments and demanding answers.”
Before my brother can argue, I turn back to Teagan. “And you’re not helping matters by standing here in just your underwear. Go put on some clothes while I deal with this.”
“Go easy on him, Lovely. He’s just looking out for you.” Teagan winks at me before sauntering back to the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
“So, an Irish guy?”
Rounding on Marcos, I jab my finger at him again. “Shut up,cabrón. You don’t get to ask any questions right now. Go sit down. I’ll make coffee then you can tell me why you’re really here.”
* **
“So let me get this straight,” I say, scowling into my café de olla. “Because you’ve been drafted by the Charlotte Football Club and are now moving, she’s unwilling to attempt a long-distance relationship. Even though she says she loves you?”
After Teagan put on some clothes, I poured us all a cup of coffee before settling in to hear Marcos’ story. Teagan nestled into the corner of the couch, wrapping an arm around my shoulders when I joined him, while my brother stretched out in the armchair across from us. His legs are spread wide, head resting against the back of the chair.
“That sums it up,” he sighs. “I don’t know what to do. I’ve been playing for Juárez my entire career and the goal has always been to move up. CFC is sixth in the League. It would be huge for me.”
“Fair play, mate!” Teagan exclaims, raising his mug in salute. “That’s incredible!”
“Seriously, Marcos, that’s amazing. You should be so proud. And if she really loved you, she would be too.”
My brother has never been interested in someone enough to have this kind of reaction. He normally drops them once they start to get too clingy. The fact that he actually still wants this woman, even after her refusal to attempt to make a relationship work, speaks volumes.
Marcos sits up, resting his elbows on his knees and letting his hands hang before them. His eyes dart between me and Teagan. “What if you two were in this situation? What would you do?”
This gives me pause. WhatwouldI do? I try to put myself in my brother’s girlfriend’s shoes. Imagining Teagan telling me that he’s leaving and I won’t see him every day makes my heart hurt, but knowing that he’s finally achieved his dream would give me so much joy. Honestly, I’d probably find a way to go with him. I can get a job anywhere with my degree. But what happens if we break up and then I’m stuck in a city where I don’t know anyone?
