“I was hoping it got lost in the mail,” he grumbles.
“Tío E! Guess what? Guess what?” Jazzy bounces up and down in her seat.
“What, princesa?”
“I get to go to a new school, and Daddy bought us a new house. And I’m getting a little brother or sister,” she says loudly.
I choke on my glass of wine. “Not anytime soon,” I manage to get out through my fit of coughing.
“You good?” Carlo rubs a hand up and down my back.
“Uh-huh.” I nod.
“And I’m getting cousins from Uncle Louie,” Jazzy adds.
“Seems people have been busy,” Emmanuel comments while taking a seat in the only empty spot, right across from me and next to Evie.
I pick up my spoon and bring a mouthful of the soup to my lips. It’s not as bad as I thought. Carlo doesn’t like coconut, but I don’t like carrots. I’d just rather suffer through a horrible starter than make him do it.
“You moving back to town?” Sammie asks Emmanuel.
“I might.” Emmanuel shrugs. “If something keeps pulling me back here.” As he says this, he looks directly at Evie, who does her best to ignore him. Which isn’t an easy feat. Emmanuel has a presence about him that makes you want to look.
Not in anI’m attracted to himkind of way. More like,if I don’t look, I might miss when he picks up a knife to split my throat openkind of way.
“What’s in the soup, Antonia?” Emmanuel aims his glare at me.
“Vegetables,” I answer him.
“You don’t like vegetables?” he questions while eyeing my very-orange bowl.
“They brought up carrot and coconut for Carlo. I swapped.” I smile. “Carlo doesn’t like coconut.”
“I’m not that fond of vegetables.” Without waiting for me to respond, Emmanuel picks up my bowl and switches it with his.
“Ah, I’ve already eaten some of it,” I tell him.
“How much?”
“Just a little.” I shrug.
“It’s fine. I’m going to get myself a drink. Louie, show me where the kitchen is.” Emmanuel stands, taking the bowl of soup with him.
I look to Carlo, who is looking directly at his friends. “What’s going on?” I ask him.
“Nothing.” Carlo leans in and kisses the side of my forehead. “I’ll be right back.” He then stands and follows the guys out.
Sammie is the only male left at the table. “Any idea?” I press him.
“Nope, but this soup is real good, Antonia,” he tells me with an easy smile.
Something is definitely up with Emmanuel. I just don’t know what.
“Okay, I can’t be the only one thinking it,” Luna huffs.
“Thinking what?”
“That soup was poisoned,” she says. “Doesn’t anyone watch movies?”