𝐀𝐞𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲

1.8 Deceive Me

I hear the engine of Dad's car approaching. I run outside to see him talking to Miguel's mom. I wanted to ask how Hawk was doing, but I didn't want to interrupt their conversation.

"Do you have dinner plans?" She asks him. "Us? Uh...yeah, we got a couple of hot pockets. We're good." I scrunch my face. Hot pockets, again? Ms. Diaz seemed to agree.

"That sounds like the opposite of good." She says and I laugh."Wanna join us?" I smile at her offer then look to dad. "Thanks, but we wouldn't want to bother you guys." My smile drops. I was really looking forward to a home-cooked meal.

"It's no bother. We have plenty of food." I look to dad who was debating. I step in.

"Thank you, Ms. Diaz. We'd love to!" I respond before he could decline.

"Oh please call me Carmen." She smiles and motions her hand towards her door. I walk over with dad right behind me.

Miguel's Yaya begins her prayer. I can't completely understand what she was saying, but I picked up on a few words. I kept my head bowed, unlike dad who kept looking up from time to time.

"Amen." Miguel's Yaya finished. "Amen, that one I know." I smile at him. We start to eat when Carmen brought up the tournament. 

"So, Miguel told me all about the tournament. I hope he doesn't get hurt." She said lightly, but obviously trying to hint at Dad. 

"Mom, I told you there are referees. You can't get hurt." Miguel explains to her. "At least not permanently." Dad says casually. Carmen looks at dad concerned. "He'll be fine." He saves. She decides to let it go and change the subject.

"So have you always lived in Reseda?" She asks. "No, I grew up in Encino." I completely forgot about dad being a rich kid. "Really? Really nice houses there." She complements.

"Yeah, well just because you live in a nice house doesn't mean nice things are going on inside." I frown. Sid, my step-grandfather I guess, would always beat on dad when he was small. Physically and emotionally. The awkward silence was broken by dad. 

"I really like these bananas." He complements. "There called plantains." Carmen corrects.

"Oh well in English we call them, bananas." We all laugh and dad looks at me confused. I just shake my head.

I hear a phone buzz and look over at Miguel who looks over to Carmen. He apologizes and goes to put his phone away.

"Answer it, mijo. It's fine. Don't take too long. Your food will get cold." He smiles and runs off to his room. His Yaya gives Carmen a questioning look.

"He has a girlfriend." She shrugs. I almost choke on my food. Since when were he and Sam official. My face drops for a moment. I look up and see Carmen giving me a worried look. I instantly straighten up and smile. 

Miguel and Sam dating was just a surprise to me. I didn't have feelings for him or anything. Then my phone buzzes and I look to see that it's Hawk trying to facetime me. I look up to ask for permission to leave, but Carmen was already signaling for me to take it.

"Thank you, I'm sorry." I walk outside.

"Hey, how are you doing?" 

"I just got a tetanus shot, but the doctor said they might have to amputate." He says as he dramatically bats his eyes like he's about to cry. I roll my eyes.

"You're an idiot." He chuckles and I smile.

"So, Aisha texted me earlier. She was asking if we were down to join her and Miguel for a movie tomorrow."