Ride Home To Me

Chapter 35

I open the door to find the whole team sitting around the living room watching a movie. Dom nods at me and Mia waves while Vince just raises a hand without looking away from the TV. I see a look cross Dom's face at my expression but when I give a halfhearted smile and turn to head to my room Letty immediately gets up and follows me.
She lies down and pats the spot next to her, frowning when I settle to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Everything okay baby?" She straightens up and comes over to sit next to me.

"No," I say. I pause. One the one hand, I could leave the name out of it and not cause any drama, but Letty would see right through me and go right back to being pissed. On the other hand, I could tell Letty everything and possibly help some of my anxiety, even at the risk of creating trouble. I sigh.

"You know Natalia? That girl you guys hired a few months ago?" Letty nods. "I know her. Like, not just from her working at the bodega."

"What, you met her at the races or something?" Letty asks. I shake my head. "She from our high school?"

"No, but... she's from mine. Back in Miami." I turn away. "She was my best friend. All the way from elementary school up until I told her I'm gay. And then she became my girlfriend. And then..." I cover my face with my hands. "It's her Let. That's why I been avoiding the bodega for months, that's why my anxiety's been acting up, is 'cause she showed up at the races one day and I never thought I'd have to see her again, and she just gets in my head and I can't help but think about all the shit that happened before I came to LA ."

Letty looks furious. "Natalia? She's the one you told us about?"

"There's more," I say, almost too quietly for her to hear me. I swallow the lump forming in my throat. "I, um-"

I wipe the tears that are starting to fall down my face.

"She kissed me," I squeeze my eyes shut and cover my face.

"She what?"

"Uh," I hesitate. "I went to the beach from the race, but I ran into her there. I'm sorry Letty I'm so sorry-"

"Well what did you do?" Letty asks. I turn to see her hardened expression.

"Honestly, I didn't do anything for a second. I was just... shocked. But then I pushed her off and ran. I-I didn't know what else to do."

I can't tell what's going through her head as she sits there and looks at me. But suddenly she stands and takes me into her arms. I almost cry with relief when she kisses the top of my head and strokes my hair.

"You're amazing, you know that?" she says.

"You're not upset?" I ask, burying my face in her shoulder. Letty shakes her head.

"It's not your fault, Gabi. If you had like, I don't know, kissed her back or initiated it then I'd be pissed. But you didn't. Thank you for telling me," she says. "And you've had to deal with that by yourself baby? If I had known it was Nati-"

I shake my head and look up at her. "I didn't tell you, there's no way you could've known," I say. "I just didn't wanna start trouble."

"Well I think you should tell the rest of the team," Letty glares out the window. "That hijueputa messed with the wrong girl. Thinkin' you're still alone out here."

"Easy tiger. She ain't even here," I chuckle. She grins and pulls me into a kiss, immediately washing away the uneasiness that was left by Nati. I can't ignore the warm feeling that spreads through my chest and I smile against her.

"What? Like kissing me better than that bitch?" Letty says coyly.

I slap her arm and push her away. "Well if that's how it's gonna be I ain't kissing you either. Go away."