Paper Rings

Just Like Heaven - Mrs. Frankie Morales

Spinning on that dizzy edge

I kissed her face and kissed her head

And dreamed of all the different ways I had

To make her glow

"Do you need help with anything, baby?" Frankie put his hands on your hips as you cut plantains.

"No, I'm good. You can just grab the cheese board." You leaned back to kiss his cheek, "Thank you."

Frankie opened the fridge and pulled out a handful of beers. "Pope, you want beer or wine? Or..." Frankie reached on top of the fridge and grabbed a bottle, "Mezcal?" He got a smirk on his face as he looked down at the bottle.

"Frankie, estás tratando de emborracharme?" Pope looked slightly amused but only slightly.

"Yep. Benny? Will? Eh?" He held up the bottle to the guys, sloshing the liquid around.

"Hell yeah, Catfish!" Benny shouted to the kitchen as he bounced Elena softly in his arms, making her giggle.

Frankie tucked the bottle under his arm, precariously gripped the beer bottles between his fingers, and balanced the wood board filled with fruit, nuts, and cheese in the other hand.

"You could make two trips, ya know?" You looked up from your cutting board for a second at him walking to the living room with his hands excessively full.

"Don't need to." He walked backwards from the kitchen and flashed a wink at you.

"Where's Ana?" you asked over your shoulder. Pope took a swig of his beer then looked at his feet.

"She's in New York today. Some big client meeting." He waved his hands in finger quotes.

"Tell her we missed her." You shot him a wink.

You carefully placed the slices of plantain into the skillet of melted butter. You waited patiently for them to turn the perfect caramelized brown while listening to the chatter of the guys in the living room.

"Damn, baby, that smells amazing." Frankie exclaimed as you put the plate of fried plantains down on the table. You smiled at the praise. "You guys gotta try this with the shredded pork, it's so good."

It came as no surprise to you that the men had already devoured more than half the spread. The plantains crunched as they bit into them. You lit up at the happy sounds they made as they ate your food. It filled you with such pride to feed them. At least you were good for something. No. We don't think like that. You picked up Elena, balancing her in one arm. Her soft little feet rested in the palm of your hand.

"These are so good. Have you ever had ropa vieja?" Pope asked between bites.

"Have I ever had ropa vieja?" Frankie rolled his eyes at Pope, "Fuck, I love it. Do you remember that little cuban place we used to go to in, ummm-" Frankie licked a little sauce off his finger.

"Hialeah?" Will interjected.

Frankie snapped his fingers loudly while he pointed at Will. "Ahhh, yeah! It was so good!"

"I've never made it. Maybe I'll try it next time you guys are over." You smiled, imagining the scent of spiced pork wafting up from the pot. "Let me get this out of your way." You picked up some empty beer bottles.