When The Bartender Cries

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Waking up the next morning, I start the coffee and start breakfast for Coco and Letti. Once it's done, I wake Coco up. "Johnny, wake up. Breakfast is done." I say as I gently shake him. He opens his eyes and sees how red my eyes are from crying all night and he sits up. Before I walk away, he grabs my wrist gently and stands up. Pulling me close to him, he wraps his arms around me and when I wrap mine around him he says "It's going to be fine Princesa. You have my word." I look up at him and nod. I pull away from him and head to Letti's room and wake her up. We all head to the kitchen and I get their plates ready. They take them from me, kissing my cheek before heading to the table and I start cleaning up. "You need to eat Princesa." Coco says. "I will later. A little sick to my stomach right now." I tell him and he nods. Standing up, he walks over to me and says "Promise me you'll eat later?" he asks. "I promise." I say and he kisses my forehead. We look over at Letti and she smiles softly. They finish eating and Letti puts on her clothes from the day before. "Thanks for washing these." she says. "De nada bebita." I tell her. When they go to leave, I hand them both keys. "In case I'm not here when you get back and so you have one when you need it." I tell them. They nod and Letti hugs me before walking out to her dad's car. Coco looks at me and says "I meant what I said. There's not a fucking thing wrong with you." I smile softly and ask "Why are you so good to me Johnny?" He kisses my cheek and says "Because you're worth it." before walking out the door.

I walk into work and Bishop sees me and looks at me concerned. "I'm fine Bish." I say and he closes the office door. "No you're not. You know we all love you right?" he asks. "I know. I love you all too but I'm fine." I tell him. "What happened? I know Coco and his kid were headed to your house last night." he tells me. "My boyfriend came over yesterday morning to call things off. Told me he's been cheating on me and knocked her up." I tell him. "You're better without him. We got you." he tells me. "Thanks Bish." I say, moving behind the counter to start working.

A little later, Coco and Letti walk in and it's lunch time. "Let's head to the diner." Coco says. "I'm okay. Go ahead." I tell him but don't look at him. He walks around the counter and picks me up over his shoulder and heads out to his car. "Coco put me down." I say and try to get out of his grip but he doesn't let me. Putting me down next to his car, he says "Get in. You promised you'd eat and I'm making sure of it. We're going to lunch as a fucking family." he tells me. I nod and get in the car and Letti is in the back seat.

Pulling up at the diner, we head inside and I look at the menu. When the waitress come by, I say "I want a salad and a water please." Coco rolls his eyes and says "She'll have a cheeseburger, fries and vanilla shake." I look at him and he says "I told you there's nothing fucking wrong with you and I'll keep reminding you until you finally believe it." he tells me. I look down at my hands on the table and Coco reaches over and places his hand on mine. "Hey, you okay?" he asks. I nod my head yes and I see him take out his phone and send a text. "Told Bishop we wouldn't be back today. The three of us are going to spend some time together today." he says. "Johnny..." I start. "No. You need a reset and we're going to make sure you get it." he tells me and I just nod.

After eating at the diner, we head home. Walking in, Coco tells Letti "Check out her DVD's and pick a movie. I'll make the popcorn." he says. Looking at me he says "Go change into something comfortable." I nod and do what he says. After changing into some leggings and a one of Coco's hoodies that I stole from him a few months back, he smiles when he sees what I'm wearing. I sit on the couch and he sits on one side and pulls me into his side. I see Letti put in Gone In 60 Seconds, one of my favorite movies and she walks over and sits beside me and lays with her head in my lap. I am running my fingers through her hair and I feel Coco place a soft kiss to the top of my head. I must have fallen asleep because I feel myself being lifted off the couch and carried to my bedroom. As soon as I am placed on the mattress, the covers are pulled up over me and I open my eyes a little as he goes to leave the room. "Thank you Johnny." I say softly. Walking back over, he kisses my temple and says "I got you Princesa. Siempre." before walking out of the room and heading to the couch.

I wake up the next morning and head to the kitchen just as Coco walks back in the door. "I went and got breakfast." he says before kissing my cheek and setting the food on the table. "I'll get Letti up." I tell him. I go to walk to Letti's room and he grabs my hand. I look at him and he pulls me to him. Wrapping his arms around me, I melt into him. "Thank you Johnny." I whisper. He tilts my chin up to look at him and says "I got you Bebita." I nod and pull away to go wake Letti up. Once we are all in the kitchen, eating, I am picking at my food. "You need to eat Princesa." Coco says. I nod and finish eating and say "I'm gonna get ready for work." They both nod and Coco says "Letti, go get ready and I'll take you to school." she nods and as I walk out of the room, I hear her ask "When are you going to tell her?" I stop and hear Coco say "Soon Bebita. Soon." and I wonder what they're talking about.

I get ready for work and as we walk outside, I tell Letti "I'll be the one picking you up today." She nods and kisses my cheek and says "Si Mami." and I shake my head. I see Coco smile at us and I walk over and kiss his cheek. "See you at the yard." He nods before getting into his car and taking Letti to school. I walk into the office and Bishop sees me. "You look better." he says. "Feeling a little better. Not where I need to be but I'll get there." I tell him. "I see Coco and his kid have been sticking close." he says. "I don't know why. I keep telling him I'm fine." I tell Bishop. "Seriously? You don't see it?" he asks. "See what?" I ask. "Princesa, he's into you." he tells me. "No he's not. We're just friends." I tell him. "That what you think?" he asks. "Bish, please don't. That's never gonna happen." I tell him. "Why? Because you don't think you're good enough for him?" he asks and I nod my head yes. "Listen to me Mija. You're more than good enough for him and his kid. That pendejo that you were with? He's an idiot." he tells me. "Yeah, but he's an idiot that gets to have a kid." I say before heading behind the counter. "What do you mean?" Bishop asks. "I found out when I was sixteen that I couldn't have kids. You honestly think he wants that? I wouldn't put that on him." I tell him. "Bebita, listen to me. That man is crazy about you." he tells me and I shake my head. "He's right." Coco says from the door. "I'll let you two talk." Bishop says before seeing his way out.

Coco walks over behind the counter to me. He cups my face and makes me look at him. "There's not a fucking thing wrong with you. You want a kid? Letti is our kid." he tells me. "Johnny..." I start. "Don't do that. Letti loves you Amira. And Goddamnit, so do I." he tells me and I look at him shocked. "Coco..." I start but he stops me. "You don't have to love me back Amira but I need you to know that I love you and..." he says but I cut him off by pressing my lips to his. He deepens the kiss as he pulls me closer. When we separate, I ask "Are you sure you want me?" He smiles softly and says "Fuck yeah. I want me, you and Letti to be a family Mami." he says softly. "Okay." I say. "Yeah?" he asks. "Yeah. We're a family Johnny." I say. He crashes his lips with mine and we separate when we hear cheering behind us. Looking towards the door we see everyone smiling at us and Letti walks over and hugs both of us. "You okay with that kid?" I ask. "Yeah Mami. I am." she says and I hug her tight. We hear Angel look at Gilly and say "Pay up." and holds out his hand. Letti walks over and as Gilly goes to hand the money to Angel, she snatches it and puts it in her pocket. "No betting on my parents." she scolds them and we all start laughing.