"I have no idea what you're talking about," I responded. "It's not polite to listen in on another person's conversation," I added, sliding my phone back into my pocket.
"Or to lie," Christopher replied. "No tienes que dicer nada—"
"Right, but you're going to mention Brandon in front of everyone so I have no choice but to tell you," I interrupted.
"Joel's my brother, I just need to know that you're not—"
"Dios mio," I sighed. "Do I look like a girl who would do that to anyone? You know what? Please don't answer that. If you really want to know, Joel shouldn't have to worry about Brandon or anybody. I'm not that type of girl, and well Brandon's only three." I pushed open the door and walked back into the room everyone was sat in.
"Everything okay?" Joel asked me when I sat beside him. I looked at him and nodded.
"Actually, there's something I need to tell you," I told him. I needed to get it over with as soon as possible. "Whenever we have the chance to talk in private," I added.
"So is everyone in?" Richard's voice made me go back into the conversation I had missed. "Yo, lovebirds?"
"Where are we going?" I questioned.
"That one pizza place in our neighborhood to eat porque tenemos hambre," Tatiana told me. "They don't believe me when I said it's the best pizza ever," she defended herself.
We all discussed who is going with who. Realistically, all of the boys could go together, since Joel did have the address to my place which is two blocks from Alberto's. I stayed with Tatiana because I needed to talk to her. But somehow Richard ended up in the backseat of Tatiana's car with us, which messed up my plans of talking with my best friend.
"You're oddly quiet," Tatiana told me. "You can trust Richard, V. He's in the same boat," she quietly added. "Hey, Richard. How's Aaliyah doing?" I turned around and saw Richard's face light up as he talked about his daughter.
"You have a daughter?" I questioned. Richard responded with a yeah. "How's Joel with her?"
"Great. He cares deeply about family, and she's his niece," Richard answered. "Are you already thinking about kids?" Richard joked.
I looked at Tatiana, a red light shining on her face, and she turned to me. Maybe if I told Richard before telling Joel, it'll be easier. Or maybe it wouldn't. "I have a son," I blurted and it felt as if a ton of weight was lifted off my shoulders. "And Christopher overheard me talking to Brandon, and honestly who knows if he already brought it up while they're in the other car?" I rambled.
"Then I take back my original plan on waiting to tell him about Brandon," Tatiana told me. "You should tell him soon."
"You were listening to Tati? It's hard to date as a single parent, but it's easier to be open at the beginning of a relationship. Joel already likes you, he hasn't shut up about you for the past couple of days, and you two were only texting," Richard said. "Another thing about him, he doesn't like liars. So be honest to him. Do it sooner, rather than later."
"I'm telling him tonight," I announced. "Or soon."
"We're here!" Tatiana announced parking on the side of the road. I saw Alberto's sign. "Hey, don't worry. Let's just have fun. I'll be right next to you if you need anything." I nodded.
—
"You know, you didn't need to walk me home," I told Joel. I lied, I was hoping he would so I could tell him about Brandon. "I could've had Tati drop me off."
"It's just two blocks," Joel pointed out. "And this is the first time we're alone tonight. So now you can tell me the truth," Joel said. "The truth about what you thought about them?"
I sighed in relief, but quickly covered it up. "They're great. I didn't know what to expect when I met them, but they're an amazing group of people. Now, don't lie to me. Did they like me?" I stopped in front of my apartment building.
Joel laughed, "They do. I'm glad they liked you." I smiled as I typed in my code for the building, and opened the door. "You and Richard seemed to talk a lot tonight. Not that I'm jealous, but it was good to see you talk to my fri— brothers."
"Tatiana pointed out that we had a lot in common, her friendship being one of them," I explained. "Actually, there's something I need to tell you," I told him as we stepped into the elevator to go to the third floor. The elevator door was closer to my apartment door than the stairs entrance is.
The thirty second elevator ride was quiet as I was thinking of he'd react or how'd I explain that I have a kid who's almost four. Richard's words from earlier replayed in me head, 'Joel already likes you.' and 'he doesn't like liars.' And with hiding that I have a son is lying to him.
"Joel, I—" It came unexpected. He spun me around, and the next thing I knew, we were kissing a few feet away from my apartment door. "I have a son," I blurted after we pulled apart.
"Wait— what?"
"I have a kid," I repeated. "And I completely understand if you just want to run off and pretend you've never met me," I told him.
"I don't care about your son," Joel said, but realized what he said. "I mean, I don't care if you have a son. Vanessa, I like you. And nothing could change that."
"You're not going to run for the hills?" I asked, sniffling. Why was I crying?
"Why would I do that?" Joel questioned, pushing hair out of my face. His thumb wiping the tears off my cheeks.
"Most guys do," I told him.
"Well, most guys are idiots if they're missing out on an amazing woman that's in front of me. You're a mother, and that makes you even more badass than I thought you were." I laughed hearing him curse, feeling like he never curses. "I really like you, Vanessa."
"I really like you, too, Joel."
<><><>
so she finally told him. :-)
I was gonna upload this last night when I finished writing this, but i fell asleep.
Also here's a meme i saw and it reminded me of myself bc i'm still winging this entire book even though i have the entire thing planned except how to get from point a to point b. so winging it. :-)
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
