Romero (15 page)

The next morning, Isabel got the call she was expecting and she was ready for it.

“I just don’t think he’s right for you, Bell. Don’t get all defensive about it.”

Isabel was on her way to work and didn’t need Pat to ruin her day before it started, but she wasn’t backing down for the sake of not arguing like she had so many times in the past. “I’m not getting defensive. You’re entitled to your opinion, but I like him and he’s gonna be around a lot now so get used to it.”

Her sister exhaled. “Daddy’s not gonna like him either.”

Isabel gripped the wheel. She dreaded her father meeting Romero. Though he wasn’t as judgmental as her sister, appearance and image were a pretty big thing for him, especially now that he was considering running for Mayor. She hated to have to ask Romero to change anything about himself, but her father—who dealt with low class criminals all day—always said,
Only the less intelligent resort to foul language to color their conversation.
Romero had quite a mouth on him. “Well, he’ll just have to deal with him, too. It’s my life—
my
choice.”

Isabel thought about it for a moment. She hadn’t been sure before but now she was certain. She’d never been in love with Jacob. What she felt for Romero was a first. No one, not even Jacob, came close to making her feel like Romero did. “Oh, really?” She sounded as unenthused at the news as she felt. “Where?”

“Charles and I had dinner with a few of his friends and their wives on the base and he was there having dinner with a few buddies. Did you know he’s on his way to make Lieutenant Commander?”

Isabel rolled her eyes. “I haven’t talked to him in years, Pat. So, no, I didn’t know.”

“He’s still single you know.”

“Well, I’m sure now that he’s making Lieutenant Commander, he won’t be for long.” Isabel pulled into the teacher parking lot at the school.

Isabel almost laughed. Her sister was too much. “Oh, yeah. I’ll bring Romero. I’m sure it’ll be just lovely.” She heard her sister huff. “Don’t even think about it, Pat. I gotta go. I’m at work now. I’ll talk to you later.”

Isabel hung up before Pat could protest much. She should’ve known her sister wouldn’t give up that easily.

“What’s wrong with my tie?” Manny looked down at it.

Romero stared at him through the rear view mirror. “Nothing, but we’re going to Moreno’s. It’s not that fancy. You don’t need a tie.”

“I think purple suits you.” Aida just
had
to put in her two cents.

Ever since they’d gotten hitched, where Manny went—Aida went. He wasn’t having it any other way. So Isabel would be meeting the whole lot of them tonight. Max was meeting them there, since he was working a little late.

“Yeah, I think so, too.” Manny agreed with Aida. “And it matches my belt.”

Romero sighed. Manny and Max wanted to go the Lucky Dragon but he managed to convince them to go to Moreno’s. His uncles knew this was Romero’s friend’s family restaurant so they at least attempted to tone down the language when they ate there. They still slipped but if they started getting carried away and Romero had to remind them to knock it off, they’d think it was because of the restaurant and not Isabel.

When they got to Isabel’s apartment he opened the door. “You guys don’t have to get out. I’ll be right back.”

“Just remember, I’m a fat man and it’s fucking hot back here, so hurry up.”

Romero slipped the keys back in the ignition and started up the car again, blasting the air. The last thing he needed was to come back to the car to his sweating uncle cussing his ear off. “There—air’s on. I’ll be back.”

Isabel was at the door when he got there. He loved seeing her in a dress. Not that she didn’t look sexy as hell in jeans but there was something so feminine about her in a dress. The one she wore tonight was simple white cotton dress that hugged her just below her breasts, then flowed down to her knees. Seeing her in white made Romero wonder just for an instant what she would look like in a wedding dress.

He kissed her. “You’re beautiful.”

“Thank you.” She turned around and locked her door.

It had been a week since he’d met her mom and sister and he still wasn’t quite over Pat’s comments. But Isabel hadn’t brought up her sister since then so maybe everything would work out as long as he didn’t have to be around her too often. “My uncles are a lot different than your family.” He’d already told her this but for some reason he felt the need to remind her.

She squeezed his hand. “I don’t
want
them to be like my family.”

“I’ll tell you another time.” The more he knew about Isabel the more he wondered if she should know everything about him. Some things didn’t need to be said.

Just as they reached the car, the back window went down and Aida’s gum flew out, missing them by inches. “Oops, did I gitcha?”

“No, you didn’t,” Isabel said with a smile.

Romero muttered under his breath. “Aida, this is Isabel. Isabel this is my Uncle Manny’s wife.” He leaned over a bit. “And that’s Manny back there.”

Nice.
Let her know you were checking her out. Isabel got in the car and Romero walked around to the driver’s side, wondering if this was such a good idea after all.

“Yeah, them little fuckers think they know everything.” Manny patted the seat behind Romero. “I remember when Moe was that age. Son of a bitch if he wasn’t a smartass. Luckily, Ma—God rest her soul—knew how to crack a whip. Otherwise he might’ve ended up like his dad.”

“No, I wouldn’t have! She was around when
he
was a kid and he still ended up like he did.” Isabel squeezed his hand but said nothing. This was a fucking mistake. They hadn’t even gotten to the restaurant and already his uncle had brought up the
last
thing he wanted to talk about.

“Maybe,” his uncle said, not even noticing he’d pissed off Romero. “But this guy was a knucklehead,” Manny laughed. “Did he ever tell you about the time he was trying to figure out how the fire extinguisher worked and he sprayed himself in the face?”

Aida cackled Manny wheezed.
Great
.
Fucking Great
. Was he going to break out with the naked baby pictures, too?

By the time they’d reached the restaurant Isabel had heard all the stupid shit Romero had done in middle school. Manny was getting ready to start with high school. Luckily, Manny and Romero got out of the same side of the car. Romero grabbed his arm and spoke low. “Will you can it with all the dumb shit I did? I’m trying to impress this girl, not make her think her boyfriend’s an idiot.”

“Yeah, he’s a real comedian. Just wait ‘til you meet the other one.” God this was going to be a long night. And to think he never gave a
shit
what anyone thought of his uncles. With Isabel, it was different. He’d hate for her to realize just how different her life was from his—maybe
too
different.

They were seated at one of the bigger tables. Manny was doing his usual drumming of his fingers on the table as he looked through the menu. Romero nudged him casually. “What?”

Isabel looked up from her menu and Romero smiled at her then leaned into Manny. “Will you stop with the fingers? It’s irritating.”

Manny frowned but stopped. Alex walked over with Max. “Hey, the whole family is here.” After all the hellos and introducing Max to Isabel, he took his seat, and Alex asked, “So are you guys ready to order? I can send someone over, or you need more time, Max?”

“Nope,” Max said, sitting back in his seat. “I already know what I want—the usual—chimichanga plate.”

After confirming everyone was ready, Alex said he’d put Max’s order in and send over the waiter to take the rest of the orders.

Max dipped a tortilla chip into the salsa. “There was a
thing
at the bar today. Cops had to be called. I don’t know if you wanna talk about it now or not but that’s why I’m a little late.”

“Talking about it later is better.” Romero gave him a look. He’d told Isabel about his uncles bar but left out the part about the topless waitresses.

“Thing? What kind of thing?” Manny put his menu down.

Fuck
.

“Some dick thought just ‘cause he’d tipped one of the girls a fifty he could feel her up, so she slapped him. When he tried getting his money back she told him to go fuck himself. He was drunk and got all stupid and shit. The guys try throwing him out and he starts makin’ a scene and demanded the cops be called ‘cause our waitress stole his fucking fifty.”

“You should’ve had the fucker arrested for feeling her up. They’re there to look, not touch.”

Romero was beginning to cringe every time his uncles cussed. Without even looking up from his menu he warned, “Will you guys watch the language? Remember where we’re at.”

Max winced, leaning down to touch his leg. Manny looked at him and for a moment it gave Romero hope that he got it and maybe they’d be cool it finally. “Yeah, Max. Maybe we should wait ‘til we get home to talk about this.”

The waiter arrived with their drinks. “I’m told you’re ready to order.”

They all started putting in their orders. The waiter wasn’t even done taking their orders when Max said, “Well it’ll have to wait until tomorrow then, because I’m going out tonight. I need to get me some.”

Romero downed half his beer. “Can I get another one of these?” he said to the waiter then added, “And a shot.”

Isabel stroked his leg under the table and smiled at him. He could tell she meant to reassure him, but he was beginning to wonder if he’d survive this night.

Once their dinner was served, it helped to lessen the talking, so things seemed to settle down, though it wasn’t without its moments. Like when Max spoke with a mouthful of food not bothering to even cover it with his hand or a napkin. Then there was Aida’s snorting at most of Manny the Comedian’s jokes. Romero had begun to count them—five so far. Isabel seemed to be having a good time, but it amazed Romero how he’d never realized just
how
crude his uncles were. Growing up he thought they were hilarious, just like all his friends did. He couldn’t even imagine having this bunch in the same room with Isabel’s family. Pat would have a field day.

Things got worse when they finished dinner. The belching started. After the third one Romero had had it. “Can you stop that already?”

“Hey, it’s gotta come out one way or another,” Manny said, pounding the side of his fist on his chest. “You pick your poison.”

Jesus.

By the time the night was over and he drove Isabel home, he felt beat up. With all the cringing he’d done; he’d actually got a work out. They got to her apartment and he took her in his arms just outside her door. “Tell me I don’t cuss as much as my uncles do.”

“You do. But,” she added quickly when she saw his jaw drop. “I’ve noticed you haven’t been doing it so much lately.” Then she laughed. “And I totally get now where you got it from.” She cupped his face with her hands. “It doesn’t bother me, but if it bothers you, I can start pointing out when I feel like you’re going into one of your cuss modes. Sometimes I think you really don’t even realize it. Like your uncles, it’s just their natural way of talking.”