The girl who helped me hide didn’t abandon me. She and her friends pretended it was just another day at the beach as they chatted about celebrity gossip, their own gossip, what movies they’d seen and who was hooking up with whom. At one point I pinched her ankle.
She bent down like she was tying her shoe.
“Can I leave?” I asked.
She shook her head. “Oscar’s gang, the Lowriders, always keep a lookout on the scene. Wait a bit longer.”
“Thank you. Would you tell my friends who are looking for me that I’m okay?”
She shook her head. “Boyfriends and friends always give it away. You gotta think like the bad guys right now.”
Alejandro, Nick and Javier paced back and forth looking for me. I felt like a shithead for not telling Alex where I was. But when I asked the girl again, she whispered a story to me. A story about a girl that Oscar’s gang had fucked up about five years ago. That girl’s name was Tatiana. And that girl was dead.
It had to be after eight p.m. It was getting dark outside. Alejandro, his friends and Javier were still searching for me. Pacing the boardwalk, checking storefronts, asking folks if they had seen the confrontation. I squeezed my savior’s leg. She bent down under the table and looked at me. “I think it’s okay for you to go.”
“I can’t even find the words to thank you for hiding me,” I said. “What’s your name?”
“You’re welcome,” she said. “My name’s Gabriella. I was Tatiana’s friend.”
Two more female faces popped under the picnic table. “Hey,” I said. “I’m Sophie. You are?”
One girl extended her hand toward me. “Rosie—Tatiana’s friend.” She shook my hand.
“I’m Naomi—Tatiana’s friend,” another girl said and handed me a bottle of water. I cracked it open, took a long slug and crawled out from under the table. We all hugged and I started crying. Then the rest of the girls followed suit. I was covered in mud, sand and was completely disgusting.
“Sophie?” Alejandro said.
I turned and saw him. He stood next to Nick and Nathan and Javier. Their jaws dropped.
“Sophie!” Alejandro raced toward me, grabbed me around the waist and pulled me tight into his chest. He kissed the top of my head. Placed his hands on either side of my face and tilted my head up as he bent his down. “Are you okay? Are you all right?”
“I’m okay,” I said. “These girls hid me. They protected me.”
Javier, Nathan, Nick, Tyler and Jackson joined us.
“Gabriella?” Javier asked.
She nodded. “We don’t forget Tatiana. Never again.”
Javier took her hand and squeezed. “Gracias, Gabriella.”
It was practically a love fest. Everyone exchanged phone numbers and emails. We all agreed to meet up at the Grill in an hour.
* * *
Alejandro drove me home, the top of his Jeep back on. “If anything had happened to you, I was going to take that banger out,” he said.
“Don’t say those kinds of things. I never want something bad happening to you because of me,” I said.
“Something bad just happened to you because of me,” Alex said. “I let you down. I shouldn’t have left you. I didn’t show up in time.”
It would have been easier to let him think that was the truth. But it would have been so wrong. A shiver traveled down my spine and part of my heart cracked open.
“No, Alejandro. That had nothing to do with you. That happened because of me.”
“How can you even say that?” He slammed his hand on the steering wheel. “That Oscar asshole’s the scum of the earth. A complete opportunist. Five years ago, Javier’s girlfriend got into drugs. Tatiana was experimenting. Someone in Oscar’s Lowriders gang sold her bad shit. She overdosed. He’s been a mess ever since. This whole thing tonight was completely my fault.”
“No, it wasn’t,” I said. “Remember the first night I asked you to drive me? You asked me why my cuts had broken open, but I wouldn’t tell you.”
“Yeah?”
“I had an appointment with a healer in Venice that day. I got lost. I ran into Oscar. He tried to, you know, take advantage of the situation and me—”
“Did he touch you? Did he hurt you?”
“He threw me against a fence, but no…I didn’t want him to touch me that way. I’ve never… Not that that matters. So I fought. And I got lucky and broke his nose. And then I went a little overboard and called him Pintdick in front of his friends. He didn’t forget. He’s still pissed off at me.”
“He’s the one that broke your cuts open?”
“Yes,” I said.
“I’m going to hurt him.”
“You’re not going to hurt him,” I said. “Because if you hurt him, you’ll go to jail. And if you go to jail, I’d have to find another Driver. And I’d really miss you. So promise me that you’re not going to hurt him. Promise me that you and I are okay?”
Alejandro didn’t say a word but ground his teeth while his jaw muscles popped. He was silent for the rest of the ten-minute drive until he pulled up to the curb in front of my place and threw on the parking brake so hard I whiplashed in my seat.
“I promise I won’t hurt him, Bonita, but only if you swear to me you won’t head back to that neighborhood on your own. I freaking love Venice. I’ve always wished we lived there instead of Bel-Air. But Oscar and his friends are in a gang. That’s their turf, their stomping grounds and you’re big-time on their radar. So if you need to go back there—take me or one my friends. Just promise you don’t go there alone. Not forever. Just for right now. Yes?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Good,” he said. “By the way? No matter what happens—you and I will always be okay. Burn that into your memory,” he said. “Like a mental tattoo.”
I smiled at him.
He smiled back. “Hurry up. Everyone’s expecting us at the Grill in a half hour.”
“Let’s just go there, now,” I said. “Not to repeat, but I’m kind of tired after today.”
“I hate to tell you…”
“What?” I asked.
“You smell a little like dog poop, McDonalds and Coppertone rolled together.”
“Oh, my God!” I leaped out the passenger door and ran toward my apartment. “Back in fifteen minutes.”
He cut the engine and walked toward me. “I want to see Napoleon.”
“Okay. Come on in.” I opened the door. “Just don’t let him out. Can you even stand how bad I smell?”
“I can stand that you are alive and have a couple of fresh bruises.” Alejandro scooped Napoleon up in his arms and held him in his arms like a baby. “He’s growing on me, Bonita.”
I scratched Napoleon’s chin. He grabbed my finger with his front paws, leaned in and smelled it. “He’s probably smelling the Mickey D’s. Feed him while I shower?”
“Sure.” Alex crooned baby sounds as he walked with Napoleon into my kitchen. I stared at Alejandro’s beautiful face. Glanced at his hands and spotted some blood on his knuckles. He’d thrown a few punches for me. His T-shirt was ripped in a few places. He was my Driver. He was my bodyguard.
He was growing on me too.
* * *
The Grill was busy with old faces and new faces. Alejandro and the Drivers had commandeered a bunch of tables and pushed them together along the back wall. Cheyenne dropped off trays of drinks and appetizers. People passed the food around the table. I sat across from Alejandro and chatted with Gabriella and her friends.
Tyler stood up and held up his Corona overhead. “A toast,” he said.
“A toast,” everyone echoed back.
“I, for one, am sick of the bad guys always winning. Today, the bad guys didn’t win thanks to Javier, Gabriella, Rosie, Naomi and all the people who helped shut down the asshole Lowriders today.”
“Cheers.” Nick clinked his Pellegrino bottle to Tyler’s beer. “And to Sophie, who can scream and hide with the best of them.” I nodded at Nick as another
round of toasts and cheers circled our long table.
“And to my favorite Driver,” I said and held up my beer bottle. “Here’s to Alejandro, the best Ralph, ever.”
“Why’s she calling you Ralph?” Nick asked.
He shrugged. “I haven’t figured it out yet.”
Nathan squinted at us. “A mystery. I like mysteries.”
“Me too,” Alex said. “This is a mystery with a benefit. When I figure out the Ralph thing, I win something.”
“Ooh,” Gabriella said. “Like a GWP.”
“What’s a GWP?” Javier asked.
“Gift with Purchase,” Gabriella said. “They have them all the time at makeup counters.”
“I don’t get to a lot of makeup counters,” Javier said.
“Well, you should. You could be doing a whole side business with permanent makeup tattoos.”
“But, I’m an artist.”
“I’m an artist too, Javier,” Gabriella said. “Artists don’t come in one shape, size or variety. I’m a makeup artist.”
“What do you win?” Tyler asked.
“When I figure out the Ralph reference, I win our first kiss.” Alejandro winked at me.
“But if I figure out the Ralph thing before you do?” Tyler asked. “Wouldn’t that first kiss prize automatically transfer to me?”
“No.” I shook my head.
“No,” Alejandro said.
“It’s a one time offer intended solely for one guy. Alejandro. It’s not a Groupon. I’m not kissing the first thousand folks who purchase this deal.”
“Hmm. Do you want to kiss him, Sophie?” Rosie asked.
I blushed and suddenly was tongue-tied. “I… I… Um…”
“I’ll answer that,” Alejandro said. “Yes, she definitely wants to kiss me.”
“Let the girl speak for herself. How long has Alejandro been driving you around L.A.?” Naomi asked.
“Since the first night I landed in town. He took me to the E.R.,” I said. “But that was unofficial.”
“Why’d you ask him to drive you?” Naomi asked. “Couldn’t you just rent a car?”
No way I could answer that question honestly.
“I totally suck at navigating. I got lost about five times the first few days I was here. I took a bus from Westwood to Venice and got completely turned around.”
“You took a bus in L.A.?” Jackson asked. “For real? I’ve never taken a bus in L.A.”
“That’s because your father practically owns L.A.,” Nathan said.
“A bus. A driver.” Gabriella looked off into space and thought. A look grew on her face and she giggled.
I eyed her. She totally knew.
Alex gazed at her. “One clue, Gabriella. I beg you.”
She shrugged.
I smiled and nodded at her.
It was okay. Might as well get this over with.
“To the moon, Alice. Or should I say, Alex,” Gabriella said as Cheyenne walked up shouldering a huge tray of drinks and appetizers.
Everyone at our extended table shut up, stared at the ceiling or squinted at each other.
“Nachos. Veggie Nachos. Gluten-free Nachos. One Caesar wrap dressing on the side.” She deposited all the dishes on the rare free spots on our tables. “To the moon?” She held the empty tray above her head and pointed to Alejandro and me with her other hand. “They’re the freaking Honeymooners, man.”
Alejandro peered at me as a smile tore across his face. “Ralph Kramden! Bus driver played by Jackie Gleason. I finally got it, didn’t I, Bonita?”
He did finally get it. I nodded. And steeled myself for the impending shit storm.
“Well played,” Tyler said.
“Is it my imagination?” Nathan asked. “Or didn’t you just win a kiss?”
“I did win a kiss,” Alejandro said.
“A little congratulations for me and my girls over here,” Gabriella said as they divvied up a plate of veggie nachos. “I do believe we helped you figure this all out.”
“Dude, are you going to kiss her, or do I need to pinch hit for you?” Nick asked.
“You’ve always got my back, Alex,” Jackson said. “I’m your loyal friend and I’d be happy to sub for you tonight.”
My heart started pounding. All eyes in the Westwood Grill turned toward our table, turned onto us. Alejandro got up off his chair and walked toward me. Gazed at me with a look that could melt ice cream in the middle of a blizzard in January. My face flushed. The hotness spread down into my chest, my stomach into my groin. My knees felt a little weak. I knew I was blushing and had to remind my hand not to fan my face.
“For the love of God, Alex. Do it,” Freddie said from behind the bar. “Kiss her!”
“Freddie, you are a pervert,” Alejandro said. “I know this because you confessed you regularly watch little people porn.”
“You told me that was cool,” Freddie said.
“Nathan. Nick. Tyler. Shut this down, please?” I wrung my hands.
The guys nodded at each other.
“I don’t know.” Nathan covered a smile.
“Tough call,” Tyler added.
“Sophie!” Alejandro said. “Ignore these assholes, my fellow Drivers, as well as the jealous people and voyeurs. Have I promised you anything that I didn’t deliver?”
“No. But—”
“Look me square in my eyes,” he countered.
“Okay.” My voice quavered. He was my dark haired angel with the mesmerizing eyes.
“Have I hurt you in any way?”
“No.”
“Then why do you think that I would ever injure or humiliate you over a silly bet?” He leaned into my face.
“I want to go home, Alejandro,” I whispered. “Take me home.” I shut my eyes.
“We’re going there, Bonita,” he murmured into my ear. Trust me.” He took my hand with his. “Open your eyes.”
I opened my eyes. I knew he was holding my hand. But what I didn’t know was that he wasn’t standing next to me, towering over my head.
He was kneeling on the floor in front of me. On one knee. The kind of thing an old-fashioned guy did when he was about to propose marriage.
No. Way. What was he thinking?
Chapter Fourteen
But kneel he did on the floor of Westwood Grill in front of all these perfect people who were stared at us, practically drooling. In front of his fellow Drivers, the girls who’d rescued me today and the Grill’s patrons including Nicole, the beautiful girl he’d slept with.
“Will you, Sophie?” Alejandro asked loudly.
“What are you doing?” I hissed.
He leaned into my ear and whispered. “You’re supposed to play along with this. Remember?”
“Okay,” I whispered back. “But you’re a dork.”
“I know.” He whispered, then leaned away from me and smiled at our audience. “Will you, Sophie Marie Priebe, take me, Alejandro Maxwell Levine to be your lawfully, whole-heartedly, completely smitten-with-you…” He winked at me.
The entire crowd hushed. You could hear a freaking pin drop.
Oh, no. He was not doing this.
“…Driver?” Alejandro asked.
“Um….” I said.
“Will you take me, as your Driver, to transport and guard you through good times and bad? Through tough neighborhoods that have bangers, as well as good, kind-hearted people that give you peaches?”
A smile tugged on my lips, but I shoved it back. “Yes,” I said.
“Will you take me, Sophie, in good traffic and shitty traffic? Good surf and no surf? To protect you from people that are trying to kill you as well as those that flirt with you too much?” He turned, pointed at Tyler and scowled at him.
Who burst out laughing and shrugged. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
“Will you take me, Sophie to be your lawfully vetted Driver?”
“Yes, Alejandro.” I could no longer hide my smile.
“Here here!” Nathan held up h
is margarita glass toward us in a toast. “I declare Alex and Sophie are now united in driver-passenger bliss. Alex may kiss the bride.”
“I’m not a bride!”
Nathan smacked his forehead with his palm. “Oops, sorry.”
“Bonita,” Alejandro said. “Eyes down here.”
I looked back down at him on one knee on the floor. He stared up at me with something in his eyes I hadn’t seen before. His look was intense. It almost scared me. “I’m claiming my kiss,” he said.
My eyes widened.
He brought my hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. Sweetly. He kissed the exact place where the med techs had inserted the IV that shuttled the anesthesia and other drugs into my body.
He pulled me closer to him. His fingers traced a line from my hand up my forearm and stopped at the inside of my elbow that was bruised from all the blood draws. He kissed my black bruises. The green ones. Lingered on the yellow one.
Something was happening to my chest. I started breathing a little heavy. Another piece of my heart was cracking open. I prayed no one in the crowd would notice my reaction, no one would see I was losing my cool. “Alejandro—I don’t know…”
“Alejandro Maxwell Levine,” Cheyenne stomped toward us. “So help me God if you’re messing with my girl I will kill you. After I kill you, I will drag your corpse from this Grill and shove it next to the dumpster. Where LADWP trash collectors will pick you up and you will disappear forever. Do you understand me?”
Alejandro’s lips left my arm as he swiveled his head and gazed up at her. “This is what I like about you, Cheyenne. You are loyal and fierce and kind. By all means. If I mess with your girl? Throw me out of here, for good. Lock the door, lose the key and never let me back inside.” He turned his gaze back to me and smiled. “But I promise you, I am not messing with your girl. Because, I am crazy about your girl.”
Cheers erupted from the semi-tipsy college crowd.
The Story of You and Me Page 12