He looks at me, raising an eyebrow. “Doesn’t ring a bell.”
“You sure?”
“I don’t. Why?”
“He’s Native American.”
Ezra frowns. “Half of New Mexico is Native American, Ruby. That doesn’t mean we all know each other.”
“That’s not what I meant.” I feel stupid but keep pushing. “I think he may be Pecos or from Jemez.”
Ezra focuses on my face so intently my cheeks burn. “I doubt it.”
“Then maybe he’s a ghost.”
Ezra bursts out laughing. It’s so sudden, I jump. “Don’t laugh at me!”
“You’re adorable when you’re trying to manipulate me, know that?” He bites back a smile. “Anyway, aren’t you supposed to be a skeptic?”
“I prefer the term ‘open-minded.’” I give him another look. “And skepticism isn’t the same as dogma. Just because I don’t believe doesn’t mean I don’t wonder.”
“I don’t know anyone named Leo.” He smirks at me. “But if it helps, I’ll ask my mom. If he’s Pecos or from Jemez, she’ll know.”
“Thank you.” I grab his hand and fiddle with his long, graceful fingers.
“So how do you know him?” Ezra asks.
“He’s just some guy I’ve run into hiking,” I say quickly.
Ezra doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t look particularly thrilled either. After quickly hugging him again, I run inside, happy enough he agreed to go to Marta’s party and that he didn’t press me for a more detailed answer about Leo. My small victory is enough to quell my anxiety about making a public social appearance with Ezra, until lunch the next day, when I should know better than to bring Ezra up in front of Marta but still can’t seem to stop talking.
As if Ezra’s trepidation and Marta’s attitude aren’t already enough to make me think twice about Marta’s party, Marta seals the deal. “I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around this all week,” she complains over her greasy cafeteria pizza. “It’s so jacked that you’d do that to Angel.”
“I didn’t do anything to Angel,” I answer, reluctant to rehash the conversation for the tenth time. “I just don’t want to date him.”
“I don’t believe it,” Ashley butts in. “If Ezra wasn’t in the picture, you’d be all over it.”
“But Ezra is in the picture.”
“You’re really together?” Racine marvels. “I mean … together together?”
“Seriously, yuck,” Ashley adds. Her eyes bulge. “For real, do you, like, kiss him?”
I roll my eyes at her, biting my lip to stop myself from saying something rotten. “At least I’m kissing someone,” I answer sweetly.
Racine kicks me under the lunch table.
“Mee-oow,” Ashley mutters.
“I get it,” Marta shrugs. “Ezra’s a sure bet. He’ll never leave. Unlike Angel.”
I throw my hands in the air, speaking tightly through my teeth. “Listen, Marta, Angel is a good friend. Because that’s what I want.” Trying to explain the unexplainable to people is driving me batty. Why can’t Ezra and I just be like any other new couple?
“What happened to Leo?” Ashley asks, almost snidely. “He’s not in the running?”
“He turned out to be a jerk.”
Marta clicks her tongue. “Who do you think you are, Ruby? Taming the one feral boy in town, just so you can say you did it. Not that anyone else would want him.”
Were they not rooted to my forehead my eyebrows would take flight. I jump up, leaning across the table toward her. “You think I’m with Ezra because I have something to prove? Who do you think you are, Marta? What gives you the right to be so judgmental?”
“Whoa.” Racine holds her hand up in the air between us, shaking her head at me. “Angel is Marta’s cousin. And, Marta,” she turns and glares at Marta, “Don’t be such a bitch.”
“If you like Ezra so much,” Marta purrs, “then I dare you to bring him to my party.”
Looking her straight in the eyes, I try to project confidence I don’t feel. “I am bringing him.”
That shuts Marta up, and until Ezra and I leave for the party later, I’m pretty sure I can deal. But when eight o’clock rolls around and Ezra’s face drops as I drag him off my living room couch and push him out the door, my stomach rebels.
Ezra doesn’t talk much on the way to Marta’s, so I keep my forehead pressed against the window, mesmerized by the lucent night. When we pull up in front of Marta’s house, he sucks in his breath. Too aware of all the people milling in tight groups on the lawn, he throws his truck into gear and drives up the road, parking farther down the block than necessary.
“This isn’t a good idea, Ruby.”
“Why?” I try to smile. “Don’t I look pretty tonight?”
Ezra grabs a lock of my hair, which I’ve worn down like he likes, and rubs it between his fingers. “You always look pretty. That’s probably why I agreed to go in the first place. But I’m sure you already know that.”
“Are you accusing me of using my feminine wiles to get you to do something?” I ask innocently.
“Yes.”
“Ezra,” I pout.
“Don’t do that. I’ll go in. I just think it’s a mistake.”
“Always the harbinger of doom,” I tease, squeezing his hand reassuringly.
But I feel a little silly. What kind of girl drags her college-aged boyfriend to some high school party, especially when that boyfriend clearly doesn’t want to be there? I touch his face, running my finger over his cheek, tracing a line to his soft lips. “Ezra, I’m being dumb. I’m sorry. If you want to leave, we can. The party doesn’t mean that much to me.”
“It doesn’t?”
I sigh. “Not if you really don’t want to go.”
He looks conflicted, but he musters a small smile, pushing my fingers against his lips with his hand. “Why don’t we go in for a half hour or so and see what happens.”
“You look upset.”
“I’m not. I’m just continually in awe of how ridiculously easy it is for you to get me to do things.”
“Are you coming then?” I ask, a little snappier than I intend.
“Not if you’re going to pout.”
“I’m not pouting,” I lie. “I just don’t want to fight. If it’s going to be an issue, you can drop me off and go home.”
He shrugs, so I open the door and hop down, waiting on the curb. When it starts to feel like he might sit in his truck all night, I walk to Marta’s alone, making it all the way to her kitchen with time to grab a beer before he catches up.
“You’re not legal,” he whispers in my ear, sneaking up behind me.
“Neither are you,” I shrug, looking at him over my shoulder.
Ezra’s top lip curls up over his teeth, showing off a perfect white row of enamel. “Suit yourself. Grab me a cup, will you?”
I finagle a red plastic cup off the tall tower on the table and shove it against his chest. He takes it, but then grasps my wrist and tugs me against him. “See how everyone’s looking at us?” he whispers.
I survey the kitchen. Marta’s guests are trying hard to pretend they don’t notice him. But all around the room, people steal glances.
“Do you want to leave?” I whisper back.
He wraps an arm around my shoulders. “I can handle it if you can. Just don’t be mad anymore, all right?”
“I’m not.” I let my forehead drop against his chest. “I’m happy you came. I just feel bad.”
Ezra fills his cup and walks us toward the patio. Kids blocking the door move aside as Ezra maneuvers us through, snaking outside to an emptier spot near a squat juniper. The crowded space feels claustrophobic, and that makes me feel like drinking. I toss back my beer, downing half in one gulp.
“Whoa, trigger.” Ezra grabs my cup and holds it away from me. “Not so fast.”
“I’m not two,” I tell him.
He cups my chin with a wide hand. “Yeah, well, I don’t want you getting
sick in my truck.”
Already nearing tipsy, I stand on my tiptoes and try to place an apologetic kiss on Ezra’s nose, losing my balance when I hear Racine’s voice.
“Ruby!” she squeals as I flip around.
Racine trots over, flanked by Marta and Ashley. She smiles affably at Ezra.
“Hey,” I grin at them, linking an arm through Ezra’s. “You guys know Ezra, right?”
“It’s good to see you.” Racine nods.
“Yeah, we all know each other,” Marta glowers. “Unfortunately.”
“Or at least of each other,” Ezra counters.
Marta purses her lips but thankfully keeps her mouth shut, proving there’s a first time for everything.
“How’s your sister?” Ezra asks Ashley. “I heard she moved to Texas.”
“She’s … good.” Ashley looks at me with wide eyes, unsure where her loyalties lie.
“Like you care,” Marta snips.
Ezra smiles sweetly, doing a good job of looking unruffled. “Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because pigs don’t fly.”
Racine lays a hand on Marta’s arm. “Marta, he’s just being polite.”
Racine smiles at me, nodding at my drink. Uncomfortable, I toss back the rest of my beer and hand Ezra the cup. “Do you mind?”
“You mean, will I go get you another drink so you can remind your friends to be nice to me while I’m gone?”
Marta snorts.
“Yes,” I answer coolly. “That’s exactly what I mean.”
Ezra takes the cup, leaving me alone with Las Gallinas.
“So, how’s it going?” Racine asks. “I mean, you know.”
I look around at all the faces filling Marta’s backyard, some of which stare back. “He’s kind of in a mood. But he’s trying.”
“Well, that’s something,” Racine nods.
“You guys think I’m crazy bringing him here, right?”
“I think you’re crazy,” Marta volunteers.
“I can’t believe he came,” Ashley says. “He’s usually, like totally antisocial.”
I bite my lip. “I sort of talked him into it.”
“You’re a good sport.” Racine smiles. “I would have totally bounced by now.”
Ezra takes his sweet time coming back with my beer. While I wait, the four of us stand in the crowded space and gossip about Liddy and Torrance, who seem fast on their way to item-hood. Within minutes, a group of boys from school gathers at our sides.
“Oh hey, Ruby,” Ashley cuts in when one of them mentions Halloween, “want to hike up to that ruin you talked about, on Halloween night? It’ll freak the shit out of Racine.” She grins at Racine.
One of the boys, Ricardo, says, “I’m totally in. What ruin?”
“Near her house.” Racine nods at me. “And no, thank you. I’m not hiking Paso de Demonio on Halloween, much less ever.”
“It’s my birthday anyway.” I look down at the flagstone patio.
“Get out!” Ashley squeaks.
Marta snorts. “Figures. You’ve definitely got that witchy vibe.”
“Marta!” Racine gives her the evil eye. “Seriously?”
She turns back to me. “That’s so cool, Ruby.”
“Not really,” I shrug. “People usually forget it because it’s on Halloween. And you have no idea how much crap I had to put up with growing up.” I give Marta my own evil look, for good measure. “And for the record,” I tell her, “if I was a witch, you’d know already.”
Marta rolls her eyes at me. Tired of her, I turn my back slightly and focus on talking to Ricardo as I scan the patio for Ezra. A couple of seconds later, I find him. Propped against the patio doorframe with two beers in hand, Ezra stares back at us suspiciously. When our eyes meet, he pushes himself off the wall and walks toward our group, exaggerating his gait and smile.
“Here.” He hands me my plastic cup.
“Thanks,” I say to the ground.
Ricardo keeps talking. “So, Ruby,” he says. “I was wondering if you maybe wanted to go out some time.”
Marta giggles. Somehow, I’ve attracted the only boy at Pecos High who hasn’t seen me with Ezra or heard the gossip, and I’ve managed to do it in front of Ezra.
My eyes follow the grouting along the flagstone. I stare down at it, shifting my weight, and start to tell Ricardo ‘no thank you,’ but Ezra wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Well?” he says. “What do you say, Ruby? You want to go on a date with this dude or not?”
Marta and Racine clear their throats simultaneously. Ashley stares at the ground, maybe familiarizing herself with the same flagstone network.
“No. I mean, thanks, but I’m with Ezra.” I lean sideways into Ezra’s body.
Ricardo’s mouth drops open. “Oh. I didn’t know.”
“Ruby keeps me locked in a closet.” Ezra laughs.
“Well.” Ricardo smiles tightly. “I guess I’ll see you Monday.”
Ricardo walks away quickly, and Ashley clears her throat, croaking out, “Um, I totally need a drink. Anyone else coming?”
“For sure.” Racine nods. Marta just smiles and follows them to the kitchen, leaving me alone with Ezra.
I jab his arm. “Way to alienate my friends.”
Ezra rubs his face brusquely, then drops his hand to his side. “Way to make time.” He looks at his wrist pretending to check his watch. “I was gone, what, maybe five minutes?”
“You’re being lame.”
“It was kind of amusing watching my girlfriend flirt with another guy.”
“Ezra!” I blurt out. “You can’t be serious.”
“Can’t I?”
“I’m not interested in anyone else. How many times do I have to tell you?”
“A couple at least.” He frowns.
Frustrated, I look him up and down. He looks really uncomfortable and I suddenly feel bad. “Listen, do you want to leave?”
Ezra shakes his head. “Actually, I think I should go.”
“You mean alone?” I ask.
“Generally, that’s what ‘I’ means.”
“Ezra …” I begin, exasperated.
“You’ll have more fun. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
My free hand finds my hip and settles there, squeezing like it wants to rip out a chunk of flesh. “Why do I feel like you’re just looking for an excuse to get out of here?”
He shrugs indifferently. “Maybe because you don’t want to admit that this was a bad idea.”
“Fine!” I snap at him. “Go.”
Ezra’s nostrils flare. He turns slightly and inadvertently steps into Angel, who appears out of nowhere.
“Of course,” Ezra mumbles under his breath.
Reaching for Ezra’s arm, I grab him back quickly. “If you want to leave, I’ll go with you.”
Ezra wrenches loose from my grip. “Fine, Ruby. I’ll be in the truck.”
“I can give her a ride home,” Angel says.
Ezra looks like he wants to punch Angel’s face in. Instead, he steps back. “If that’s what she wants,” he replies coolly.
“Hello?” Everyone on the patio turns to stare, and I quickly go from flushed to sunburned. “I’m not a commodity. I don’t want a ride, Angel. And I no longer want to go with you either, Ezra!”
Ezra stands his ground, looking back and forth between Angel and me.
“I’m serious,” I tell him.
His frown twists into a scowl. “Must suck,” he sneers at Angel. “Wanting something so badly.”
Angel’s jaw goes so rigid you could bounce a rock off it. “You just can’t help yourself, can you? Do you even like her? Or is it all just a game to you, Ezra?”
“Does it matter?” Ezra sneers. “She already picked. And you lost.”
Hearing Ezra say it makes my heart skip, but I barely have a chance to react before Angel steps in his face. “If I hadn’t promised Ruby, I’d give you a chance, I’d have your ass on the ground.” He rolls it out smoothly. “Why don’t you do ev
eryone a favor and walk away now.”
Furious, I push between them. “Are you serious?” I stare daggers at Ezra. “I’m not a toy, Ezra.” Looking between them, I add, “And if I was a toy, I definitely wouldn’t want to belong to either of you. You’re both freaking Neanderthals!”
“If you want to go with him, Ruby, go,” Ezra growls.
“I don’t. But right now, I have less than zero desire to be with you either!”
Ezra shoves his beer cup at me and bows with a flourish, tipping an invisible hat in the air before stomping off.
“Great!” I snap at Angel as Ezra marches away. “Thanks for coming to my rescue.”
“You’re welcome,” he answers sharply.
“That was sarcasm.” I glare at him.
“Yeah, I know.” He shakes his head. “Tell me he wasn’t being an ass to you. To everyone.”
“He wasn’t until you showed up! And if you hadn’t all stared at him like some sideshow freak, he probably would have stayed. He didn’t lose his mind in the accident, Angel. It’s not like he doesn’t know how you all feel about him.”
“Well, golly,” Angel retorts. “I wonder why.”
“I’m not a wilting flower. I don’t need you to save me. So just back off!”
I turn to find Racine on the periphery of the patio, watching us. She rushes over and yanks at my hand before I can say something irredeemable. “Let’s just go inside, fill our cups, and forget about stupid boys for the night,” she coaxes. Before I can answer, she links her arm in mine, steers me inside toward the keg, and fills my red cup. “Drink,” she commands.
I’m furious, and between Las Gallinas and my trusty red cup, Ezra completely ceases to exist for the next few hours. I don’t even let myself think of him again until the next morning. Not until my alarm clock accidentally goes off at seven a.m. and I roll out of bed, cursing the gods for having such a rotten sense of humor.
Half asleep and bundled in a bathrobe, I shuffle downstairs in search of a strong pot of coffee. Following a serious caffeine fix, my only plan for the day involves hanging around the house in my pajamas.
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