Lupe waves at us and we stop dancing. We join her, her husband Marcos and their beautiful boys. I’ve had the pleasure to meet Vincent and Oliver a few times already, and while Vincent is still a bit diffident toward me because he’s eight and thinks that girls are gross, Oliver and I have become buddies.

“Hi, Vincent. Hi, Oliver,” I tell my little friend, kneeling down in front of Oliver. While Vincent ignores me in favor of his uncle, Oliver throws himself at my neck, almost making me lose my balance.

“Ines!” he yells excitedly, and I chuckle at his exuberance.

He’s six, and while his eight-year-old brother is a dark-haired string bean who shares his uncle’s emerald eyes and acts like he’s entirely too cool to be my friend, Oliver is a bit chubby, with lighter brown hair and chocolate brown eyes that resemble his mother’s. He’s the sweetest boy I’ve ever met and gives the best hugs.

“Are you guys having fun? Want to give your mom a break and come dance with me?”

“Dancing is for sissies,” Vincent informs his younger brother, prompting a chorus of admonishments from his mother and father, while his uncle is just shaking his head, laughing. Oliver pouts, seemingly confused.

“Don’t listen to him,” I tell him, and then turn in Vincent’s direction. In a low voice, bringing a hand closer to my mouth, but still talking loud enough for everyone to hear, I say, “Your uncle and I were just dancing, and if you can keep a secret, I’ll tell you he’s pretty darn good. And definitely not a sissy.”

Lupe and Marcos snicker.

I exchange a quick look with Esteban, who’s smiling, eyes sparkling with delight. Vincent checks me out, dubiously. But then he shrugs.

“Whatever. I’m never gonna do that.”

“You’ll change your mind in a few years, young man,” Esteban tells him, ruffling his hair.

“What about you, Oliver? Can I have a dance?” I ask him.

“I want cotton candy!” Oliver yells excitedly, arms stretched out.

Shrugging, I say, “Hey, I get it. Cotton candy is delicious.” I straighten to standing again. “I can’t deny I’m a little hurt by his rejection,” I mutter, and Esteban snickers next to me.

“Mommy, please? Can I have cotton candy? You said I could have a treat!”

“I can take him, if that’s okay with you,” Esteban says.

“In a minute, maybe,” Lupe replies, glancing at her little one.

“How’s everything at the apartment, Ines?” Marcos asks.

“Everything is working great. Thank you.”

“The AC hasn’t given you any more issues?”

“No, not anymore. Thank you so much for fixing it.”

“You didn’t tell me about that,” Esteban snaps at his sister. It sounds odd and out of character.

“It was no big deal. Relax, Esteban,” Lupe replies with a pointed look full of fire.

Here they go again, these two and their sibling tension. I haven’t seen Esteban this wired since he stood up to Brad, and his behavior surprises me. 

“She’s right, Esteban. It was no big deal at all. It was only for a day.” Why is he getting all out of sorts about this to begin with? Sure, it’s undeniable that there is a strong connection between us, and I can’t deny that it pleases me that he cares, but on the other hand, we’d only ever met three times including today. He has no business meddling in my business like this, unless I want him to. By the way my body responds to him anytime he’s around, I can’t deny that I want him meddling in my business. On my terms, though.

“You could have told me, Lupe. I could have helped out.”

“Esteban, come on. You have too much on your plate already. We’ve talked about this. I thought we agreed.” I don’t know what they agreed on, but I get a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach that maybe she’s been trying to keep Esteban away from me.

Has she? Did she say something to him to make him stay away? Is that why I haven’t seen him at all?

“Esteban, there was no need to involve you. I got it taken care of in just a few hours,” Marcos intervenes.

“It’s true,” I tell him, trying to pacify the situation even though I’m still really confused about why he thinks he should have been involved in the first place. It’s not like I was renting the place from him. I notice the kids eye their parents and their uncle questioningly.

Esteban gives me a long look, seemingly not convinced so I reach out for his hand and give it a gentle squeeze. His eyes widen as my hand holds his and the concerned, serious way he stares at me has my stomach twisting. The warmth of his skin shoots up my arms and unravels emotions in my chest that I shouldn’t even be feeling. Why do I feel so close to him already when I hardly know him?

“Okay. If you say so, I believe you.” He shrugs, as if he finally realizes he's exaggerating. “Can I buy Oliver some cotton candy?”

“Me too, Uncle Esteban!”

“Of course!” Esteban says to Vincent in his usual, softer tone.

“Fine,” Lupe replies. “But if you guys think I’ll let you eat the whole thing, you’re out of your mind!” She points a menacing finger at the two little boys.

They’re about to walk away when Lupe stops them.

“Wait! Your hands are probably filthy.” She pulls sanitary wipes out of her purse and she starts wiping the palms of their hands. I laugh, because it’s such a mom thing to do, but she’s not wrong. I smile as I watch her diligently clean her kids’ hands. However, my chest squeezes in afterthought. I like her, but now I can’t get out of my head that for some reason she might have been trying to keep her brother away from me in the last few weeks.  Is that why I haven’t seen Esteban at all since I moved in her apartment?

“You too,” she adds, turning to her brother and handing him a wipe. Esteban lets out a chuckle and shakes his head, but does as she says, and wipes his hands. He glances at me as he takes Oliver’s hand and smiles softly, the moodiness gone from his eyes.

My eyes linger on him as he walks away with them. He asks Vincent something, and places a hand on his shoulder. Considering my nonexistent family circle, I haven’t interacted with that many kids and seeing Esteban with his nephews stirs feelings in my chest I didn’t even know I had. Kids were an abstract notion in my marriage. We always said that at some point we’d want one or two, but Brad and I made excuses and kept postponing it. Right now, I’m happy we didn’t rush into it.

Being responsible for someone else’s welfare and happiness would have definitely complicated things. Guilt would have probably made me stay in my mess of a marriage.

“Sorry about my brother,” Lupe says, distracting me from my daydream. 

“Yeah, that was...strange,” I admit. A knot forms in my stomach as I look at her. I don’t want to feel this way about Lupe, but her words made me suspicious. And in a way, I am a little hurt.

“He tends to get a bit overbearing when it's a family-related issue.”

“And you obviously don’t want him hanging around me,” I respond pointedly, arching one eyebrow. I’m a little naïve at times, but I wasn’t born yesterday.

Her jaw drops, and she looks taken aback, as if she can’t believe I’ve got her figured out. “Ines, it’s not like that.”

I see Marcos tense at her side, but I don’t care. The least she can do is give me an explanation. I thought we were becoming good friends, but now she acts like I’m some kind of pariah and should stay away from her brother? It doesn’t make any sense. She was almost ecstatic on my first night here, in comparison.

“It’s exactly like that. You obviously don’t want your brother coming close to me.”

“I’m just looking out for him, Ines. It’s my job. I’m his big sister.”

“He’s a grown-ass adult. He seems to do a good enough job of looking out for himself. Besides, I don’t understand what you think I’m capable of doing to him?”

She sighs. She exchanges a quick glance with Marcos, as if she’s trying to decide what she should or shouldn’t tell me, so I decide to make it easier for her.

“I know you don’t know me. I stumbled into your lives out of the blue. I’m getting divorced and I’m going through a lot of stuff. I can tell your brother likes me, but we haven’t seen each other at all since I started living here. I don’t want anything from him, or you, or anyone else. I’d like to be your friend…and his. However, you’re obviously hiding something from me and acting like I’m not good enough for him. I don’t appreciate it.”

“Ines, I’m sorry. I swear I have nothing against you. Esteban just came out of a long and complicated relationship, and I can tell he likes you…but the last thing he needs is to have his heart broken by someone who is only passing through. He’s not a rebound type of guy.”

“I’m not a rebound type either. But with all the stuff going on with my ex, I do need friends. I do need to know there are people I can trust. I need to know if I can consider you a friend, Lupe, as I did until now. And I’d like to become friends with Esteban as well.”

“Are you telling me you’re not attracted to him?”

“Well…” I swallow and look away, feeling my cheeks redden. Apparently, I’m ready to dish it, but I’m not able to take it. “If I said I’m not interested, it’d be a lie. I do like him. But I know that I shouldn’t get involved with anyone. My life is a mess right now. All I can say is that I like your brother and don’t have any intention to hurt him. I promise.”

Marcos wraps an arm around her shoulder, giving Lupe a gentle, reassuring squeeze. She releases a deep breath in response.

“Look, don’t take this the wrong way...but like you said, you’re going through a divorce. I’m just looking out for my brother.”

“I get that, Lupe. I do. But I like Esteban, and I’d like to get to know him better,” I admit.

Lupe crosses her arms loosely. And even though I know she’s still wary, she nods in understanding, pursing her lips. I get where she’s coming from, but I’m still confused as to why Lupe is so protective of him. It’s true that I’m the one with baggage, but Esteban could easily be the player in this scenario. He’s also old enough to look out for himself, but maybe in their parents’ absence Lupe has assumed the role of matriarch and appointed herself in charge of overseeing everything, including her brother’s love life.

We’re over our small argument, and we start making small talk. I ignore the stinging hurt in my chest. By the time Esteban and the boys come back, everyone is all smiles and Esteban is licking his fingers from the stickiness of the cotton candy.

Lord, have mercy. What did I just tell his sister? That I knew I shouldn’t get involved with anyone? Am I going to be able to keep my attraction at bay? Rebound or not, if there’s anyone I’d want to get involved with, it’s Esteban. And she said he likes me. How can I ignore this succulent piece of information?

Our eyes meet, and I blush furiously, immediately looking away, focusing my attention on my buddy Oliver. 

“What else do you guys want to do?”

“Rides!” Oliver exclaims.

“There are rides? Where?” I ask him.

“He’s mistaken,” Lupe interjects, stealing a piece of cotton candy from her son’s bag. “There aren’t any rides here. They had some last night at the fireworks show, though.”

“Speaking of...Where’s the best place to see the fireworks from?”

“Oh, you can see them from here or from Central Avenue.”

“I'll show you the best spot I know,” Esteban interjects, taking another piece of cotton candy from Vincent. Lupe gives him a pensive look, but then she turns to me and smiles.

“You two should go,” she tells me reassuringly. “I don’t think the kids will see much with all the crowds. Besides, we saw the show last night. You two should go and have fun.” She glances between me and her brother, and now it’s Esteban’s turn to look confused.

I almost want to laugh as they try to communicate with no words, and in the end, a chuckle escapes my lips.

“Yes, Esteban. Show Ines around town.”

We do hang out for a few more minutes, but when we say goodbye, Lupe pulls me into a tight hug. I let out a breath, relieved that we’ve straightened things out between us.