Page 18 of Capicú Summer

I won.

The match with Don Santos ended quicker than expected. The student outwitted the teacher. Now, I’m waiting for Adri to come and play. Her grandfather takes a front row seat beside Don Rogelio and winks. Making my win feel more like charity than victory.

I mean, he didn’t even try…

Still, a win is a win.

My hands shuffle the tiles, mixing in all twenty–eight fichas as everyone shouts around me. The domino table is loud, and the block is even louder. Music blasts from every corner, but the second Adri steps into the circle, everything fades. It takes every ounce of willpower to make myself focus on what I’m doing. And that is handing out the domino pieces.

I deal everyone seven tiles, even as I watch Adri grab a milk crate and slide it right in front of me, making my breath catch in my throat and my heart race a little faster. The smell of shea butter and mango drifts through the summer breeze. I chase it like a line—skiing down the mountain of the scent that’s utterly hers. It hits fast, the way it always does—sweet and impossible to quit.

“You ready?” she asks, her tone dripping with sarcasm. One I match well.

“I was born ready, Ciela,” I say, tongue dragging over my lips, eyes locked on her. It’s in the eyes, papi. It’s all about that initial connection. The one that sets your heart ablaze. Needing more of her, I let my gaze drop to the gold chain catching the streetlight, the leopard-print top hugging her just right, and the dimples on her lower back on full display when she turns to whisper to Ruben.

Who looks like he’s not too sure about what she’s telling him. Manny elbows me, so hard it actually makes me wince. The pain is immediate, a blow to my side.

I glare at him, as he mutters under his breath. “Bro, you gonna play or you gonna stare?”

I ignore him, opting to mess with Adri instead. It’s more fun. Leaning back in my chair, I let a slow grin spread across my face.

“You remember how to play?” I ask, tapping a tile against the table. “Or do you need me to teach you again?”

Her emerald orbs narrow, mouth curving into that dangerous little smirk that used to ruin me. “I remember teaching you,” she fires back. “Pretty sure that’s the part you,” she points my way and winks, “must have forgotten. Ready to lose?”

Ruben chokes on his Corona, and Manny slaps the table. Everyone laughs. Except me. I don't, even though I want to. She did indeed teach me how to play, and let’s say I taught her other creative ways we can use a tile.

As always, Alex is the last one to get the joke and laughs the loudest, yelling, “Diablo, she got you there, bro.”

She did.

And I won’t lie and say I didn’t have to fight the urge to join them all. From behind her, I spot Estrella, who stiffens at the sound of Adri's voice. She looks fucking pissed, even more now that she feels some kind of possessiveness towards me, and I can’t say I blame her. Even though I wasn’t with her, I wasn’t fucking other women either. I spoke a big game and delivered very little. In the end, I sold her an illusion. Estrella crosses her arms, her eyes slice between Adri and me, like she’s deciding who to kill first.

I look away before she catches me staring. All my attention locks onto the woman in front of me. La morena consentida del barrio Altura.⁠* My eyes scan the brown freckles that adorn her golden skin like stars in the night sky.

“Ready to lose?” I echo, licking my lips. “Mami, that was beginner's luck.”

She leans forward, elbows on the table, her damp curls falling over her shoulders, making her shimmer. And all I can picture is myself biting into her sweaty flesh and her bouncing on this dick. It’s fucked up, but still doesn’t stop the thought.

“Then put your money where your mouth is, Yael Cruz.”

If the memory didn’t do it, the dare in her eyes has blood rushing to parts of my body I shouldn’t be thinking about right now. The block goes quiet—too silent, but charged with tension, like everyone could feel the shift between us. I drag my tongue across my teeth, fighting the smile.

“Oh, I plan to,” I murmur, pinching a ficha between my fingers. “Remember all summer,” I remind her of my earlier wager. Of our own personal bet, one I intend to cash in. Not because I want to force her to be with me or some dumb shit. I just want answers, and Adri is as competitive as you can get. This is how I get closure, by beating her in the game that made us fall in love.

Estrella steps closer, baby voice on full display and scratching my skull painfully. “Yael, papi,” she purrs. “Make it quick.”

My gaze shifts to Adri, who looks down at the tiles in her hands with a curl on her lips, not even bothering to face Estrella when she says, “If you’re not here to play.” She points to the side with a flick of her finger and adds, “Wait over there.”

Ruben wheezes, beer and spit particles flying in the air as he tries to contain the laughter.

Alex, as always, is ready to pour gasoline on a fire. “El diablo, she said, ‘move.’” My best friend turns to Estrella. His demeanor already changing. I can tell he’s trying to diffuse the situation. “Mami, we’re playing. Stop distracting Yael, this is important.”

I don’t have to look up to know Estrella’s jaw is on the floor. She’s fuming, and the tone in which she says, “Excuse me,” confirms it.

“That's my man,” she adds, pointing her index finger in my direction. I glance around me confused. My eyes go wide, and maybe I’m a dick for what I’m about to say, but my question is practically a reflex.

“Who me?”