Page 40 of Strictly Against Policy

“I want you to have someone else you can depend on,” she interrupted me. “Which, I understand doesn’t always mean marriage or children. That’s a dream I have for myself as a mother, but I understand that may not be what you kids want these days. I just want you to have another person that isn’t me or your sister to also be there for you.”

I let her words sink in as I sat there. I finally ate my first bite. The rush of the flavors—the rich umami harmonizing perfectly between sugar and salt—was so great that I almost threw my head back a bit and moaned.

“When I die, I want to die knowing you and Julie are fine.”

“Mom.”

“I want to leave knowing the two of you won’t only have each other in this world,” she continued.

“Mom, stop. You’re not going to die any time soon.”

She smiled. “I’m not going to be here forever either.”

No, she wasn’t. We both knew she could leave tonight or tomorrow—the way Dad suddenly did—and both Julie and my world would never be the same. Again.

“Please go on this blind date, Jonathan. I think she’s a good girl. She sounds smart, reliable, and seems incredibly capable. I think you two will be a good match.”

“Fine,” I breathed, taking another bite of my food. “Who is she?”

“Ask your sister. It’s one of her friends,” laughed my mom.

CHAPTER 19

Lina

“You what?” I asked Mary with wide eyes.

My chest ached from the surge of shock to my system. I glanced between her and Eric. They smiled as they sat in my living room like they hadn’t set me up on a blind date without my permission.

“I had so much time during my vacation that I decided to put it to good use,” smiled my best friend.

I grimaced at her feigned sweetness. “I can’t believe you set me up on a blind date, and without my consent too.”

Mary shrugged. “I’ve known you for fourteen years, Lina. You never say yes to these kinds of things.”

I leaned back in my seat to calm my breathing. “There’s a reason why.”

Mary observed me closely. “There’s also a reason why you’re not dating.”

Why would I? With the current mess I have with my older brother, I shouldn’t be dating. Why should I drag anyone else into my mess?

“Lina, I know your family isn’t the greatest . . . Or, the easiest. But I think you should live your own life. Start dating.”

“So, you’re both just going to throw me in the deep end? Who even is this guy?”

“It’s someone we all know,” Eric smiled reassuringly.

My face relaxed, relieved, but I wasn’t excited. I wasn’t remotely interested or attracted to anyone we knew—let alone want to go on a blind date with.

“It’s Armando’s younger brother,” continued Eric.

I did the only thing I could fathom to do, and that was to twist my face in disgust. Mateo Lopez was not someone I’d ever want to go on a date with.

“No,” I quipped.

“Oh, come on, Lina. He’s a sweet guy and very successful. Think about the nice new car he could get a good deal on for you,” said Mary.

The Lopez family owned a popular local car dealership. Their sons, Armando and Mateo, made it well known in high school that if they wrecked their brand-new, shiny cars one random day, then they’d get an equally nice replacement the next.