Page 18 of Heartstruck

Alli

Breathe in, breathe out.

I smooth down the lace of my dress as the low beats of the party pour from the heavy double doors.

Inside, I know it’s a whirlwind of voices, laughter, and the occasional burst of mariachi music.

It’s chaotic and vibrant, like every family gathering.

But this time, the anxiety pooling in my stomach is different.

It’s sharper, more insistent, because tonight isn’t just about Victoria’s quinceanera .

It’s about Jared meeting my family.

I glance at my phone, checking the time after spending since the crack of dawn doing Victoria’s makeup. He’s on his way; I wouldn’t blame him for being as much of a nervous wreck as I am.

The doors swing open; the ballroom is transformed into a kaleidoscope of colors, rich, deep hues that scream tradition and celebration.

My cousins are scattered around, laughing and talking too fast for me to catch anything but snippets of their conversations.

My aunts are huddled together near the head table, already engrossed in whatever gossip they’ve latched onto for the night.

But my attention stays fixed on Victoria, standing at the heart of it all.

Her pale pink gown glimmers under the lights, the sparkling tiara perched on her head making her every bit the star of the night.

When she spots me, her face lights up with a wide grin, and she waves me over enthusiastically.

I force a smile and head her way, my heels clicking against the marble floor. My heartbeat feels too loud in my ears, and I try to push down the nerves threatening to bubble over.

“Do I look okay?” Victoria’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. She’s beaming, her happiness so palpable it’s almost contagious. Almost.

“You look amazing,” I tell her, cheesing so wide it trails to my cheeks. I rest my hands lightly on her shoulders, careful not to wrinkle her dress. “Seriously, Vic, you’re glowing.”

“You have to say that. I’m the guest of honor,” she rolls her eyes but smiles anyway, “All thanks to you.”

“Doesn’t make it any less true,” I reply, but my mind is already slipping back to Jared. I can’t stop imagining the look on his face when he steps into this… scene . The guy’s used to pressure, but this is a whole different kind of battlefield.

We chat for a few minutes, and I can’t help the way my eyes keep darting to the door.

“Waiting on your man?” Victoria questions with a provoking look. If it wasn’t her birthday, I would slap her.

“Yeah, he should be here soon.” I try to sound casual, but there’s a tightness in my voice that I hope she doesn’t notice.

Victoria nudges me. “Relax. He’ll be fine. Anyone dating my cousin has to be pretty amazing, right?”

I laugh, but it’s more to cover my nerves than anything else. “Yeah, I guess. It’s just… you know how your mom is.” I gesture toward Tía Mary, standing nearby with her arms crossed and eyes scanning the room like a hawk. “She’s like a heat-seeking missile for any potential drama.”

Victoria laughs, following my gaze. “She’s already cornered three of my chambelanes for a chat. Jared will be fine.”

I’m about to respond when my phone buzzes in my hand. He’s here. My heart skips a beat—okay, maybe it’s just the mangonada from earlier—but before I can even text him back, a familiar arm slips around my waist.

“Miss me?” Jared’s voice reverberates in my ear, sending a pleasant shiver down my spine. He leans in, his lips brushing my cheek in a quick kiss. I’m caught off guard, a laugh bubbling up before I can help it.

“Jesus, Jared, you scared me!” I smack his arm lightly, but I’m smiling so wide my cheeks hurt. I didn’t even hear him come up behind me, and now he’s here, looking all smug and perfect.

He just grins, clearly pleased with himself. “Sorry, didn’t mean to make you jump. Just thought I’d make an entrance.”

“Well, mission accomplished,” I say, rolling my eyes, but I can’t wipe the grin off my face. He’s here, in the middle of the madness, and somehow it makes everything feel a little less overwhelming. I wave a hand to the girl in honor, “This is my baby cousin, Victoria. Victoria, this is—”

“Oh my god! This is your boyfriend?! ?Por qué no me dijiste que estaba bueno? ” The girl had to hold her jaw. And drool.

I gently clamp a hand on her shoulder as a warning, “ Cuida el lenguaje. ”

Victoria puts her hands up in defense. “Sorry, sorry, I just wasn’t expecting Jared to be this good-looking. Your last boyfriend was not this hot. You were practically out of his league.”

“Hey, be nice. Alex wasn’t that bad.”

“Alli, you were NFL out of his league material; he was Pee Wee football league.”

Jared chuckles, clearly entertained by our banter. “I think I like her,” he says, looking down at me with a teasing smile.

I elbow him in the stomach. “Don’t encourage her. She’s already insufferable.”

Victoria beams at Jared, ignoring my comment entirely. “Okay, now that you’re here, you have to meet everyone. Seriously, the whole family’s been dying to see who finally got Alli to bring a guy home.”

“Victoria!” I protest, but she’s already dragging Jared by the arm, steering him away with surprising force for someone so petite.

Jared glances back at me, his face caught between amusement and mild panic.

I laugh, falling into stride behind them.

It’s adorable watching Jared get yanked into the mayhem of my family.

He handles it pretty well, shaking hands, smiling at everyone, and making small talk like he was born to do this. I can see why he’s so popular on the football team and gets all the attention that he receives; he’s got this easy charm that puts people at ease.

We stop in front of a group of my aunts, and Victoria launches into introductions. “ Tía Carmen, Tía Lorena, this is Jared, Alli’s boyfriend.”

Tía Carmen, a tiny woman with a crown of silver curls, beams up at Jared. “ ?Mira nada más! He’s so handsome! Alli, you did good, mija . Better than Alex.”

Jared flashes a grin as he takes her hand for a shake. “Thank you, ma’am. Alli’s the one who’s out of my league, if you ask me.”

Tía Lorena nods approvingly. “Smart and polite. We like him already.”

Jared chuckles, clearly enjoying himself, and I feel a knot I didn’t even realize was there loosen in my chest. He fits here, with my family, in a way I didn’t think anyone ever could.

Victoria pulls him toward the food table, where a feast of tamales , empanadas , and every other dish you could imagine is spread out. “You’ve got to try the tamales ,” she says, loading up a plate for him. “My mom made them, so they’re the best.”

Jared slides his eyes towards me, question marks written all over his face. “Trust her. Tía Mary’s tamales are legendary.”

He takes a bite, and his eyes widen in newfound appreciation. “Damn, these are amazing.”

Victoria laughs, clearly pleased with herself. “See? I told you. Stick with us, and you’ll get the full experience.”

The nerves that had been simmering beneath the surface finally start to ease. For once, I’m not worried about what’s coming next. There’s no anxiety creeping up. I’m just happy, right here, right now.

The party winds down, and I’m swaying just a little, barefoot after ditching my heels somewhere along the way. My third Corona and fifth shot of tequila have done their work.

Note to self: never drink with my cousins again.

Jared’s arm is wrapped around my shoulders, and the heat from the alcohol blurs everything, making the world feel like it’s spinning in pretty colors like the lights of a ferris wheel.

“You sure you’re okay?” Jared asks with evident amusement as he steadies me.

My vision is a little wobbly when I crack a smile. “I’m more than okay. I’m great. My family’s just… a lot. You know, like a sport, like football!”

I feel his chest rumble against my ear. “Well, I survived the game. Ready for the post-game wrap-up?”

I shake my head vigorously, nearly tripping over my feet. “Absolutely. Let’s just say I’m not sure if you’re brave or just really, really curious about my big fat family.”

He opens the passenger door for me, and I slide in with a grateful sigh. “I’d say a little bit of both.”

The drive back to my family’s home is filled with easy conversation, the radio playing softly in the background.

Jared’s presence is like a reassuring anchor in a sea of alcohol-induced fuzziness.

I’m pretty sure my brain’s been replaced with cotton candy at this point, but having him here makes it feel like maybe I’m not entirely lost in the world of “where am I, and how did I get here?”

When we pull up to my driveway, the house is draped in darkness, with only the porch light offering a faint glow.

The driveway is empty; my parents are probably still at the party.

Jared gets out and comes around to help me, my legs flimsy as I try to find my balance.

I lean into him, the ground beneath me swaying like I’ve just stepped off a rollercoaster.

“This is it,” I say, slurring the words as I hold up my keys, the motion exaggerated. “Home sweet home.”

“I know this is your place, I’ve dropped Serena off before.”

Jared guides me inside, and I collapse onto the bed with a dramatic flop. “You know, for someone who’s supposedly not that drunk, you’re pretty adept at dramatic entrances.”

I laugh it off. “What can I say? I’m a woman of many talents.”

He sits beside me, pulling off my shoes with a gentle touch. “You’ve definitely got talent. But I think we need to talk about your family’s obsession with my looks.”

I roll my eyes, despite the way my heart flutters at his teasing. “Hey, don’t complain. It’s not every day you get to be the star of my family’s chisme .”

Jared’s lips twitch with an easy grin, his eyes locking on mine. “And yet, here I am, taking center stage. Not sure if I should be flattered or worried.”

“Flattered, definitely flattered,” I manage, forcing a confidence I don’t quite feel as the room edges into a slow spin. “I mean, you’re kind of a big deal.”

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers brushing my skin. “And you’re kind of amazing.”

My heart stumbles at the closeness, and I meet his eyes. “You’re not so bad yourself. Better than all my past boyfriends. Exponentially better.”

“Ah, yes, I’m glad I exceeded Pee Wee league expectations.” He laughs through his nose. His voice softens as he leans in, “For the record, you’re pretty great yourself.”

Our faces are inches apart, the air crackling with tension that hangs between us.

His hand rests on my waist, securing me in a way that feels both familiar and new.

I feel the heat of his breath on my skin, and my heart starts to race, thumping against my chest like it's desperate to say something I’m not ready to hear.

Just as our lips were about to meet, an obnoxious ring slices the moment. Jared jerks away, surprise and frustration crossing his face as he snatches his phone from the bedside table.

“Sorry, it’s my dad,” he mutters. He walks out of the room to answer the call.

I prop myself up, pressing my hair back behind my ears, feeling a hit of sobriety.

I look out to find his back facing inside, and I’m willing my heart to stop hammering so fiercely.

The moment’s magic got interrupted, but the connection we shared lingers, making me feel a confusing mix of disappointment and hope.

Jared comes back moments later and looks over at me, yet avoids my direct gaze.

“Everything okay?” I murmur.

“Yeah.” Jared runs a hand through his hair, a hint of exhaustion in his voice. “The girls won’t go to bed until they see me. They’re giving my dad a hard time with Ma out of town.”

“Duty calls.” A hint of disappointment sneaks into my voice.

He hesitates, his eyes locking with mine, his brow furrowing slightly. “Will you be alright?”

“Fine,” I mumble, my eyes flicking away casually as if the answer doesn’t matter.

He nods, but neither of us moves right away. The air feels charged again, like a thread pulling us closer. I want to say something, to reach out and close the distance between us, but the moment slips away as he glances towards the door.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” he asks, almost as if he’s seeking reassurance.

My mind’s too foggy to piece together a proper response.

“Alli, what’s wrong?”

“You should go,” I manage, my voice faltering as I press a hand to my temple, trying to mend the swirling haze in my mind.

Please go before my mind turns into a pile of poo.

He eyes me closely, as if trying to read between the lines. I can feel my cheeks burning under his gaze, and all I want is for him to leave before I say something I’ll regret. Before I admit just how badly I wanted that almost kiss to happen.

“Alright, whatever you say. Goodnight, Alli.”

I watch him go, the door clicking shut behind him. “Goodnight,” I whisper into the stillness, my chest tightening with an ache I try to rub off.