Page 65 of Nocturnal Sins

I stared at her fine ass until she was out of sight. She probably went around front so things didn’t look too suspicious. When I went back inside, Pop was laughing it up with a customer and Marco was still staring at me like he wanted to say something.

“I know I have boyish good looks and shit but can you please stop staring at me? I’m spoken for.” The mere mention of Samira even in abstract had my blood pumping faster just so it could get to where she lived in my heart.

“Fuck you, Santana. It’s not like that. I wanted to ask you something and I just don’t know how to say it without you biting my fucking head off.” He shrugged and served up two plates at once before hitting the bell.

“Say what you have to say, Marco. I don’t respect motherfuckers that beat around the bush.” I tossed a pile of seasoned pork on the grill and the heat made it sizzle. Marco drew in a deep breath and glanced around the small space like there were tons of people hanging around. It was only us.

“Um is Sam seeing anyone? She got a man? I wanted to ask you properly if it was cool to start courting her and all that shit before you bashed my face in. She’s gorgeous.”

I couldn’t stop the uncontrollable laughter that rolled from my throat and into the air. It added to the rich spices floating around.

“Wait, you want to date my little sister?” Calling Sammie my little sister after everything we’d been through was strange. The words felt awkward and clunky coming from me. I pushed the meat around on the grill and squeezed a sliced lime over it to divert my attention. “Marco, come on now. You have to know the answer to that shit, man.”

“I’m asking you as a man though. I’m not being a pervert or anything rude like that.”

“Not now but before you were cool with being like that. Look, Marco, she’s seeing someone. Leave her alone.” The thought of him trying to get with Sammie made me chuckle even more as I plated the pork and warmed four tortillas.

“Is she serious about the guy?” He asked with a hint of hope in his voice.

“Yeah, she is. She’s in love and all that shit. Leave her alone. That’s the last time I’m going to say anything about it to you. Don’t ask me again and don’t ask Pop.” Marco pressed his lips into a tight line and nodded his understanding. If he pushed any further, I was going to get pissed off and it would wave a giant red flag because what was mine was mine and I didn’t share or play nice about it.

***