Land of Entrapment by Andi Marquette Read Free Book Online Page B

another piece of enchilada. “Oh? Is he on the verge of finally coming out?”
    “No, dammit, and it’s so obvious. Why won’t he talk to me about it?”
    I chewed and swallowed before answering.
    “Maybe because he’s the youngest, and he’s trying to make his own way.”
    Chris made a noncommittal noise and reached for a chip. “I don’t want to push him. I just want him to be happy with himself.”
    “We should all be happy like that. But even if John decided to go his own way, there’s always you to take over the business and show those big, strapping men how it’s done,” I teased.
    Chris threw a piece of chip at me. “Nah. I love building things and I love that I learned all that growing up, but I did my time there. Every damn summer from high school through college. I definitely don’t want to do it full-time.”
    “But you look so damn sexy when you’re running around with power tools,” I teased. “Way sexier than your brothers.”
    She kicked me lightly under the table. “Speaking of siblings, how are your sisters?” Chris looked at me expectantly after swallowing a bite of her burrito.
    “Kara’s probably sitting in another tree in northern California to protest logging and Joely is probably running guns in Estonia.”
    “Kara’s still working for that wilderness group?”
    Chris grinned at my eyeroll.
    “Yeah. She seems to like it, so I should probably quit making fun of it. And I’m kidding about Joely.
    She likes Germany and she enjoys teaching, so it’s all good.”
    “Oh? When will she be back in the States?”
    “She decided May, last we heard. She’s doing a full year of teaching at the university there.”
    “Sounds cool.”
    “She’d like to end up teaching at some small liberal arts college in the States, and it’ll be a professor package deal, her and the hubby.” I took a chip out of the basket. “And Abuelita? Did you tell her I was going to be in town?”
    “Of course. And she’s ornery but funny as ever,”
    Chris said dryly though she was grinning again.
    “She’s told me to tell you to come by. She’s got some damn herbs she’ll give you to help deal with your demons.”
    “I’m sure it’s a delightful powder I’m supposed to mix in some freaky tea.”
    Chris laughed. “Hey, that shit’s worked on you in the past. It helped get you focused after Melissa. She’s good with everybody’s aches and pains in the ’hood, mental and physical. Still driving Mom crazy, who throws up her hands in dramatic Mexican fashion and demands to know how she ever came to be born of esa loca. ” Chris smiled. “I’m actually going over this weekend to put some more shelves up in her pantry.
    When I told her you were coming she said, and I repeat, ‘¿ Cuando volve mi K.C. para siempre?’”
    I laughed. “She thinks I should move back for good, huh?”
    Chris raised one shoulder in a shrug. “She misses you. Maybe almost as much as I do.” She regarded me with an expression in her dark eyes I knew very well.
    “It’s good to see you, esa. I have really missed you.”
    “Oh? In what sense?” I baited her, my beer bottle poised at my lips.
    “All.” She flashed me a smile and picked up her glass. “Since you went to Texas, I don’t see you or talk to you enough.” She pretended to pout.
    She had a point. Since I’d moved, we talked maybe once every two weeks or so. Sometimes less.
    “You’re right,” I agreed. “And as of right now, I don’t like that. So let’s talk more often.”
    “I have a better idea.” She took a sip from her glass.
    “And that would be?”
    “Move back.”
    I sighed and started fiddling with my fork. “I don’t know.”
    “C’mon,” she coaxed. “You know Texas isn’t you.
    Nuevomexico, that’s you.”
    “High compliment from you, mujer.” I nudged her leg under the table with my foot.
    “It’s true. You know you miss it. For the chile, if nothing else.” She focused on her burrito again.
    “I do,” I