Big Chicas Don't Cry(83)

“Should I run to the store?”

She went back to blending and shook her head. “I’ll just make these really strong. Pour in some more tequila. How many are we making?”

I counted off on my fingers. “Your mom, my mom, Tía Espy, Tía Gloria, and us two makes six. Gracie and Abuela are going to drink water.”

The blender turned off again. “What about Mari?”

“I don’t know,” I said with a shrug.

I’d called my cousin after confirming everyone else was free to meet up tonight. I hadn’t talked to Mari since New York and was actually a little surprised when she picked up her phone. I’d heard about the divorce and that she was moving out from both Erica and Gracie. Part of me had been a little hurt that Mari hadn’t told me herself. But the other part, the part that was still sad about how things had ended with Nathan, also understood. I couldn’t imagine going through that with someone you thought you were going to spend the rest of your life with. No wonder she’d been so upset at Welita’s funeral. So I couldn’t blame her for not calling up every single person in the family just to tell us that her marriage was over.

Surprisingly, she’d sounded excited about coming tonight. But then she’d hesitated. “I really want to come, Selena. It’s just that there’s this apartment I’ve been trying to see in Pasadena, and I finally got an appointment at six p.m. With traffic, I don’t know if I could make it to Inland Valley by seven p.m.”

“That’s okay if you’re a little late,” I’d said.

“But it’s Phase 10. Won’t it throw off the points if I start my phases later than everyone else?”

It would. But I wasn’t going to give her an excuse to not come. In that moment, I realized what Erica had been saying all these years. We had made it easier for Mari to keep her distance because we always accepted her excuses.

Not anymore.

“Well, you’re welcome to come. Late or on time,” I told her, careful not to show the familiar frustration that had welled up in my gut. Gracie had insisted that it seemed like Mari was going to make more of an effort to hang out with us. Even Erica was convinced after having lunch with her the other day.

I checked my watch. It was already 7:15.

“Well,” Erica said after filling the glasses I’d given her. “Let’s pour her one, and if she doesn’t show, then we’ll give two to Espy. That lady can hold her liquor, so we’re going to have to double up every round.”

I’d half expected Erica to go off again about Mari being a possible no-show. The fact that it didn’t even raise one of her eyebrows was a shocker. Come to think of it, Erica seemed to be in an especially good mood. My cousin intuition was tingling. Something was up with her, and I wanted to know what.

But before I could interrogate her, I heard screams of delight coming from the patio. Erica and I both looked at each other in confusion and walked toward the cacophony of excitement.

I nearly dropped my glass when I saw the reason for the ruckus.

There in the middle of the patio, surrounded by all the tías, stood my cousin Mari.

And, thanks be to the Phase 10 gods, she was holding a bottle of pi?a colada mix and what looked to be a pan of freshly baked brownies.





Chapter Fifty-Two


MARI


Whatever anxiety I’d been feeling in the car about game night with my cousins and tías disappeared as soon as I walked through the door.

Tía Marta was the first to see me. “Mari!” she yelled and ran over to give me a hug. The others were right behind her. Then my abuela took my hand and led me to the table. It was then that I noticed Espy. She waved from her seat in the corner, and I gave her a small smile. I figured she would be here and there was a good chance she’d try to bring up what she’d told me at the funeral. Still, I didn’t let that scare me off from coming.

I had meant what I’d said to Gracie and Erica. I wanted to be a part of this family again. And I knew that meant I would have to face my dad sooner or later. I’d even canceled my appointment to see the Pasadena apartment just so I would have enough time to bake a batch of brownies (my abuela’s favorite) and get here before they started playing. And I almost made it right on time, but I’d remembered that Selena had asked me to also bring some alcohol.

You would’ve thought I’d brought a hundred-dollar bottle of tequila instead of a $7.99 bottle of pi?a colada mix by the way she thanked me over and over again.

After everyone had their drinks and their dessert, it was finally time to start the game.

“Mari, do you need me to go over the rules?” Selena asked.

“No, I think I’m good. Thanks.” I’d spent the afternoon refreshing myself on the rules, and slowly it had all come back to me.

“Mom? Do you need me to go over the rules? Because last time we played I kind of remember you not remembering all of them.”

Everyone laughed. Selena and her mom bickered for a little before my abuela told them both to be quiet.

I couldn’t help but smile. Things hadn’t changed much since the last time I played Phase 10.

An hour later, we took our first break to refill our drinks and plates. I also walked inside to use the bathroom. That’s when I ran into Espy.

“Hey, you’re pretty good at this game,” she told me. “I’ve been stuck on phase two forever.”