5. Libby

CHAPTER 5

LIBBY

I couldn't stop laughing.

My sides and face hurt, and my eyes had started to water.

"And that's why I will never have a milkshake in my life," he shared, and I snorted. Snorted!

Hector ‘Crank' Dominguez had always seemed so serious to me. Growing up, watching him from afar, he'd always been crazy intense and focused. Determination and discipline had seemed to be his major attributes.

But this side? The goofy, funny guy? That was new to me. But by the way his roommates laughed along with us, it wasn't new to them.

"Alright, guys, we better go," Jason, a baseball player, said, and Hector's two other roommates stood up.

"Libby, it was great to meet you." Dylan, the cornerback for the football team, said with a genuine smile. I took the hand he extended and shook it.

"You, too."

"Same." Jeremy, the other baseball player, saluted. "See you guys at the party later?"

"Oh, umm…" I still hadn't figured out how to get out of that.

"For sure," Hector said, giving the three guys the universal man chin nod that could mean anything from hi to bye. A moment later, his three roommates walked out and left us all alone for the first time since we'd woken up.

Waking up tangled in his arms after getting the best sleep ever on one of the most comfortable mattresses I'd ever slept on hadn't been on my bingo card. But man, there was no way I could think about regretting it. There was a lot, almost too much, on the line with us just being friends. I worried constantly about that.

What if things turned sour?

What if I said the wrong thing and he disappeared and in turn, his mom and sister turned their backs on me?

"Penny for your thoughts?" His lips brushed the edge of my ear, and I jumped, surprised he had come so close without me noticing.

"I don't know they'd be worth that much," I muttered. He frowned, and I knew he was about to argue, so I kept talking. "Listen, I should get back to my dorm and––"

"Get ready?" he guessed. I opened and shut my mouth before sighing.

"I don't think I should go." There. I had said it. I was going to cancel this whole thing!

"Why not?" His frown deepened, forming lines over his brow I wanted to smooth out. Instead, I shoved my hands back into the jeans I'd worn to work and had put on when we woke up.

"I've never been and––"

"There is a first for everything." The statement felt heavy, and I shivered.

"A first for everything," I repeated softly because my breath suddenly felt choppy. He moved in closer. My hands slipped out of my pockets and rested on his forearms.

"Yeah," he murmured, and for a long moment, I left myself drown in the pools of his dark eyes. I wanted to experience all my firsts with him.

"Please?" There was that magic little please that could get a girl to do anything. "We can go hang for twenty minutes, and if you don't like it, we can go… bowling." The offer made me giggle.

"Bowling? You like bowling?"

"No." He grinned like a kid on Christmas morning, which fit because that's exactly how I felt around him. "But I remember you and Blanca bugging my mom to take you when you guys were in middle school."

"That was a long time ago," I reminded him, and he nodded.

"It was. We've both grown up"—his eyes dipped down to my mouth and back up to my eyes–– "I took you guys once," he finished, and something inside of me shifted. Loosened.

He remembered.

It had been one of the best memories of my childhood. He'd bought us a pizza. An entire large one just for Blanca and me to share. And for a kid who hardly got much to eat, that was incredible. Then, at the end of the night, he grabbed each of us a huge pretzel. The thing had to have been the size of our heads. Then he'd ruffled my hair before he'd gone off to hang out with whatever cheerleader he'd been dating at the time. I remembered thinking maybe one day, he'd look at me like that.

"I can't believe you remember that."

"Why?"

"I don't know." I shrugged, at a loss for words.

"You guys were cute. I got you a pizza so you two would stop coming over to where my friends and I were. You looked like I had given you a million bucks and all access to a toy store." I laughed softly.

"It was pretty cool of you."

"I can be cool again." He winked. "Please?" he asked again, this time tipping my chin up with the tips of his fingers. "Go with me to this party. Twenty minutes, and if you hate it, we can go anywhere you want if you don't wanna go bowling."

"Bowling doesn't sound too bad." My lips twitched, and he made a face. "What's wrong with bowling?"

"Nothing. You're going to think I'm weird."

"Tell me." I laughed, unknowingly leaning in closer. But where I might not have noticed, he did, and he used it to his complete advantage. His hand moved from my chin and into my hair that was back up in a messy bun.

"I'll tell you later. We going to the party?" I chewed on my bottom lip. The party didn't sound too bad.

"I'm not sure I have anything to wear," I admitted quietly, and he blinked.

"You could go like you are right now."

"No way!" I laughed, pulling away from him so I could look at myself. "I look a little ridiculous." I laughed. I was still in his shirt and my own jeans that had most definitely seen better days. "Okay, we can go." I shrugged. "But––"

"Twenty minutes, and you decide," he vowed.

"Okay." I nodded.

Before I knew it, he hurried us out of his place and walked me back to my dorm. Just like anytime he took me home, he took the elevator with me to the third floor and walked me right to my door. He didn't kiss me again. But he did lean down and tell me he would be back in two hours before hugging me and kissing the top of my head before he left.

I went inside my dorm and straight to the small little closet space I had.

As tiny as it was, the things inside of it were hardly smooshed in there like my roommates had in theirs. I stood looking, trying to come up with an outfit idea. I wanted to call Blanca and ask her for advice, but I wasn't sure how she would feel about me going to a party with her big brother. As if she felt me thinking about her, my phone rang. I looked down to see she was trying to video chat me. I answered and sat down on my bed.

"Hey!" I smiled at my best friend, who I missed so much.

"Hey, you! What are you doing?"

"Umm, nothing," I lied.

"Really?" Her head tilted, and then I watched in slow motion as her dark green eyes widened with surprise. "Are you wearing…" That's when I realized why she was looking at me that way. "Are you wearing my brother's football shirt?"

"No! Yes! I mean… I'm wearing a football shirt. I, umm, I found it at the thrift store close to campus. I told you."

"No, the one you bought was black. This is light blue." Damn her and her almost photographic memory.

"I found this one––" She shot me a look that had the words dying on my tongue. "Stand up," she ordered, bossy as always.

"Why?" I laughed nervously.

"Stand up."

"Fine." I did, and then she told me to turn, and when I did, I had no idea why she was laughing like she was.

"What?"

"When did that happen?" she asked, the excitement pouring out of her.

"When did what happen?"

"Babe, don't you know what you're wearing?"

"A school football shirt," I said, a little exasperated.

"No wonder he called," she said almost to herself, and I frowned.

"What? No wonder who called?"

"Okay, Libby, talk to me. What is going on?" she pushed, and I felt like a trembling fish out of water.

"I don't know," I answered honestly, but I could tell she didn't believe me.

"It's me! Come on. If you can't talk to me, who can you talk to?"

"Your brother started working at the diner," I blurted and watched her slowly process what I was saying.

"What?" Her eyes looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets with shock. It was obvious she had no idea he had picked up a part-time gig or that she knew we had sorta been hanging out.

"He stopped by at the end of the semester. I figured it was because of your or your mom bugging him to keep tabs on me."

"Mom," she corrected, confirming my suspicion. I sighed, and she put her hands up. "I told her not to, but you know she loves you."

"Well... maybe it's because of her he's working there?"

"I doubt it, babe. She has no clue about this. So, wait, wait, wait! You're telling me he stopped by at the end of the semester."

"Yes."

"And then started working there? You two have just been working together so far this summer?" I shrugged.

"Yes. No. I don't know." I groaned. "He's always around when I'm on campus. Even when I went to do my laundry and the machines were down. He had me go to his building and do it there. Though, he probably suggested it because ethe machines are free to use in his building."

"No, they're not." She giggled, and then her head tilted as her eyes shined. "So, you did laundry there and?"

"And he insisted on having lunch while my stuff washed."

"He did?"

"Yes." I sat back down on my bed.

"How many times?" she asked, and I winced.

"The last three times I've had to do laundry."

"So, the last three weeks? Oh my god!" She laughed. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't know? I just?—"

"You like him." Her voice was gentle. I nodded. There was no way I could lie about that. Not to my best friend or myself.

"I don't want to but?—"

"You always had a crush on him," she stated like it was fact and not her taking a stab in the dark. She knew how badly I'd crushed on him when we were younger. Why I made it a point to stay away when he came home from school. I felt my face redden.

"There is nothing wrong with hanging out with Crank, Lib. I mean, he's kinda boring but?—"

"He's not," I quickly defended. "Hector is sweet and really funny. And thoughtful in ways I didn't know anyone could be."

"Hector, huh?" Her lips twitched, but I ignored it.

"What did you mean, I am wearing his shirt?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"Babe, our last name is on your back?"

"It is?" My eyes widened.

"Didn't you know?" I dropped the phone and pulled on the shirt to see what she was talking about. Sure enough, right on the back, across my shoulders, it said DOMINGUEZ, his number right dead center. I picked up the phone and stared at my best friend, who had the widest smile on her face I had ever seen.

"Did you two?" She wagged her brows up and down vivaciously.

"No!" I squeaked.

"But you kissed him?" she guessed. Panic started to roll through my veins.

"Hey." Her voice softened. "What's with that look?"

"Are you mad?" I asked, and her eyes widened with horror.

"No! Why would I be mad? If you two get together and get married, you'd be my actual sister." She laughed. I breathed in slowly and exhaled slower.

"You sure you're not upset?"

"I mean, I wish you had told me you two are dating––"

"We're not! I mean, he kissed me, but that was last night, and that was the first time."

"Oh." She blinked. "Really?"

"Yeah, why?"

"He called," she repeated, and I nodded.

"Why?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. She rolled her eyes and smirked.

"He asked me to call you and help you figure out an outfit for a party." Something inside me softened. It was like he wasn't tearing down the walls I'd built around me, he had softened them up so they'd crumble all on their own with the thoughtful things he was doing. Actions speak louder than words.

"Wait, so, let me get this right. You two aren't dating, but you're going to a party together?"

"I mean, his roommates are going to be there, too."

"Are they?" Her lips twitched. "And you met them?"

"Yeah, why? Haven't you?"

"Nope." The ‘p' popped. "This is interesting," she noted. Knowing Blanca for as long as I had, I could see the wheels in her head turning, which, depending on her mood, could be for good or evil.

"Why?"

"Babe! Crank has never had a girlfriend. Much less gone on a date or have his girlfriend meet his friends!"

"This isn't a date," I argued. It isn't. Is it? She scoffed and stared at me like I should really know better.

"You're going to a party together! You met his friends!" she repeated, and I rolled my eyes.

"Other girls have met his friends. Remember when he was in high school?—"

"No," she cut me off. "That was girls who hung with him and his friends. Not where he took them with him." I had to push my glasses up. My eyes drifted to the small mirror on the wall.

He wanted to take me out to a party? On a date? Me? My reflection blinked back at me. All I could see were the big black frames that covered my face.

"You think this is a date?" Nerves started to prickle and sweat started to form at the back of my neck.

"Yeah. How do you not?"

"I don't know?" Panic crept up my neck. "I mean, we hang out sometimes. We're friends. I just thought…." I chewed on my bottom lip. "What the hell am I going to wear!?"

"Breathe," she instructed calmly, knowing me as well as I knew her. "There is no need to freak out. It's just Hector. Crank is just a guy. Trust me." She rolled her eyes. "Now show me what we have to work with."

"He called you?" I asked as I stood and made my way back to my almost bare closet.

"He wanted to see if I could help you get ready for a party, and before I could ask what kind of party, he hung up," she shared.

"I think it's at a frat house."

"Wow. Okay… not ideal first date place, but we can make it work."

"Blanca…" I started to say, and she stared back at me. "If you think this could mess up our friendship, I'll cancel."

"Libs. Oh, no way! You kidding me?"

"No. You're my best friend, and I don't want to––"

"Hey." Her voice softened and went gentle in a way it didn't usually sound. Blanca was too much of a ballbuster to be soft on a regular basis. "You and I? We're friends for life, okay? Regardless of my brother."

"But what if… what if I'm not what he wants or I mess this whole thing up or––"

"Then it's his loss. Point blank. But you and I, chica? You and I are friends for life. Okay?"

"Okay." I breathed a little easier. With that problem resolved, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

I showed her the stuff I had in my closet, knowing very well nothing would work for a party. Why didn't I buy a dress? I could have thrifted something! I always looked at them but didn't think it would be a great investment since all I planned for while I was at school was study and work.

"I have never seen so many jeans," she teased after going through what I had. I glanced at the small cheap watch on my wrist.

"I could try to go buy something."

"I don't think you need that."

"Okay… maybe I can wear the darker flare jeans with a cute sweater?"

"Do you have a cute sweater? Or are you talking about that grandma cardigan back there?" I knew my wardrobe left a lot to be desired, but I was on a time crunch.

"It's not a grandma cardigan. It's vintage, thank you very much."

"It was if a grandma had once been a hippy and her grandma had owned it." The sweater had obviously been a handmade find. Floral crocheted squares had been put together in every color under the rainbow. It was oversized but cute and colorful.

"Okay, so I might have done something." Blanca started to confess, and I frowned.

"What did you do?"

"Go to your dresser, bottom drawer on the left-hand side." I blinked, completely confused. "That's where I put my pj's."

"I know, but you––"

"What?"

"Will you just go look!" she bossily demanded. I rolled my eyes but did her bidding.

"Blanca, there is nothing in––" The words died the moment I felt something in the back of my drawer. "Blanca?" I whispered, and she rolled her eyes playfully. "What did you do?"

"Take it out!" I pulled the soft material out and set the phone on top of my dresser as I stared down at the fabric in my hands.

"It's a dress," I whispered. I shook it out to get a better look at it. It wasn't just any dress either. "Blanca, how did… I mean, when… how is this possible?"

"I don't know if I'm surprised or disappointed it took this long for you to discover it back there," she teased, not answering me.

"Blanca!"

"When Ma and I moved you in, I slipped it in there hoping you might find yourself needing a pretty dress." Warmer, fuzzier emotions washed over me. I blinked once, then twice, taking in the dress. It was a soft yellow with delicate blue flowers printed all over it. I knew exactly why it looked so familiar.

"Blanca," I whispered. "It's the one I saw."

"That you said was too much and didn't let me help you buy for graduation?" she filled in the blanks. My nose stung. Tears threatened to fall.

"Blanca, this is too much."

"Hardly. I went at the end of summer, and it was on sale. It was less than twenty."

"Still! That's money you could have?—"

"Spent on my best friend so she could have something brand new and just for her for once? Yes, I did," she cut me off.

"Blanca––"

"Just say thank you and let's not get mushy because when you do, you cry, and you need to get ready to go on a date."

"You really think this is a date?"

"Only one way to find out." She winked.

From there, we talked about how I should do my hair and makeup before we ended the call, and I hurried to shower and shave. All the while feeling like the luckiest girl in the world because I seriously had the best friend in the universe.