Page 81 of This Could Be Us
I freeze, shocked that wasn’t the first thing I thought about. I love that house. We all do.
“Do we want to sell it?” Lola asks.
“No!” Nayeli and I say in adamant unison.
“Don’t get your panties twisted.” Lola laughs. “I figured as much, but we can’t just have it here empty and collecting cobwebs. I wondered about using it as an Airbnb. It would generate some income, which I need during this transition. And I know you could use the money, too, Sol.”
“Always,” I agree. “Though things have been good lately. I’m getting the hang of this influencer thing.”
“You have videos go viral like every other week,” Nayeli says. “I’d say you are.”
“That doesn’t always translate into cash,” I tell her. “Matter of fact, most of the time it doesn’t. But the more visibility, the better chance I have at getting brand deals, ads, et cetera… Anyway, the moral of the story is that I always need more cash.”
Which reminds me I should finalize the menu for the CalPot Christmas party. I’ve been tryingnotto think about it because there’s a chance I’ll see Judah there. Bad enough I think about him all the time. Dream about him. Fantasize about all the things he could do to me. The things I could do to him. How good we might be together.
“Did you hear me, Sol?” Lola frowns at me on-screen.
“Huh?” I mutter, sitting up straight. “What was that?”
“We asked if you want to give it a shot,” Nayeli replies.
“Um… sorry. Give what a shot exactly?” I ask.
“Updating the house before we start using it for Airbnb,” Lola says.
“Yeah, that could be cool.” I force myself to tune back in.
“Okay. I just wanted to run all that by you,” Lola says. “We can talk more details later. In the meantime, Christmas is coming. What we doing?”
“I’m sorry,” Nayeli says, her tired eyes flicking from me to Lola. “Six kids traveling cross-country is hard at any time, but the holidays, and they’ve all been so sick? I think it’s best if we stay here in Cali this year.”
“Ain’t no thang, Nay,” Lola reassures her. “We get it. Olive and I are going to Austin after Christmas to look at spaces and get the lay of the land, but I was thinking of visiting you guys the week before, Sol.”
I wish I could reach through the screen and squeeze her. I’ve been blessed to have Yasmen and Hendrix here with me through all the shit Edward left me to deal with, but the ache of missing my sisters is tangible and deep.
“Oh, Lola, please come.” The prospect of a week with my big sister lifts my heart. “The girls would love to see you. So would I.”
“Consider it done,” Lola says, her smile gentle and understanding. “Anything for you,mija.”
“Love you guys.” Nayeli shoots us a harried glance. “But I gotta go. I knew those heathens were too quiet. Now I have to cut gum out of this child’s hair.”
We chuckle and disconnect. And not a moment too soon. I need to set up for the “Cook with Me Live” broadcast.
“Dammit,” I say. “Already late.”
I get my phone set up and start the session.
“I know I’m late.” I shake my head and chuckle. “It’s been a day, but come cook with me. If you’re following along, get your ground beef going. I have two pans here. One for my carnivores and one for my vegetarian. If you were wondering what’s for dinner…”
I look into the camera and wink, already feeling like I’m among friends as I see the comments flooding my feed.
“Don’t worry. Sol’s got ya.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
SOLEDAD
“Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape.”