Playing for Keeps Read Online Free PDF Page A

baggage claim. After what felt longer than the flight itself, they made it.
    And boy, was it a sight.
    Crowds of people dressed like extras in a Western, with cowboy hats, leather boots, and big belt buckles, looked for their loved ones.
    Ranya was easy to find, though. She was holding a sign that read: TEXAS LOVES YOU, AMIGAS INC. !
    Valeria, or the girl Alicia assumed was Valeria, stood behind her. She was wearing a pair of black combat boots, graffiti-print leggings, and a T-shirt that said, KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD . Her eyes were hidden beneath bushy eyebrows, and her pale face was framed by hair that could only be referred to as a wild mess, except for one braid that dangled over her left eye.
    From the way her mother was jumping up and down while Valeria hung back, slouching and looking embarrassed, there seemed little doubt as to who had made the sign and was most excited about the quince .
    Alicia was frankly surprised. From the e-mails they’d exchanged, Valeria had seemed very sure of herself, but maybe that was not the case after all.
    Leaving the others, she walked up to the girl. “Hi! I’m Alicia. It’s great to finally meet you. I feel like we should already know each other! We’re really honored to be planning your quince .”
    â€œ Mucho gusto , Alicia,” Valeria said softly. “I read the newspaper articles, and I have to give you Miami girls so much respect. As I wrote in my e-mail, I’m not much of a party girl, but the quince tradition means a great deal to my family and me, and I’m depending on you to help me throw a party which honors our tradition and makes us proud.”
    Alicia, who knew better than to judge a book by its cover, was impressed by Valeria’s graciousness. She nodded. “That we can do. I have a few questions I forgot to ask over e-mail…” As she began to throw ideas and questions out, the group members began to make their way to the conveyor belt that had just started moving, indicating the arrival of their bags. The moms chatted while Jamie and Carmen sent texts to their boys, and Gaz searched on his phone for SXSW info.
    â€œLet me guess,” Ranya said, turning her attention from Marisol to Gaz. “I take it you’re a musician.”
    â€œHow’d you know?” he asked.
    â€œWell, the guitar strapped to your back was a pretty big clue,” Ranya said, laughing.
    Gaz looked a bit embarrassed and reached behind to pat his guitar. “Do you know I actually forget that I’ve got it on? Incredible.”
    â€œWell, your timing couldn’t be better. We’re having a huge music festival and conference here in Austin.”
    â€œSouth by Southwest,” Gaz said, nodding. “Everybody knows about it. But I also know everything is sold out.”
    â€œWell, you don’t need tickets to get in on the scene,” Ranya said. “Every barbecue spot, coffeehouse, and restaurant is going to be turned into a juke joint this week. There’s going to be music everywhere.”
    Alicia, caught up in quince details with Valeria, hadn’t been listening, but she perked up when she heard talk of the conference. “Sounds like fun,” she said, “but Gaz is going to be up to his eyeballs getting all the music together for your quince . He’s not going to have a minute of free time to just hang out.”
    â€œShe’s the boss.” Gaz chuckled, though he didn’t look exactly thrilled. “But I bet you could already tell that.”
    Alicia gave him a playful swat on the arm. “Gaz teases me for being a mandona ,” she pouted, “but he knows how much pressure it is to get a quince up and running. Speaking of the quince , Valeria, I’m so sorry I’ve been hogging you. Let me introduce you to the rest of the team.”
    Going one by one, she made the intros. “This is Carmen,” she said. “She’s our resident dress designer, seamstress,