Taming Romeo Read Online Free PDF Page A

actually I can’t eat meat and eggs anymore.” I bring the plate to the garbage disposal, but Papa stops me.
    “What do you mean, no meat and eggs?”
    “No milk, either.” Oh, this is going to be such a sacrifice. “I’m turning vegan as of today.”
    Mama’s quick to palm my forehead, her second favorite mother gesture. “Is there something you’re not telling us? Are you sick? Are you pregnant?”
    “No, Mama, I’m not pregnant. Sheesh.” Thankfully, my period started the day after Eric announced things weren’t working, which didn’t stop him from having goodbye sex, but I used protection and there are things they don’t need to know about. “Can I go now? When is this film shoot and where?”
    “UC San Diego Main Library. Four o’clock,” Papa says. “He specifically invited Genie, but I forbade her to ride on his motorcycle and he doesn’t have a car, so he got us all passes.”
    “Great.” I pick up my keys. “I still have time to go shopping for my vegan diet.”
    “I need the car. Mama and I are going to a gown fitting.” Genie sniffs, her nose in the air and glides off in her virginal splendor. I can’t believe my parents are letting her cut school, but she did get into Berkeley and all they have left is the prom and grad night.
    “Choco?” I call. “Can I borrow yours?”
    “Wait ten minutes. I’m coming with you.”
    Oh, yeah, Choco, you double agent. About time you tell me what’s really going on.
    # # #
    “Romeo’s a twerp.” Choco pulls her Toyota to a parking spot I direct her to. “Motorcycle gear?”
    “He asked me to buy a helmet. And to me, he’s not a twerp.”
    “He is from where I’m standing.” Choco locks the car. “I remember when he was five-years-old. He’d walk around pumping his puny muscles and ram me with body blows. He had this wrestler doll, I forget which one. Razor Ramon or the Rock. Anyways, he’d hit me with the doll. Annoying.”
    We step through the entrance of a motorcycle supply store. A friendly salesman greets us and Choco says, “Oh, no, not me. Her. I’m just her big sister.”
    He directs us to the women’s section and hands me off to a tall redhead who looks like she stepped out of one of those motorcycle calendars, the ones with women draped over the bikes in suggestive poses.
    While the saleslady takes my measurements, Choco is trying her best to look disapproving, predicting doom and gloom with her eyebrow gestures and her index finger across her throat. As soon as the saleslady leaves to gather sample supplies, Choco begins her sisterly harangue.
    “I don’t see why you want to restart this relationship.”
    “I’m not restarting anything. Romeo told me to get a helmet and I’m getting one. Leather pants, jacket, boots, and gloves might come in handy.”
    “You don’t have that kind of money. Just because Papa’s helping with med school doesn’t mean you should spend like there’s no tomorrow.”
    “The way things are now, I don’t know if I’ll ever go back. Besides, there might not be a tomorrow.” I thumb through a cycling magazine.
    “Ugh. You put me in such a tough position. You know what it’s like keeping your secret all these years?”
    “Apparently, you kept it so well, they think Romeo’s available. Or at least available to one of the Sánchez sisters.” I shove the magazine back on the counter and wander to the clothes rack.
    The saleslady returns with three full-faced helmets. “These are more expensive, but believe me, you don’t want to get hit in the eye by a pebble at sixty miles per hour.”
    Five hundred bucks. Maybe Choco’s right. But what’s more expensive, a head injury or a helmet?
    “Oh, look, these jackets are kind of cute. Fire resistant with steel. But ouch.” Choco picks up the price tag.
    I wish she’d stop harping on the price. Mama pays me for waitressing and lets me keep the tips. True, the retirement crowd are not usually big tippers, but Mr. Dee always slips me an