Not Even Close (A New Generation) by Elizabeth Reyes (books to read in a lifetime txt) 📗

“Oh, I know,” Sienna said smiling big. “Maybe you can interviewBeast for the channel. How cool would that be? You can leave the editing tome.”

  “I could talk to him,” Byron shrugged glad Sienna had takenover. This was far less nerve wracking than her dad’s grilling. “What kind ofchannel is it?”

“Fashion advice mostly.” She flipped her hair up with a big grin.“We’re influencers.”

Byron turned to Taz who scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Influencers.”

It was the first thing he’d said since their chilly greeting, andByron was pretty sure even the sup was said by Gordo alone.

“We are,” Sienna insisted though she laughed. “We haveover fifty-thousand followers on YouTube and almost thirty-thousand on TikTok.”

“You do?” Their mother asked after taking a sip of herwine. “Wow, I didn’t know that. I hadn’t look through any of your videos in awhile. Are you still posting?”

Sienna nodded proudly. “Almost daily.”

“Good.” Her dad was back in the conversation. “That should beenough. Savannah needs to focus on school. With all the down time you haveright now, there’s no need to be pestering your sister about it.”

Their food came out, just as Sienna pouted at her father. “Noone’s been pestering her, daddy.”

“Sweetheart, I just meant—”

“But your father’s right.” Her mom chimed in firmly almost as if beforeher instantly remorseful sounding dad, could take it back. “Savannah’s sharedwith me about the huge workload she should be focusing on instead.”

 The waitress began setting plates down on the table. “Carefulit’s hot,” she said as she set the one in front of her dad.

“Speaking of focusing on your schoolwork and not letting anythingelse derail you from it.” Her dad did to look up from his plate as he spoke,unwrapping one of his first tamales. “What happened to that?”

Curiously, unlike her sister who seemed to focus immediately onher food, avoiding eye contact with Byron, he noticed her mom eyed him, insteadof Savannah who’d been the one questioned. Swallowing hard, as Byron felt theawkwardness of what her dad was really asking loomed over the now quiet table, hecouldn’t look at her mom anymore. So, he focused on his food now too.

“I still am,” Savannah said softly, doing what everyone else wasdoing, busying themselves with their food.

“Oh?” Her dad finally looked up at her, glanced at Byron thenback at her.

“Yeah, Daddy.” Savannah speared her tamale. “Mom said it herselfbefore I left. That while I should focus on school, I should also havefun and enjoy my college years and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

Byron chewed slowly, taking in a deep breath as he felt hisentire body stiffen. Still focusing on his food, he did his best to not be tooobvious about what an idiot he was feeling like now. That his naïve ass would thinkfor an instant just because he was having dinner with her family after only oneweek of knowing her, meant he was any different than her other friends, wasjust stupid. Only reason he was here was at her dad’s suggestion, not Savannahasking him to meet her family. And the only reason she likely went along withit was because of the unusual circumstances in which he’d met them in the firstplace. Not because it’s what she would’ve wanted.

Savannah couldn’t make it any clearer. She’d just reiterated whatshe’d told him that first night and reassured her daddy now, whatByron had known all along. What she was doing with Byron was just for fun andnothing she’d be taking seriously. Her own mother had encouraged it for cryingout loud.

“Byron?” her mother asked snapping him out of his infuriatingthoughts. “Have you ever done any boxing? You’re certainly big enough.”

He shook his head unable to conjure up the slightest of smiles. “Notprofessionally. I’ve done plenty of sparring over the years to stay in shape andto help with my brother’s training.”

“He has a black belt in jiu jitsu.” Savannah placed her hand overhis on the table.

Feeling like a sour little bitch he nearly jerked it away. But heknew what a stupid move that would be in front of her whole family. Judgingfrom her brother’s reaction at the gym earlier if Byron even thought of doingsomething rude or disrespectful, he could practically picture the entire tablebeing flipped over with a roar. Or was he confusing the visuals he’d had a fewquestions ago of doing the same thing himself?

“Black belt, uh?” her dad asked.

 “Yeah.” Byron nodded. “Probably spent more time in the octagon overthe years than I have in the ring. I even fought a few times. Actually, thoughtabout going professional but after a couple of ankle injuries I had to forget fightingor risk some permanent damage.”

“That sucks,” her dad said taking another swig of his beer andput it down sitting back. “I know the feeling. Might’ve had a real chance of afootball career myself had it not been for an injury.”

“Here we go.” Her mom took a sip of her wine again.

Her brothers laughed and Sienna giggled as Savannah reached outand squeezed her dad’s arm in empathy.

“What?” her dad asked looking around but stopping his gazeat his wife.

“Nothing,” her mother smiled leaning in and kissing him. “What doyou think of these tamales? The sweet corn ones are to die for. I’m orderingmore and some to go.”

For the next half hour or so they compared the tamales and otherdishes to their restaurants and talked food, so thankfully the grilling ceased.They went from that, to discussing their grandparents upcoming wedding anniversaryshindig, Labor Day weekend coming up in a few weeks, to the issues Savannah hadbeen having with her laptop. Finally, they asked for the check and Byron pulledhis wallet out.”

“Put that away.” Her dad barely looked at Byron as he swiped hiscard through the machine at the table and started tapping at the screen. “Ithink I like this better than the ones we have. Look at this, babe.”

“Sir.” Byron held out his card. “I can pay half or at least payfor me and Savannah.”

Her dad shook his head still too busy checking out the machine.“What brand is this?”