On the fourth day I woke up and realized that Dom wasn't going to be able to make things all better because he was the problem.

I got out of bed, looking and feeling like shit. Standing in front of my dresser mirror, I took the wedding ring off the chain around my neck. I held the gold band in my hand for a moment, staring at it. The anger built up in me till I had to drop the ring in my old jewelry box and slam the cover shut.

I took a 45 minute shower which was only ten times as long as the showers I usually took. It took a lot of time to try to scrub away the pain and hurt. When I was done I got dressed and walked downstairs.

Leon was sitting at the table talking with my family. Even Tia was there with her baby. Guilt sliced through me- I must have scared everyone if they called in my aunt.

"Hey," I said simply, opening the fridge.

"You hungry?" Mama asked, her voice carefully devoid of too much concern.

I shrug and push some of the food in the fridge around, looking for something that appealed to me. "I could eat." Glancing at the clock I see that it's 11 in the morning. "Maybe we can go to Adrian's for lunch."

Leon nods, "Sure thing kid."

Tia stands up and checks on the baby, then turns and grins at me. "What, no hug for your favorite Lieutenant Colonel?"

"Hua," I say softly, raising my can of diet coke to her in a mock salute. I give her a quick squeeze. "Who'd a thought I'd be taking orders this soon after getting my freedom back."

Leon laughs as Tia gives me a swat.

"What?" I ask, playing it all innocent.

Mama grabbed me then and gave me a big hug. If you just walked into our lives today you'd say it was out of nowhere. But if you knew… well. Trying to reassure her I hug her back.

"I'm going to be okay Mama. And I'll deffinetly be hella better after I eat something. The last thing I ate was an MRE for christ's sake."

"Well, let's go then." Abuella hands me my purse. God I love my family.

Giving her a quick hug aw we walk out to the cars I pinch her cheek. "So bossy. Is that a perk of being old? You get to tell everyone what to do?"

My grandmother snorts. "You're pretty bossy yourself. Where do you think you got ti from mija?"

Since we couldn't all fit in one car, Tia drove her SUV taking mom, abuela and the baby with her while Leon and I took his car. I turned the radio on high as we got in so I wouldn't have to talk to him about the last few days. Chicken shit, I know.

I managed to avoid the topic through most of lunch as well. Of course avoidance would have been better achieved if we went someplace where Dom hadn't slugged the owner's son. Just my luck- Adrian walked in with his mom just as our waiter was bringing us our drinks.

The boy lit up like a candle when he saw me. You know, the way Dom should have.

"Letty!" he calls out walking over to our table.

"Hey Adrian." Standing up I give him an awkward hug. "How've you been?"

"Good. Jesse said you got out this week right?" Adrian waves hello to everyone, but his focus remains on me. Remind me again why I chose Dom over this boy who still worships me three years after the two weeks we went out?

"Yeah. It's kinda weird. Age, this is my friend Leon. We were in the same squad. HE got out with me on Monday."

Leon leans across the table and gave Adrain one of those macho hand shakes. "You're Jesse's cousin right? He helped design the kit on my car. Boy is a wizard."

Adrian laughs and nods. "Yeah, he's got mad skills. Listen, since you and Letty just got out, please enjoy yourselves today. Whatever you all want, it's on the house. That goes for all of you." Adrian gestures across the table to my mother and the rest of my family.

"Thanks man, you don't have to do that." I say giving him a kiss on the cheek. "You're too good to us Adrian."

Adrian beams with pride but plays it somewhat cool. "It's the least we can do. You've done more for Jesse than you ever needed to. One meal could hardly cover our debt to you."

I waive off his protests. "He's a great mechanic, he's been a real asset."

Adrian laughs, then changes the subject. "Jesse and I are going to check out this new club down on the Ave. tonight. If the two of you want to join us, my cousin Jaime is the bouncer & he can get us all the hook up."

I look at Leon. He shrugs. "I'll call Jesse later and let him know what we decide Age. I'm not sure that we'll make it, but thanks for the invite- and lunch of course." I give him another hug and kiss on the cheek.

Until Monday I'd always assumed Dom had been the right choice. But right now- I could be safe with Adrian, you know?

Anyways after Adrian walks away Abuela starts giving me a lecture in Spanish. I'm pretty sure the only person who didn't understand the conversation was Leon.

"What are you doing going out with that boy? What about Dominic? You already have a man or have you forgotten your marriage vows?" What a temper. Obviously bossiness wasn't the only quality I inherited from her.

"Grandma, he made it pretty clear how things stand," I say pushing the food on my plate around and feeling about 2 years old.

"You took a vow- you swore before God that-"

"Alright. I get it okay?" I say, cutting her off before she could get loud enough for everyone in the tables outside to hear her.

Leon takes a sip of his coke and nudges me in the shoulder. "I take it we aren't going today?"

Rolling my eyes I give him one of those half nods- half sneers that I do when I'm unimpressed. "You think?"

A few minutes pass before my mom starts in. "So what are your plans now?" It's like musical nagging with these women.

"MOM. I whine, not ready for any of this.

"Look, you can stay with me as long as you like, you both can. But I just want to know what your plans for the future are."

"Well, now that I have no job, I'm going to have to find one, won't I?" I put my fork down and hold my head in my hands. All this reality shit has given me a migraine.

"The garage on Seaside is hiring," Leon says.

I nod like I'm thinking about it, when really the last thing I want to do for a while is work for someone else in their garage. "I guess I could work there. Hector and his crew like them. But I could probably make better money if I worked at LAX."

"I told you that air craft engine certification would come in handy," Leon smirks.

"Was that before or after you dropped out of the class so you could spend more time playing pool?" I take a sip of my coke and drill my fingers on the table top. "Anyway, what I really want to do right now is get away fro a little while. Go somewhere I don't have to think about… everything."

Before my grandmother can attack me, I hold up my hands in self defense. "I know, I know. Can't just run away from the problem. But he's had six weeks to decide he hates me. I've had four days to get used to it."

"Where do you want to go?" my aunt asks.

I shrug. "I haven't been back to Puerto Rico in forever. I thought maybe I'd go chill in San Juan or something."

"I think that's a wonderful idea," my mom says. "Put your application in with LAX and then go. If you get an open ticket you can stay till they call you or till you feel like coming home. I've heard it can take weeks for those people to get back to you."

Even though he's on my side, Leon isn't about to let me forget all my responsibilities. "What about Jesse and Mia and Vince? You gonna say goodbye to them before we go?"

I can't help but raise an eyebrow at that. "We?"

"You heard me. Someone's gotta watch out for you," Leon says through a mouth full of food. "You ain't getting rid of me that easy. Sides, you owe me some floor mats. I'm not gonna let you skip town till your debt's paid."

Laughing I launch my balled up napkin at him. "Whatever." I bite my lip and shrug again. "Yeah I'll call them before we go. Probably a good idea to stop by the house when the pendejo is out. If he hasn't thrown my stuff already that is."

Leon hands me his phone. "Let's do this thing."

Wordlessly I take it and head outside. Dialing I take a deep breath.

"Hello?"

"Hey. How you livin?" I have to wince when I hear my voice. It's so soft- I sound weak.

I hate that.

"Letty Thank God. Are you okay? I let him have it after you left. I' so sorry he was such a prick. He's my brother but I want to kill him sometimes."

"Mia-" I break in. "Chill. I'm just calling to see if the coast is clear. I want to pick up my shit." I cut in before she sweeps me up in her whirlwind- I have to or else I'll crack.

I hear Mia swear on the other end. "You're moving out?" She sounds so close to tears.

This is my fault. Somehow- Damn it. This is all my fault.

"You can't do that Let," Mia pleads. "This is your home too. I know that. You know that. Fuck, Dom knows that too, even if he is being a prick."

"Mia…" Fuck. "I can't be there right now. Just tell me if he's there or not."

"He's out right now." Her voice cracks. I'm a horrible person for causing her this pain. She's been through enough.

"If he gets back before I get there call Leon's cell. Mine's still at your place." I hang up without saying goodbye. I can't say that word yet. Goodbye. It's just… so final.