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headache.”
    â€œAre you sick or hung over?”
    Carmen didn’t answer.
    â€œShit, girl, are you sitting in your sad house getting drunk by yourself?”
    â€œNo. I went out last night.”
    â€œThat’s it. Now I am coming over. Get your ass out of bed. I need to hear who got you to go out drinking that was better than me.”
    â€œNo—” It was too late. Rosa had already hung up. Carmen flipped the covers back from her body and struggled to sit up. Knowing Rosa, she had at least thirty minutes. Enough time to take a shower and have some coffee.
    In the bathroom, she looked at herself in the mirror. The makeup she’d hastily applied last night had smeared. Her eyes were bleary. Part of her was embarrassed because of the way she’d acted with Liam last night. She’d flirted shamelessly and enjoyed it.
    But as usual, Liam didn’t react. She’d thought for a moment there at the door that he was going to kiss her. And God, she’d wanted that kiss.
    Looking back now, she could recognize it wasn’t a smart move. She didn’t even know if she had acted that way because it was Liam or because it had been so long since she’d been on a date. She was lonely and Liam had given her some attention. It was like being a teenager again and she hated it.
    She got in the shower, turning the water up hotter than usual to beat the tense muscles of her neck and try to ease the headache.
    By the time Rosa showed, Carmen felt nearly human. A second cup of coffee should fix her up. Her cousin strode in the back door and helped herself to a cup too.
    â€œSo spill, bitch. I’ve asked you to go out with me a bunch of times and you keep turning me down. Who was it?”
    Carmen started to roll her eyes, but stopped midroll because the motion brought back pain. “Liam O’Leary came by last night to return a pan from the wake. He asked me to go have a drink with him.” She sighed and sat in one of the kitchen chairs. Rosa stood, leaning against the counter.
    â€œSo you agreed to drink with a man, but not your cousin.”
    â€œI was sorting through my dad’s stuff, deciding what to keep and what to give away when he showed up. I realized I needed a break and took it with him. I didn’t plan on getting drunk, but I was so relaxed. It was the first time since Dad died that I let go of everything.”
    Rosa took a chair across from her. “That’s what I’ve been trying to get you to see. I’m a little pissed that you chose a guy over me, but whatever.”
    Carmen drank her coffee and let the caffeine hit her system. The buzz was nice, not as good as the margarita and lust buzz from last night, but it would do.
    â€œWhat was that look?” Rosa asked with a smile.
    â€œWhat look?”
    â€œDid you sleep with Wonder Bread?”
    â€œDon’t call him that.”
    â€œSorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. It took me until I got home after the wake to realize who he was. And you’re dodging the question.”
    â€œNo, I’m not. And no, I didn’t.” But she would have. If he’d even hinted he was interested. She’d even gone so far as to throw out the line, but wasn’t able to reel him in.
    â€œBut you wanted to. You slut.”
    â€œIs it possible for you to have a conversation without calling people names?”
    â€œYou know I love you.”
    Carmen did know. Rosa was crass and played tough, but Carmen knew she was trying to look out for her.
    â€œSo when are you going to see him again?”
    â€œI doubt I will.”
    Rosa shook her head. “It’s time to move on. It’s time to live your life. Your parents are gone. You can do whatever you want. If you want to bring a guy home and fuck him in every room of this house, you can.”
    The thought had truly never crossed her mind. This was her parents’ house. It still seemed disrespectful. Not to mention she had