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there’s something more between Bernie and me than what it is?” Tomas frowned.
    “You really are oblivious.” Ramirez looked baffled.
    Tomas said firmly. “The kid is nice enough, but he’s just Bernie.”
    “He’s not a kid. You two are already like a couple. The only thing you’re not doing is fucking.”
    “That’s not true. We’re not like a couple.”
    Ramirez ticked off his fingers with each point. “Let us count the ways. One, you all buy groceries together. Two, he cooks said groceries for you. Three, you take showers here when you come to dinner. Four, you wash his clothes. Five, when you all are hanging out with the crew, you come together, with you driving. Six, he even goes to family dinner with you. Sounds like being a couple to me. Hell, if I could find me a woman to cook like Bernie does for you, I would marry her.”
    “We shop for groceries together because he cooks for me. Which he does because… well, that doesn’t matter. I clean up here because if I come from a job, I smell bad. I wash his clothes since he cooks and to save him money since I have a washer and dryer in my house. If we’re going out with the crew, it makes sense to go together to save gas. As for family dinner, he came so Mami could feed him, and I can’t not bring him. The family would kill me,” Tomas said, defending himself.
    Ramirez shook his head. “My God. You really are oblivious.”
    “You too. You have someone who does all the same things you claim Bernie does for me.”
    “This isn’t about me and Harper. And he’s my friend. I don’t go that way,” Ramirez growled.
    “Now who’s oblivious?” Tomas asked.
    “Shut the hell up.” Ramirez straightened, getting in his face.
    Tomas put his hand up, stepping back. “Okay.”
    “Harper needs me to be his friend,” Ramirez growled.
    “Okay,” Tomas said.
    “Worry about you and Bernie, and what you’re going to do about what’s between you two,” Ramirez said.
    “There’s nothing there but friendship.”
    “Who’re you trying to convince, me or yourself?” Ramirez snorted.
    “No convincing needed. What’s the stakes and rules of this bet?” Tomas asked.
    “A hundred. Who will make the first move, and by when.”
    “What did you bet?”
    “On you making a move by tomorrow.”
    “Huh. Why’d you pick that?” Tomas queried.
    “Because if you don’t wake up and make a move by then, you won’t,” Ramirez said.
    Tomas pulled out his wallet and handed him a hundred.
    “So, you’re making a move tomorrow. More money for me.” Ramirez rubbed his hands together.
    “No money for you. That’s to bet on never,” Tomas replied.
    “You’ll just hold out to make all of us lose, you stubborn bastard.” Ramirez frowned.
    “Oh, yeah. There’s nothing between me and the kid.” Tomas smiled.
    “He’s not a kid. Or an obligation. He’s a man, one who sooner or later will make your stubborn ass see he’s more than that.” Ramirez grunted, slapping Tomas on the shoulder.
    “The same goes for you. Harper doesn’t need you treating him like a child,” Tomas said.
    “Harper doesn’t know what he needs,” Ramirez growled.
    “And you do?” Bernie’s voice asked.
    Tomas shifted, looking at him.
    “I know more than you do. Who the fuck do you think you are, hanging up on me?” Ramirez went over to Bernie, getting in his face.
    “I know he doesn’t want to be treated like he’s motherfucking broken,” Bernie growled low.
    “You don’t know shit,” Ramirez gritted out.
    Tomas started over, but stopped, eyes wide, as Bernie pushed Ramirez while he spoke.
    “I know more than you. You’re so busy treating him like an obligation, you don’t—no, won’t —let him breathe. He needs that to find his feet again and learn to live without Provenza.”
    “That’s what I’m trying to help him do,” Ramirez said.
    “No, you’re not. You’re smothering him. Back off,” Bernie hissed.
    “I’m not going anywhere.” Ramirez