Before long, dinner came and went. As they were finishing up, Javi looked over at his cousin and Maite. “Are you still up for dancing?”

Kepa looked over at Maite who simply smiled and gave him a slight nod. Kepa beamed as he turned back to Javi. “Bai! Noski!”

Javi led them out of the restaurant and across the street. “There aren’t many good places to go dancing around here, but we’ve found them all. This is our favorite.” He smiled at Julie.

There was a small cover to get into the club, which Javi paid for all of them. Inside, the lights were dim and the room filled with bass. There were tables on the sides surrounding a dance floor that was lit up with a disco ball above them. Maite couldn’t help but think of the clubs they would hit when she was a teenager. It had been so long since she’d gone out dancing. Kepa more felt than heard her sigh.

“Is everything ok?” he asked, almost yelling into her ear to be heard. “We can go if you want.”

“No,” she yelled back. “I’m good. It’s just been so long since I’ve been dancing like this.”

Kepa nodded. “I know what you mean.”

They found a small table in one of the corners. Kepa and Javi went to the bar to fetch drinks, leaving Maite and Julie at the table. They sat next to each other so they could hear themselves over the music.

“I’m so happy for Javi,” said Maite. “You really make him happy.”

Julie smiled. “He’s just so great. I’m so glad we found each other.” Julie looked up toward the bar and saw Javi looking back at her. Her smile widened. Turning back to Maite, she continued. “Kepa seems like a great guy too.”

Maite nodded. “He is. We’ve been friends forever, but only recently decided to make things more.”

“What happens if you go to Berkeley?”

Maite’s shoulders slumped a bit. “I don’t know. He says he would come out with me, but I know he needs to help take care of his mom. I think it would be hard for him. And I don’t think I could ask him to do that.”

“He’s a big boy,” replied Julie. “He can make his own decisions. And,” she said, nodding toward the bar, “the way he looks at you, I don’t think you could keep him away if you tried.”

Maite looked over and saw Kepa looking at her, a large smile on his face as he talked to Javi. Maite’s heart fluttered just a little.

If you get this post via email, the return-to address goes no where, so please write blas@buber.net if you want to get in touch with me.