he laughs. "you don't even speak a word of spanish, nikki. my parents and friends talk about you while you're in the room, and you're clueless. you're not really mexican."

is he kidding me?

my parents were born in mexico, just like the rest of my ancestors. nobody would mistake them for anything other than latino. spanish is their first language. my parents came to the united states after they got married. after that, my dad went to medical school and did his residency at chicago memorial.

"the gang doesn't make you more mexican, marco. don't make the gang more important than our relationship."

he kicks up the sand with his toe. "no hablas pinche espa