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Wait, what?
“I wouldn’t survive it either.” Her voice is small and sweet, but it hits me with the force of a sonic boom.
My mouth drops to the floor. “But I thought…”
“It was selfish of me to go after you. You’re so young, and you have your whole life ahead of you. I’m married to my job and when I’m not there, I’m spending time with Isabel. I didn’t want to tie you down to me. I thought…” She shakes her head then looks away.
I’m literally dying inside. No, that’s not true. I’m already dead. This is heaven, and she is my gift. What I did to deserve her, I have no idea, but I won’t look a gifted horse in the mouth. I’m just grateful.
“I thought you’d resent me. Resent us. Then, there’s your job.” She nods. “There’s still the matter of your job.”
“I could never resent such a beautiful gift.” I wink, my mouth twisting to one side. “My job is trivial compared to what I feel for you. I’m sure we can figure it out together.” I take both her hands in mine. “I need you to know that you and Isabel are all I want. I can’t imagine this ‘whole life ahead of me’ without you.” I brush my lips across her knuckles. “Please, don’t make decisions you think are best for me, and I won’t for you, deal?”
She’s radiant. With glossy red hair gathered over one shoulder and soulful green eyes glowing with adoration … for me. “Deal. But what are we going to do about your job? Do you want us to go to Kiara together?”
I can’t believe she’s ready to out us. I can’t believe she’s truly mine.
My sister won’t have a choice if she wants to stay in my life. “Yes, let’s go to Kiara together.”
“We’re really doing this.” With a giddy grin stretched wide, she squeezes my fingers. She seems so much younger today than ever before.
“We really are.” I kiss her hand. Something dark passes over her features. “What is it?”
“I just…” Her mouth dips down. “My first thought is, I can’t wait to tell Jay, but we’re not really on good terms right now.”
I’m guessing that’s primarily why all of her plates are destroyed. “Whatever it is, you both will get over it because you have something between you that will always win.”
Her forehead creases. “What will always win?”
It’s simple, beautiful. “Love.”
After I make sure Mae has cleaned her plate, we pay the bill, and I decide to walk her to work. It’s gorgeous out, and not just because the sun is shining and there is a nice breeze in the air. It’s because I’m walking down the busy street holding Mae’s hand, not caring who sees us. It’s freeing. Everything is right in my world, and by the enigmatic smile on her face, Mae is pretty happy too.
“So, you go kiss and make up with Jay. Then tell them about us because I’d like to go on a double date soon.”
“Really?” She peers up at me with one closed eye.
“Yes, really. I want to meet Ian and all the people in your life.”
“Okay. You’ll love the Morales family. They are crazy, but in the best way.” She has a thought and skips a little. “We can bring Gram too.” I’ve never seen Mae this … giddy. It’s adorable, and I see where Isabel gets it from.
Wrapping my arm around her, I pull her to my side, loving that I can touch her however I want, show the world she’s mine.
All too soon, we reach her building. I pull her to me and brush my lips against hers—once, twice—before she swipes her soft tongue against mine. We liplock like teenagers in the throes of new love. It’s hard to let her go, but then she stiffens.
“What’s wrong?”
Mae looks around us, seemingly paranoid.
“Kiara isn’t going to pop around the corner if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Her brows touch. “No, it’s not that. Every once in a while, I get this weird feeling that someone is watching me.” She does a dramatic shiver.
My buoyed mood dips, and I scan the area but don’t catch anything suspicious. I’m about to ask how many times “every once in a while” is, when her voice pulls me from my survey.
“Maybe because I’m happy, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
Bees swarm in my stomach at her saying she’s happy with me. “Maybe it’s all the guys watching, wishing they were me. You are stunning, baby.”
