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Our drinks arrive and I don’t know what else to say to him. I know how it feels to be in love and to be loved in return. He deserves to have that too.
We sip our coffees in silence for a moment before he changes the subject. “What about you? How are things with Lexa?”
“Things are great. Amazing, actually. She’s amazing.” I can’t keep the smile off of my face.
He raises an eyebrow. “That good, huh?”
“Yeah,” I say, blushing a little. “She’s everything I ever wanted and more. She makes me happy. She challenges me, and she also drives me crazy, but in the best possible way. I love her, Raul. I really, really do.”
“I’m happy for you, Val. She’s a great girl. You two are perfect for each other.”
“Thanks,” I say.
We finish our coffees, and he stands up. “I have to go. I need to check on the team, and the weather. It’s not going to be easy today.”
“Yeah, I know,” I say, getting up too. “But we’re a strong team, and we have you as our coach. We can do this.”
He smiles and hugs me. “I know we can. But I also know you’ll kick my ass if we don’t. So let’s make sure we do, okay?”
I laugh. “Okay. We’ll make you proud.”
“You always do, hermanita. You always do.”
Before we part ways, he tells me that we won’t be taking the bus home today. The club got a new sponsor, so the board found the money to fly us home instead.
I’ve never been more grateful for Alycia. She really is the best at her job.
I go back to my room. Lexa is up, taking a shower.
“Mind if I join you?” I ask, but I just drop my clothes on the floor and step into the bathroom. The steam is thick. I can barely see Lexa’s outline, but I can hear her breathing and feel her presence. She’s humming one of her favorite songs: a rock ballad, full of power and emotion. Just like her.
When I hug her from behind the humming stops. She turns around and her eyes meet mine. They’re full of desire that brings a familiar ache in my core.
“I woke up and you were gone,” she says, pouting. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” I say, brushing a wet strand of hair from her face. “But I had to see Raul. He needed some sisterly advice.”
“Oh? About what?”
I’m not sure if I should tell her I’ve been encouraging him to pursue a relationship with her sister. But it’s an easy decision to make. I don’t want any secrets between us.
This family has had enough secrets to last a lifetime.
“I think he’s in love with Alycia,” I say. “And I think she might be in love with him too. But they’re both too scared to admit it. They’re insisting on being just roommates.”
Lexa sighs. “We shouldn’t stick our noses in other people’s business.”
“I know, but he’s my brother and I want him to be happy. Don’t you want the same for Alycia?”
She nods. “Yeah, I do. But I also don’t want to see her get hurt. She’s been hurt, and she needs time to heal.”
“Raul wouldn’t hurt her,” I argue, even though I can see her point.
“I know, but still.” She kisses me softly. “Let’s just focus on us, okay? We have enough drama in our lives already.”
I nod. We do have our own stuff to deal with, and we shouldn’t go poking our noses in uninvited.
But I still hope Raul and Alycia will figure things out.
