Please, for the love of God, don’t let Libby’s cat be stuck in a tree again. I don’t think I have it in me to deal with that little demon right now.
I yank open the door, expecting to see Libby looking frazzled and begging for help. Instead, I get Andres and Mateo. Grinning. Holding a pack of beers. Looking far too pleased with themselves. Just my luck.
I narrow my eyes at them. "I think you made a wrong stop. This isn’t your house."
They exchange a look before Mateo says, "That attitude right there? That’s exactly why we’re here."
I sigh. "So, I take it you heard. But there’s no need for this. I’m fine. Just tired."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever you say," Andres says, already pushing past me.
Mateo claps me on the shoulder as he follows. "Let’s pop open these beers and watch the game."
I exhale sharply, debating whether I should just kick them out. But at this point, it’d take a bulldozer to get them off my couch. I really need to get one of those ring cameras so I can start screening my visitors.
The Rockies vs. Mets game is on, but I’m barely watching. My mind keeps drifting. Mariana. I wonder if she’s okay. How she’s handling the news about her mom. If she’s thinking about me. Ifseeing me today did anything to her. Did it catch her by surprise the way it did me?
Did it make her heart race the way mine did? Or did it mean nothing?
Mateo sets his beer down with a thunk and turns to me. "Alright, let’s cut the shit."
I blink, tearing my gaze from the screen. "What?"
Mateo leans forward. "You know why we’re here. We know why we’re here. So let’s just talk this shit out before your brain explodes from how much it’s overthinking right now."
"Mateo—" Andres warns.
"What? So we beat around the bush now? Is that it?" Mateo gestures between the three of us. "We’ve known each other forever. Why are we pretending like this isn’t driving him insane?"
I roll my eyes. "I don’t know what you’re talking about. You two invited yourselves, remember?"
Andres gives me a pointed look. "Come on, man."
I scrub a hand over my face. "Fine. Mariana is back. There, I said it. Happy?"
Mateo smirks. "Ecstatic. So… how’d it go?"
I frown. "How was it supposed to go? We said hi and went about our day. I helped Anna put some books in her trunk, and by the time I went back inside for Maya, Mariana was running out and toward her car."
That memory sticks with me. The way she bolted out of there like she couldn’t leave fast enough. That shouldn’t bother me. And yet…
"That reminds me," I continued. "We’re gonna help Anna out with her students, give them a ride on the truck, all the bells and whistles."
Andres leans forward, rubbing his hands together. "Nice. The next generation of firefighters. Name the day, and we’ll be there."
Mateo waves him off. "Yeah, yeah. But back to Mari. What happens now that she’s back?"
I stare at him, brow furrowed. "What do you mean, what happens? Nothing happens. She’s back because her mom is sick."
Andres sighs. "Yeah, we heard. That’s tough."
"Exactly." I take a swig of my beer. "So she’s back home. Nothing new. Nothing is changing."
Andres and Mateo exchange a look.
I narrow my eyes. "What?"
Mateo leans in. "Come on, bro. It’s us. We know all about your history with that girl. You’ve been down bad for her for ages, and now she’s back and you’re telling us you’re just gonna do… nothing?"
