“Jasmine would kill me if I didn’t get a picture. Come on, Ant,” she prodded, nudging my shoulder. “Let us be excited for you, okay?”
“Fine,” I conceded as I set down the rest of the plates. “You can get a picture for your nosy husband and sister, but please don’t make her feel like she’s on display, tonight.”
She rested her hands on my shoulders, a slow smile curving her lips. “You look good. Happy. I’m so proud of you, little cousin.” She tried to cover the crack in her voice with a laugh like she usually did.
When I’d been carted off to prison after my sentencing hearing, Mari’s tear-stained face had gutted me the most. My aunt and cousins were the only family, aside from my mother, who’d never left my side through the worst of it. I didn’t care about the rest who scattered.
“Thank you.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead. I was herlittlecousin, but the tiny thing barely cleared my chest.
“Is she here, yet?”TitiSofia rushed in from the kitchen with a huge tray ofPernil. “Mari, go get thearroz con gandulesandpasteles, I had to carry this with both hands.”
“Is anyone else coming?Titi, we’re only four people.” I barked out a laugh at her scowl.
“It’s Christmas. Since you can’t be with us this year, giving you a big meal makes me feel better, all right?”
My cousins were making the trip to Puerto Rico for the holidays to visit my grandmother, but I was still under parole travel restrictions until the New Year. I’m sure Gary could have pulled a few strings if I’d asked, but the airfare was too steep for me, right now. I hoped next Christmas would be a completely different story.
I groaned at their identical watery smiles. After two Christmases in prison, being alone on a holiday in my own apartment with my own food wasn’t a hardship. I’d miss them but was happy they’d be together and distract my mother from the guilt I couldn’t make her stop feeling.
“I don’t want you to worry about me. I’m fine. Really. Don’t freak my girlfriend out by being all blubbery when she walks in.”
I flinched when they squealed at the same time.
“He said ‘girlfriend’!” Mari gasped.
I didn’t realize what I’d said until it slipped out. I loved Victoria, regardless of what we called each other, but I still hesitated to label what we had.
Maybe because of the fear I’d have to give it back eventually. Christmas was next week, and that was my time limit to tell Josh about us. Before I did that, I had to come clean about the lie of omission I’d dragged out since the moment Victoria and I met and pray she’d want to stick around once she finally knew. But, like I kept doing for months, I pushed it out of my mind to enjoy every second I still had with her.
Loving her made me selfish and I dreaded when it would blow up in my face.
I held up my hand when the doorbell rang.
“I love you both, but please chill.”
“I can chill,”TitiSofia huffed out. Mari and I shared a smile before I headed to the door.
“Hey,” I greeted a beautiful, windblown Victoria.
“I’m so sorry,” she breathed out, throwing her arms around me. “Mom got stuck with no hostess for part of the afternoon and asked if I could pitch in for a couple of hours. I’m not too late, am I?”
Her leather gloved hand cupped my cheek, and I fought the urge to bite her red pouted lip.
“You’re perfect. Right on time.” I gave her a quick kiss, two pairs of eyes boring into my back too much to greet her like I wanted to.
“Let the girl in. It’s cold out there.” My aunt all but pushed me out of the way. “It’s so nice to meet you, Victoria. I’m Sofia and this is my daughter, Maribel.”
“Mari.” My cousin crashed into me so hard, I almost fell over. They took the bags out of Victoria’s hands and pulled her inside. She smiled when she met my gaze, her shoulders less rigid and more relaxed. They already loved the idea of her, and I had no doubt they’d fall as hard for her tonight as I had.
“I wanted to bake cookies for tonight, but I didn’t get a chance. However, I snagged some of my mother’s desserts from the kitchen. Which are much better than the cookies I’d make, anyway. Flan is one of their specialties, and the chocolate cake is my favorite.”
“You didn’t have to bring anything but yourself!”TitiSofia grabbed her hands. “You’re so cold! Give Mari your coat, and come inside. Dinner is ready and will warm you up.”
“I’ll take her coat. You can call off the welcoming committee.” I strolled over to where they stood, two sets of lips twisted. “In case you didn’t notice, they’re a little excited to have you here,” I told Victoria in a loud whisper.
“I’ll go get the rest of the food.” Mari glared at me before heading back into the kitchen with her mother.
“I was so nervous on the cab ride here, but I love them already.” Victoria peeled off her coat and handed it to me. The sight of her in a snug black sweater dress and spiked heels gave me my own chill.
