I didn’t.
Because I wasn’t that man, and she wasn’t the kind of woman who stayed.
CHAPTER 31
VALENTINA
Ishould have seen this coming.
From the moment Lucia stepped out of the car that night when Marco dropped her off, she was basically humming with energy. I should’ve known she’d go off and say something to Isabel. What six-year-old ever kept secrets? Especially when they had no idea something was even supposed to be a secret. And it wasn’t like I’d given Lucia a detailed list of “topics not to share with Mommy,” so really, this one was on me.
And Marco.
But mostly me, for being an idiot.
I knew Lucia had told Isa, because I was here, standing in the kitchen, watching my phone vibrate with Isa’s name across the screen.
I considered not answering. Maybe if I let it ring for long enough she’d assume I wasbusy—which, to be fair, Iwas. Busy avoiding unnecessary complications. Busy pretending my life wasn’t currently an absolute disaster tied together with legal paperwork and tailored suits.
But Isabel knew me too well.
With a sigh, I answered. “Hey.”
“Hey,” Isabel said, amused. “So ... who’s your friend?”
I stalled. “What friend?”
She sighed. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Pretend like you don’t know what I’m talking about.”
“You’re going to have to be more specific.”
“Theman, Valentina.”
I winced.
“The one Lucia met. The one she’s been raving about since she walked in the door. She called him—and I quote—‘the big scary man who’sactuallykind of nice.’”
I groaned. “That girl has no concept of keeping things to herself,” I muttered.
Isabel laughed. “Gee, wonder where she gets that from ...”
I ignored her, leaning against the counter. “She exaggerates. He’snotscary.”
“No?” Isabel sounded unconvinced. “Because according to her, he barely smiled, barely talked, and somehow made people at the parkmovewhen he walked past them.”
I sighed. “Okay,fine. Maybe a little scary.”
Isabel made a quiet humming sound, and I knew that soundtoowell. She was about to press me for more information.
“So?” she said expectantly. “Who is he? Why are you walking around with someone like that?”
I considered my options. Lying was pointless—Isabel would see right through it. But telling her thefulltruth? That wasn’t happening either.
“His name is Marco.”
