The last few days, I haven’t been getting enough rest. My mind keeps replaying the kiss I shared with Maddox. “Nothing, Abuelo.” I place my hand on top of his weathered one, giving it a light squeeze. “I just had a very long week.”
He gives me a pointed look. “I raised you. You really think you can lie to me without me noticing?”
I don’t answer him. Instead, I face the TV and pretend to be interested in whatever the weatherman is saying.
“We have four hours to kill. Talk to me,” he urges.
I release a sigh. I know that if I don’t tell him, he will keep bugging me about it. “It’s Maddox… He’s back in my life, and things have gotten so complicated.”
Abuelo sits up straighter, brows shooting up in surprise. “He is? Where did you see him?”
“At Dauntless. He partnered with the company for a collab. I feel like I’m being punished. Not only do I have to work for La Diabla, but I have to see my ex again.”
“What ever happened between you two? I know it took more than distance for a couple like you two to break up.”
Wringing my hands together, I stare down at my lap as painful memories flash through my mind. “On our anniversary… I flew to Chicago to surprise him and saw Charlotte Jones come out of his room wearing his clothes. He… he cheated on me, Abuelo.”
Abuelo taps his chin, his face unreadable. “Hmm.”
Hmm?That’s all he’s going to say? I was expecting him to start cursing and shouting in Spanish. Anything other thanhmm.
“Charlotte Jones. Isn’t she the mean girl that was jealous of you and Maddox?”
“Yes. The same one. Why?” I ask, furrowing my brows.
“Just wondering.” Abuelo shrugs. “So, what happened after you saw her? Where was Maddox?”
“He was still sleeping. I confronted her and she confessed that she slept with him. Said she only did it because he told her we weren’t together anymore. I kept this from you and Mami because I was so crushed. It’s still hard for me to talk about it now.”
I check to see if Abuelo has fallen asleep because it’s been a good minute since he responded, but he’s wide awake and wearing the same unreadable expression.
Abuelo shakes his head. “Maddox loved you more than anything, Annalise. I don’t think he would throw it all away after everything you two built.”
“But he did, Abuelo. And I made the mistake of kissing him again the other day. I’m so stupid.”
“Oh,mi rosa. You are not stupid.” He reaches over and gives my hand a squeeze. “I know seeing what you did hurt you, but I think there may be more to the story.”
“No, there isn’t. He cheated on me. I don’t care how many times he denies it. I know he did. That’s all men do. They lie.”
He crosses his arms. “So you’re calling your abuelo a liar now, too?”
“No!” I groan. “You don’t count. You’re one of the few good ones in the world.”
Leaning his head back on the recliner, he lets out a long sigh. “A love like the one you had with Maddox is rare to come by. Him being back in your life isn’t a punishment,mi rosa. This is all part of God’s plan—for you to rekindle the love that was lost. Perhaps you need to hear him out.”
I’d convinced myself that Maddox betrayed me. That we were over. Since he came back into my life, he has shown how much he cared for me through his actions, and he’s reminded me of the love we once had. It has me questioning if he was ever truly capable of cheating on me.
Over the last four years, I’ve been so consumed by anger and hatred that I didn’t allow him to tell me his side of the story.
Abuelo is right. I need to hear Maddox out.
With shaking hands, I pull out my phone and begin typing a message.
Hey. Can we talk tonight?
My heart races as I hit send. I anxiously await his response, knee bouncing up and down, each passing second feeling like an eternity.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
