I force myself to relax into his embrace.
As if hearing my thoughts, Mateo speaks. “I love you, Evie.”
I raise my hand to my heart and rub the ache that threatens to take up residence there. The physical aching from someone telling me I am loved is a welcome feeling.
“I love you too, Mateo.”
He takes a sniff. “Now, who smells like a brothel? You smell like sex.” He pushes me away.
“Yeah, alright. I am going to shower. Great moment.” I walk away, and he calls me back.
“Oh, Uncle Andrés called right before you got here. I guess Eduardo called him up asking for Emma’s hand in marriage.”
“No shit. Um, wow. She’s getting married?” I don’t know how to feel about that.
“He told Tió that he would keep her safe.”
I think about how much time has passed since they were younger. I guess when you know, you know. “Maybe I’ll get to go to the wedding,” I reply snarkily.
Mateo nods. “Yeah, and maybe I’ll finally meet my sister,” he speaks hesitantly.
God, I am such a bitch. When I think about all I’ve lost, I realize that Mateo has had it so much harder than I have.
“One could only hope, Mattie.” I smile sadly at him as I walk off toward my bedroom and close the door behind me.
Flopping on my comfy but empty bed, I slip on my favorite sleep shorts and tank before throwing my outfit from last night in the hamper, mimicking a two-point shot.Swish.Snuggling down under the covers, I wrap myself in my blankets, refusing to shower so Jameson’s scent can envelop me in a feeling of peace where my mind can finally be at rest.
I wake up to the bright sun shining through the blinds. I lazily walk to the bathroom, turning on the shower to let it heat up so I can shower quickly and get some things done. Walking out of my room and into the living room, I see Mateo sitting on the couch watching television. He stands quickly, turning the TV off.
“Come on. Let’s get some tacos. I’m starving.”
I walk over to grab my bag. “You don’t have to tell me twice, bro. I love tacos.”
When we get to our fave Mexican spot, we ask to sit outside on the covered patio. The ceiling fans are going, giving us a nice breeze. When our waitress comes over, we order a plate of tacos. Mateo gets a beer, and I get an iced tea.
“No beer?” Mateo questions.
“Nah, I am thirsty, and nothing quenches my thirst like an iced tea.”
He tries to hide his laughter but just shakes his head at me. As the waitress returns with our drinks shortly after taking our order, I eagerly grab my iced tea and take a big sip, feeling the coolness of the drink refresh me. However, as I put the glass back down, I notice some moisture pooling on the surface, making me shudder a bit. I quickly reach for a tuxedo wrap and wipe off the excess moisture. Mateo shifts in his chair.
“You really hate condensation, don’t you?” He takes another drink, shaking his head at me in jest.
“Ha, you have no idea. Emma and I both do.” A smile plays on my lips, thinking of my sister with good memories instead of the bad ones.
I gaze at my brother's profile, searching for any resemblance between us. Despite looking light-skinned while he is an olive tone, and having green eyes while his are as dark as night, I can't help but wonder where his features come from. As he catches my stare, his expression softens, and he smiles, revealing Emma's smile. This gentle reminder tugs at my heart, reminding me that everything could change at any moment. However, I hold onto the belief that we will be reunited soon.
“So, tell me about Jameson?”
My eyes shoot up to his as I ponder his question. What do I tell him about Jameson? Hell, I don’t even know much about him, or how I feel about him, except that I found a deep connection to him that I just can’t explain. I was able to let some of the control go as he held me. He actually fucking held me. It was almost sweet, as if he understood that I had some issues, yet he still wanted to consume me. It didn’t feel like just a fuck. It felt like something more.
“I pick at the napkin around my glass, avoiding his gaze. “I like him.” I stop and meet his eyes. They soften.
“I can tell, and I’m happy for you, Evie. You deserve to be happy.”
I frown. “I just need this to be over so that I can tell him everything, but when will that be, Mateo? You know, I saw him that night at the beach when Brodie had that accident. I liked him from that moment without even knowing him, but he was interested in my sister then.” I look over at Mateo, and his head tilts to the side.
“What do you want to ask me, Evie?” He stares at me instead. I push through and ask my question, verbalizing my biggest fear.
