She leans forward and murmurs in my ear, “I love salty things, baby.” She licks my ear, and Emma coughs, speaking up.
“Okay, can we please get through breakfast?”
Evie shoots her an ugly look, and Emma beams at her.
“What the fuck kind of family have I gotten into?” I say, barely audible, but apparently not low enough because Eduardo chuckles. Great, now I am sitting here with my taco and a hard-on after Evie’s comment. I adjust myself as discreetly as possible.
My phone chimes, distracting my thoughts just as Emma’s does simultaneously, and we both share a look.
Eduardo straightens upright and looks between us with an expression of displeasure and wondering what the message could be that involves Emma and me, but not him.
Evie’s jaw tightens, and I touch her face and turn her toward me to kiss her quickly before showing her my phone. “Here, read it for me. My hands are greasy.”
She smiles, knowing full well that I am doing this to show her that I have nothing to hide from her.
I know we have many things to work on, and the first one is trust. I need to continue building trust between us, and this time, there will be no more secrets. It is a group text from Liv and Dax. I see the recognition on her face as she reads it, and then a smile spreads when she sees the picture of a baby boy taking up the screen, and his weight and length are displayed under his name.
“Kaden Brodie Johnson,” she reads aloud. “He’s beautiful, Emma.”
I look up to see Emma touching her phone. Tears run down her face, and Eduardo kisses her cheek and licks away her tears. I look at his devotion to her and finally understand his feelings toward Emma. I only wished back then that I could have thosefeelings of love, protectiveness, and utter devotion to someone. They were childhood friends and then became so much more.
Evie senses me looking at something and looks over at her sister as well. I see the same realization on her face. It’s not one of jealousy. Her features soften, and I squeeze her hand. She looks up at me, and when our eyes connect, I express with as much emotion as I can the feeling I have and the hope for us to have a similar connection. She squeezes my hand before releasing it and walks over to Emma.
Eduardo shrugs. “You guys go. I have some things to take care of here, and if you are there with them, Jameson, I would feel much better.” He clasps me on the shoulder and starts to walk off.
“Wait,” I hear Emma call out to him.
He stops quickly and turns toward her, immediately concerned for the panic rising in her voice.
“Yes, babe. What is it?”
She walks over to him. She bites her lip, and I can see the wheels in her head spinning about how to phrase her following words.
“Um.” She twists her engagement ring around. “I was hoping that maybe I could tell Liv the truth. I have been feeling guilty for lying to her for a while now, and I really want her to know how much I value her friendship and maybe allow her to get to know the real me.”
Her shoulders slump forward, and I realize how much she looks like Evie in this instant. The thought that they have gone through so much is terrifying to me. All Evie has been through was also without anyone there to hold her and love her. I know she had her brother with her, but it is not the same. Eduardo is so devoted to Emma, and she has relied on his strength to get them through some of the most challenging times, but who did Evie have?
“Hey, sis. Do you want some company to go and see your friend?” I see Evie’s look of uncertainty flash across her face before she shuts it down and looks to Emma for an answer. She thinks Emma will blow her off. The vulnerability she tries to hide behind a strong façade is heartbreaking. She braces for her response as if the words Emma speaks could physically crush her.
Emma doesn’t hesitate before she replies. “You mean, do I finally get to introduce my sister to my other bestie?”
Evie lifts her head in surprise and happiness. Emma quirks an eyebrow upward, and Evie cannot contain the laugh that bursts forth.
Looking at them both, I can tell they will get there sooner rather than later. Their pieces are now whole; now that Mateo is in the picture, they have come full circle and have their family back together.
I walk over to my girlfriend and take her hand, bringing it to my lips. I kiss it gently and then drop it. “We should all go,” I say, looking at Emma. “Me, Evie, and you?” I ask so they don’t think I would leave Mateo out. “Do you want to go, Mateo?”
He is quick to reply with a, “Fuck no. I need to sleep, and I mean for a whole day. I’m tired as fuck.”
I place my hand behind Evie’s neck. “We should probably go and get some rest, too.” I look over to Emma. “When do you think we should go?”
Emma scrunches her nose up in thought. “Well, she just got home from the hospital, and we need some time to plan for any retaliation from Mr. Martinez that should be coming our way soon.” She looks over to Eduardo, and he confirms.
“Yes, babe. Maybe give her some time to rest, and then you can all go over to visit, or if Jameson can’t go, then I can take you girls to catch up.” He thinks about it for a second. “How about this weekend? I have some work at the club, and you can spendsome time with your friend and let her know to plan for them to visit her and to…” He pauses and swirls his hand in the air. “Whatever it is you want to tell her.”
The girls nod in unison and agree to make a date to visit this weekend to see Dax and Liv’s newborn.
“I can take them then,” I confirm with Eduardo, and he agrees that it is still a better choice. “I’d like to catch up with Dax if he’s home.” Which I suspect the fucker took advantage of some paternity leave if he could.
