I glance at the clock again like maybe I read it wrong. Nope. Still five fifty.
She’s early.
I wipe my hands on a dish towel and hurry to the door, trying to play it cool. But my heart’s doing this weird fast-slow thing in my chest, and I can already feel the heat of the oven mixing with the heat creeping up my neck.
I open the door and there she is.
Wearing jeans that should be illegal and a black top that fits her like a second skin. Her hair is pulled up, leaving her neck exposed, and she’s smiling like we’re just two friends hanging out.
“Hey,” she says, her voice light, casual. “Hope I’m not too early.”
“You are,” I say before I can stop myself, then instantly shake my head and laugh. “But it’s cool. I’m almost done cooking. Come in.”
She steps inside, and just like that, my house feels different. Brighter. Warmer.
She glances around, taking it all in. Her eyes roam over the space, inspecting everything from the framed art on the walls to the throw pillows on the couch. I’m glad I let Violet and Josy take the reins with decorating, Eva’s expression tells me she approves.
Turning, she gives me a smile that does something weird to my chest. “The house is beautiful. Josy told me you did most of the work yourself, and I’m seriously impressed.”
I try to play it cool, but damn, it feels good hearing that from her. “I’m glad you like it. I love it too. Spent the last six months working on it and finally moved in a few weeks ago. I was going crazy at my apartment. My neighbor’s kid thoughthe was the next big rock star, used to wake me up every morning with a full-on drum solo.”
Eva chuckles, her eyes lighting up. “Aww, that’s awful. Poor you.”
“Yeah, I barely survived.” I grin, then nod toward the kitchen. “I’m just finishing dinner. The rice and beans are ready, the chicken needs a few more minutes in the oven, and I just need to fry the tostones.”
Eva’s face lights up. “Wait, tostones? I love tostones. When I lived in Florida, there was this Puerto Rican restaurant that I was obsessed with. Their food was the only thing that made being alone bearable. Please tell me you made the real deal.”
I laugh at her excitement. “Of course. White rice, pink beans, pollo al horno, and tostones.”
“That sounds amazing. Do you need help?” she asks as we head toward the kitchen. When she walks in, she gasps. “Wow.”
I can’t help but smile. Yeah, my kitchen’s a work of art. I spent more money on it than I should’ve, but it was worth every penny. I grew up helping my mom in the kitchen, and I always knew that when I had a place of my own, the kitchen had to be perfect.
“Alright,” I say, handing her an apron. “You want to help? You’re going to have to earn your tostones.”
She slips the apron over her head, laughing. “I’m not scared of a little oil burn. Teach me your ways, sensei.”
I hand her a green plantain and a small knife. “Alright, first test: if you complain about how hard these are to peel, I get to tease you endlessly.”
“Bring it on,” she says, brow furrowed in concentrationas she starts peeling. “You’ll be surprised at my plantain skills.”
I grab the tostonera and start mashing the first batch of already-fried plantains. “So,” I say, trying to sound casual, “what was Florida like? You were there for what, ten years?”
“Yeah. I went for college and ended up staying for grad school and work,” she says, tossing a peeled slice into the bowl like she’s done it a hundred times.
“What did you study again?”
“Cosmetic chemistry,” she says, clearly proud. “I formulate skincare products. I love it, but... sometimes it was lonely. I had friends, but it never felt like home. I missed Honey Springs. My family. Familiar faces.”
I glance at her, trying not to show how much that hits me. It’s weirdly comforting to know she’s felt that pull back home too.
“I get that,” I say, dropping the flattened tostones back in the oil. “When I moved back to work with Noah, I didn’t realize how much I wanted to settle down. Build something real.”
“You mean the business?” she asks, grabbing a towel to wipe her hands.
“Yeah.” I nod. “Noah and I have been grinding non-stop to grow the company, and this deal we’re working on now could seriously change everything.”
Humming thoughtfully, Eva tilts her head. “I get that. I’ve been working on something of my own too, something I’m really passionate about.”
