She stands up and smooths her sweater, glancing at the clock on the wall. “I should probably head out. It’s getting late.”
I don’t want her to leave; not when the air between us still crackles with everything unsaid, but I nod. “Yeah. Don’t want your brother thinking I kidnapped you.”
She lets out a tired little laugh. “He doesn’t even know I came here. I told him I was hanging out with Ashton and Payton.”
That makes my eyebrows lift. “Lying to your big brother to hang out with me? Now that’s dangerous territory.”
She smiles, but there’s a hint of exhaustion in her eyes. “I was just tired of his big brother act.”
My chest tightens, but I keep it light, keep it safe. “Well, next time you feel like breaking the rules, you know where to find me.”
Grabbing her phone from the couch, she heads to the door. I walk her out, my hands shoved into my pockets just to stop myself from reaching for her again. She pauses at the threshold, her gaze flicking up to mine.
“You’ll text me tomorrow if you need anything?” she asks, her voice soft.
“Of course.” I give her a slow smile. “I’m gonna annoy you so much you’ll regret ever asking how to dance reggaetón.”
Her smile stretches wider. “I highly doubt that.”
I lean against the doorframe, letting my eyes trail down her face one last time before she walks away. “Drive safe, mi amor.”
She blushes, and damn, it’s the cutest thing I’ve seen all day, then gives me a little wave and heads to her car. I watch her go, still feeling the heat of her body pressed to mine, theway her laugh wrapped around me like a song I never want to forget.
As soon as she pulls out of the driveway, I shut the door, lean my head back against it, and exhale.
I’m so damn screwed.
Chapter Nineteen
Eva
The airport terminal buzzes around us, but in our little group, things feel oddly peaceful, like we’ve formed a bubble no one else can pop. Josy bounces Everly gently in the carrier strapped to her chest while Violet rubs baby Ethan’s back in slow circles. Adrian has his earbuds in, leaning against a nearby pillar, probably pretending not to know any of us.
Esteban, Noah, and Austin are huddled near the window, deep in what looks like a serious conversation. Noah keeps making hand gestures, Austin nods along, and Esteban grins like he’s saying something heknowsis going to get him punched. Typical.
The last few days have been hard.
Ever since that non-date with Esteban where we danced and kissed like we were something more—I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him. It’s like he’s lodged somewhere deep inside me, impossible to shake. I fall asleep imagining what could’ve happened if I’d just been a little braver. If I had kissed him again. If I had told him how I really feel.
And then there’s the flip side, the part that’s driving me insane.
Every time I catch myself smiling at the memory of Esteban,Brandontexts me. Like clockwork. Like he canfeelit when I start to move on. I finally blocked his number, but of course, he found a way to slither back in. He started messaging me through social media. DMs, comments, even tagging me in old pictures,like that would make me come back to him.
So I blocked him there, too. Every. Single. Account.
But he’s so fucking persistent, it’s like he’s made it his mission to haunt me. I can’t even post a picture or a story without wondering if one of those hateful comments came from him hiding behind a fake name. Honestly, I’d bet money that at least one of the ugly remarks on Esteban’s last video came from Brandon.
It’s exhausting. It’s infuriating.
And it makes me want to scream.
The whole time we were together, he never gave a shit about my social media. Barely even liked my posts. Now he’s suddenly watching everything I do like a hawk, showing up like a digital ghost in every corner of my life.
Taking a deep breath, I shake my head, forcing his name and his toxicity out of my mind.
He doesn’t get to live in my head rent-free anymore.
I glance toward the guys, needing something—someone—real to focus on. And there he is.
