I shrug, and Val and I say “adopted” at the same time.
Daisy slips from my side and pulls Val into a fierce hug, which my sister seems to return with equal vigor.
“Well, you heard the woman. A round of refreshments before we spill the shitty chisme,” Luisa states as she starts to pull Nick toward the kitchen with her, Isa and Mateo trailing behind.
My heart still aches thinking of what Daisy must have gone through tonight. But my sister is right. My girl is a people pleaser through and through, and I need to be careful not to let my instinct to keep her safe cause her to doubt our relationship.
I love her for wanting to protect my heart from the ache it once felt, but what I feel for Daisy cannot be compared to my last relationship, not by a long shot. And I know my girl would rather swear off sweets for the rest of her life than cause me purposeful harm, so I’m going to have to have a little chat about her well-intentioned but unnecessary concerns.
Later, we all sit around the fireplace, listening intently as the girls recount the story. Of how he ambushed them, kissed Daisy’s cheek, grabbed her arm, and tried to threaten her intocoming home all while having a photographer outside taking photos.
I manage to keep my temper at bay and keep a soothing hand on Daisy’s arm the entire time, tracing odd patterns, attempting to remove the feel of his touch.
But as Nick goes into media mogul mode about next steps, all I can do is stare at my knuckles, knowing I’m about to get them bloodied for her.
Because no one touches my girl and walks away unscathed.
forty
By the end ofthe night, I knew I had to get off the fence and make a statement.
A public one.
By morning, I’d published something short and to the point on my personal social media accounts and Nick’s various magazine outlets.
The post went viral immediately, especially since the photos of Damien kissing my cheek had gone live. The fact that my face was scrunched up and the women around me wore shocked expressions didn’t help his narrative in the slightest.
But unlike last time, Damien and his team responded immediately with a statement of their own, painting him as thegrieving groom who plans on taking a few days away from the spotlight to focus on his family. It was obviously a crock of bullshit, but part of me feels relieved to know that I can start putting that part of my life to bed and move forward.
All this back and forth means I’ve stuck mostly to hiding out in my apartment. I’ve continued to fuss around the place, trying to make it as homey as possible. Which means Luke’s been by my side through it all.
I feel selfish keeping him here all the time, so I offered to stay at his place since I’ve yet to see where he lives. But he’s adamant about helping me work on my apartment until it’s perfect. And that’s when a little idea for a secret party was planted in my mind. Which is why I’m currently standing in my apartment while my favorite people mill around.
“Hey, where did you put the sopita?” Valentina asks as she places the large bag of rice on the counter. She’s been here all day helping me set up for my incognito mission.
“Oh shit. I knew I forgot something. The store didn’t have the chicken bouillon I like, so I was supposed to stop at a different market after, but I must have forgotten. I can probably order it and have it delivered right away,” I pick up my phone from the counter, but she waves me away.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll run to the bodega down the street. I don’t mind going to pick it up, especially because they sell the best Dominican chocolate for hot cocoa. I don’t care if winter is long gone. I can always go for some good Dominican hot cocoa,” she says dreamily.
I laugh. “Wow, do you know all the bodegas in the city and their inventory so well?”
She shakes her head while smiling. “No, but I’m here often because—”
“Did I hear you’ve got a bodega run to make, sis? Better get to it so my girl and I can start cooking up a storm for this crew.”Luke wraps his arm around me from behind, and Valentina looks up at him, having a silent conversation I’m not privy too.
“Oh yeah. Right.” She goes to turn but stops to face us again. “Anything else I should grab while I’m out? You said it’s just us hanging out and no one else, right?” She looks out at my living room where Isabella is sitting with Mateo and his daughter Anna. Nick’s on his phone showing Luisa pictures of their dog, Delilah. And Luisa’s mother, along with Isabella’s and Mateo’s are sitting at the dining table sipping their coffee.
She’s asked me the same question three times now, and I’m starting to wonder if there’s a certain someone she’s trying to avoid, but I can’t imagine who, since she’s new to the group and has never even set foot in the Monarchs Stadium.
I must do a shitty job of hiding my suspicion, because she rushes out, “I thought someone from your mom’s side of the family might live in the city and show up. Wanted to make sure I bring enough of whatever you need.”
Luke stiffens behind me, and Valentina’s eyes widen.
“Luke, I swear to God if you’re giving her a dirty look, you’re gonna get another towel whipped at your nipple,” I threaten.
He squeezes his arms around me. “You’re vicious.”
“Sorry,” Valentina interrupts. “I didn’t mean to overstep. I know your mother is no longer with us, but I didn’t know if there was other family around. I shouldn’t have said anything.” She looks like she’s about to melt in a puddle of mortification, and since I know the feeling far too well, I decide to pull her out of it quickly.
