A chill ran over Grace’s skin. “He’s not here?”
“Doesn’t seem to be,” Alma said, her voice harder than usual.
“Don’t be mad at him, Alma,” Grace whispered. “I kissed him first.” Grace wished she could have seen her best friend’s expression, but she couldn’t bring herself to roll toward her, and she also didn’t know what her miserable face might look like after all the tears.
“Well, I didn’t mean to wake you,” Alma said flatly, even though it was clear that was exactly what she’d intended to do. “I’m going to go make coffee.”
“Okay,” Grace croaked. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
Alma left the room without another word, and Grace moved toward the nightstand to check her phone. Nothing from Rafael, not that she’d expected it. She turned on the selfie camera and checked her face. It could have been worse. It could have just been exhaustion if you didn’t know she’d been crying. She took another breath and got out of bed.
Alma’s back was toward her in the kitchen when Grace trudged in to get the kettle going. “How did it go with Obinna?” Grace asked.
“I’m very happy with the outcome,” Alma said in a monotone voice.
“You don’t sound very happy.” She measured some tea leaves into a strainer and couldn’t help but notice she didn’t sound all that happy herself.
Alma let out a long sigh. “Things with Obinna are better, Gracie. At least, I think they will be. It’s you that I’m worried about.”
“That’s the problem. It’s been about me for too long.” She ran a hand over her face. “You two made up?”
Finally, Alma turned toward her, a ghost of a smile on her lips. “We talked for hours. And maybe we both still have some reservations, but we love each other so much. I’m going to take my stuff back over tonight if that’s okay with you.”
In spite of everything else she was feeling, a wide grin spread across Grace’s face. She’d been sure things would work out between them and was thrilled to be right “Of course that’s okay with me. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Because you might need me here to stop you from jumping on top of my idiot brother.”
Grace froze, unsure how to react.
“You kissed him first?” Alma squinted her eyes at Grace, as if she’d been puzzling over this singular fact for a long while.
Grace nodded. “I kissed him, though I guess he did make it clear that something similar had been on his mind lately. But I was the one who did it.”
“Did he tell you he wasn’t interested in anything more than that?” Alma asked, like she was truly curious and wanted to understand.
“No…” Grace trailed off. If nothing else, she believed that Rafael really did feel something for her, even if it didn’t align with Alma’s view of the whole situation. She just didn’t know how to convince Alma of it or if there was a point in trying.
Alma rested her back against the counter. “Listen, it’s not like I think he was trying to hurt you on purpose or anything. He’s usually upfront about his emotional distance, at least, but he’s just not?—”
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” Grace said, staring down into the bottom of her mug.
“What does that mean?”
Alma’s voice had lost some of its edge, and Grace released a breath. She knew Alma wouldn’t stay upset now that things between Grace and Raf were over. She and Alma had been friends long enough to forgive anything. Their love was lifelong and unconditional. They were stuck together like family, even though Grace was decidedly unstuck from most of her blood relatives. Alma had become her blood instead, the person she’d call about anything, the person who’d always be there.
“It means that we’ve called it off,” Grace said evenly, trying not to let the pain creep into her tone. “It’s not worth hurting you.”
“You mean it’s not worth hurting yourself,” Alma corrected. “That’s the really important part.”
“Yeah,” Grace grabbed some sugar from the cabinet, taking in Alma’s words. “Of course.”
Alma took a gulp of coffee and then continued her line of questioning. “Who called it off? I’m sure Raf wouldn’t have come up with that idea.”
Grace paused.
Alma nodded to herself, as if all of her opinions were validated by Grace’s lack of protest. “Well, good for you, Gracie. I tried to warn you, but at least I can protect you now.”
“Why are you so sure he couldn’t have feelings for me?” Grace asked, her voice small.
