“Alright, then.”
I expect Adriana to walk away after that but she doesn’t. Instead, she lingers, pursing her lips like she has more to say.
When she opens her mouth, what she says is the last thing I expect her to say.
“Cecilia was raped,” she says, her words pitched low so as not to carry. “Do you know who did it?”
“She told you?” That’s … unexpected. Friend or not, that isn’t something Cecilia shares with people. Hell, her own parents don’t even know.
Adriana shakes her head. “No. I already knew. But she knows that I know.” I wonder how Cecilia feels about that.
“Her secrets aren’t mine to share.”
“But you know who it is?”
I nod. Adriana doesn’t look pleased.
“I thought so.” She seems to consider this. “Are you going to do something about it?” It’s one thing to bring Julio and Felix in on my plans. Two people I trust implicitly. But it’s another to tell Adriana, someone I most certainly do not trust. I don’t need her telling Cecilia about what we’re up to or worse, trying to interfere. She’s not exactly predictable.
“Cecilia doesn’t want me fighting her battles for her.”
She scoffs, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “That’s cute.”
“I’m not trying to be cute.”
Adriana gives me a patronizing look and starts walking backwards, her eyes still on mine. “You’ve always been true to your namesake, Gabriel,” she says. “You’re protective of the people you love and you love Cecilia. You may as well proclaim yourself her guardian angel. So, it’s fine. Don’t tell me. But whatever you have planned, make it hurt.”
She flashes me a dark smile before she turns around, and then she’s gone.
Some of the uneasiness in my stomach dissipates. I still don’t trust her, but what she just said, it shows that at least some part of her cares. For now, it’ll have to do.
CHAPTER 39
CECILIA
My muscles burn as I rotate my shoulders. It’s been over a week since I joined the swim team and the daily practices are kicking my butt into shape. “Looking good out there,” Coach calls out as I dry off beside the pool.
“Thanks,” I say. Wrapping my towel around my waist, I head over to where Adriana stands. We’re all done for the day, and I, for one, need something to eat.
“All set?” I ask her.
She huffs out a breath. “I swam like shit today.”
I bump my shoulder into hers. “No, you didn’t.” I’m not lying. Adriana is more of an endurance swimmer whereas I’m a sprinter. I’m fast in fifty and one hundred meter events, but once I pass two hundred meters, I noticeably slow down. Whereas with Adriana, once she hits the two hundred meter mark, she finds her stride. Anything over a four hundred meter event and she’s an absolute machine.
“My time is three seconds off.”
I snort. “In a four hundred meter medley after practicing relays with the girls for an hour first. What do you expect?”
She grumbles beside me, and we head for the locker room, making quick work of getting dressed.
“Have you given any more thought to the date?” she asks.
What? That kind of came out of nowhere.
I shake my head. “Not really. Why?”
She glances down at her phone and types out a quick text. “Willow’s brother—Wyatt—is asking about you.”
