“Meaning he’s hurt you before in any way.” He takes my hand in his, bringing it to his lips. “Then that’s a different story.”
I simply smile as we get out of the car.
He needs this opportunity to honor his father’s memory, not my unresolved trauma.
If he were to find out all the shitty things my father has done and said to me, I’m afraid of what he’ll do.
Even worse, I’m afraid of what my dad would do to retaliate.
CHAPTER 27
TOMÁS
This is the third email Ralph has sent this hour alone, each one more condescending than the last.
All instructing me on exactly what to say and how to say it when I meet with Sarina’s dad, acting as if I’m a new associate, still learning the ropes.
I don’t share in Ralph’s anxiety over meeting Mr. Tesoro. I’ve secured many a new client for the firm, more than most partners, Ralph included. I know the rejection we got when I met with Mr. Tesoro’s business associate in Colorado had nothing to do with my delivery and everything to do with his need to be in control.
If that wasn’t the case, then he would have representation by now. He’s a man who clearly likes to test the limits and play games. Nothing I’m not used to with some of our more elusive clients. However, what I’m not used to, is meeting with a client under these very unconventional circumstances. I’m here to represent Turner & Vize, yes, but that’s secondary to me being here as Sarina’s plus one. A complex web we’ve woven ourselves into, but it’s nothing that I’m not confident I can handle. At least, I hope I can.
“Ralph must be ecstatic the time has finally arrived,” Sarina says, eyeing my phone.
I stuff my phone in my back pocket as we make our way to the front entrance of her parents’ home. “Yeah, he’s eager, that’s for sure.”
As soon as my hand leaves the taut confines of my pocket, it’s met with Sarina’s. Her fingers gently graze the protruding vein traveling through the center of my hand. It’s such a simple gesture, but it’s enough to spread a wave of calm over me.
“Nervous?”
“What gave it away? My clammy palm?”
She shakes her head. “You keep breathing in through your nose.”
“Well, yeah, I’m not a mouth breather,” I joke, and the smile it earns me from her makes me wish that I was actually funny because she seems so amused —so comfortable.
“I don’t know about that, you were breathing pretty loud, with your mouth open, last night. What I meant was, I’ve noticed when you’re stressed that you breathe through your nose loudly.”
She proceeds to demonstrate, and if it weren’t for the fact that she looks so adorable imitating how I apparently breathe when I’m stressed, I’d be horrified. I never noticed I did that before, not until she pointed it out.
“Thank you,” I say.
“For what?”
“For noticing.”
It’s such a minor detail, and an arguably ridiculous one. Still, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten close enough to someone for them to pick up on an idiosyncrasy of mine before. And thanks to her —where I should feel embarrassed— I feel honored, and onlyslightlyembarrassed.
Squeezing my hand, she lifts it upward until it skims her lips. “Aww, come on, of course I noticed. My ears wouldn’t allow me to ignore or forget such a sound.” Bedroom eyes peer up at me. “There’s more to you than how good you look…” she presses a kiss to the top of my hand. An unexpected switch-up, but one I’m welcoming tenfold. “…and how good you make me feel.”
Heat runs rampant to my cheeks, my neck, over my entire body, rendering me silent. I remain frozen, locked in a trance that I’d willingly surrender myself to, repeatedly, if given the option. Her mouth continues to move, saying words I should be paying attention to, but all I can focus on is how my pulse is settling despite feeling my heart skip beat after beat. All because she’s here, with me.
“Same to you,” are the first words I’m able to process, as I come back to.
Footsteps echo on the other side of the door, but it doesn’t stop me from moving closer. My hand cups the small of her back.
Before she can answer, the front door swings open, and we’re greeted by Sarina’s sister, Harper and her fiancée Chloe. Immediately I’m struck, not only by their kindness and warm greeting, but by how happy they are together. Their movements are in perfect synchrony to one another’s, both moving with the kind of ease that comes with years of being together. Years of noticing and appreciating the small details. A twist of jealousy finds its way to my core because I want what they have. With Sarina. I want it to be real.
We stay in the entrance foyer, talking to Harper and Chloe until Sarina’s mom appears. There’s an immediate energy shift,impossible to miss it. Not only because Harper and Chloe excused themselves in a hurry as Mrs. Tesoro walked toward us.
