Page 93 of Cava with My Colleague

“Really?” Sara asks.

“Maybe. I don’t know. I need to think about it.” I take a breath. “But I also need to talk to Carlos first. Find out what he wants. If he even wants me to stay.”

“He wants you to stay,” Sara says with certainty. “Trust me. Men don’t research how to go down on you if they’re planning to say goodbye.”

“That’s actually a very good point,” Tessa agrees.

I laugh, but my heart is pounding. Because I think I’ve made a decision. Not the whole decision—not yet—but the first step.

I’m going to talk to Carlos. Really talk. And I’m going to tell him the truth: that I’m scared, that I don’t know how to do permanent, but that I want to try.

If he’ll have me.

Later, back at the hotel, we’re sprawled across Sara’s room in various states of exhaustion. Emma is half-asleep on the couch, lazily texting Parker, her youngest, about their latest journalism assignment. Tessa is on the balcony talking to Luc. Sara and I are on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

“Thank you,” I say quietly.

“For what?”

“For this. For always knowing what I need to hear, even when I don’t want to hear it.”

“That’s what friends are for.” She turns her head to look at me. “For the record? I think you and Carlos could be really good together. If you let yourselves.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. You balance each other out. He’s all control and careful planning, you’re spontaneous and brave. He needs someone to push him out of his comfort zone. You need someone to make you feel safe enough to stay.”

I blink back sudden tears, and then let out an exaggerated sob. “Whaaaa. I’m going to miss this. These weekends. All of us together.”

“Me too.” She snuggles closer to me, and I put my arms around her. “But Jade—we’re not going anywhere. I’ll still be in London. Tessa in Portugal. Emma in Italy. And you—wherever you end up. We’ll still be us.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

My phone buzzes on the nightstand.

It’s from Carlos.

Carlos

I hope you’re having a wonderful time with your friends. Izan and I are both missing you.

Attached is a photo: Izan sprawled on Carlos’s couch, looking tragic.

I smile, my chest warm.

Jade

Tell Izan I miss him too.

Carlos

What time will you be back? Come straight to my place?

Jade

My flight gets in at three. No checked bags, so I can be there by four?