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"The question you should be asking is who in their right mind wouldn't. You're a good person, and I like you," she admits, shrugging as if it's an unavoidable fact. "I don't know exactly what I'm feeling, but I like spending time with you, and I felt really good the night we slept together. I've wanted to do it again ever since."

"B-but—" Laia stammers. "I thought you didn't want to. That I was just entertainment. Just another girl."

"Yeah," Claudia says with a bitter smile. "You assumed that without asking me. You decided there was nothing to talk about, and I thought I was the one who'd just been entertainment. But then you said everything you said in the parking lot and vanished on me right after."

"You're right," Laia admits, ashamed of her own cowardice.

"Stop hiding, Laia. Let's have this damn date, let's do normal things, and if after that you don't like it, you tell me and we don't do it again. But stop treating me like I don't have my own opinion."

Laia nods, and a smile slips through anyway. "So—a date?" she asks, her voice shaky.

"Exactly. Tomorrow if you want. I'm moving to my aunt's place for the rest of the contract, so I'll be in Mataró. You can show me around, or whatever plan you think is best."

Laia looks at her, surprised and happy about the news that she'll be living just a few weeks away.

"Okay," she says, her lips already stretching into a smile. "I can pick you up at seven at your aunt's place. We'll take a walk along the beach and then go to dinner. Does that work for you?"

"Yes, that sounds great."

They stand in silence, looking at each other, holding back the urge to close the distance. But Claudia wants to take this slow and do it right. That kiss can wait—and keep building.

"See you tomorrow, then."

She opens the door and walks out while Laia stays behind, her hand half-raised to wave goodbye and an enormous smile on her face she can't wipe away. She gathers her things, shuts down her computer, and says goodbye to Elvira before heading home, eager to tell her mom the news so she'll stop worrying—because Laia has been down for days and Sonia has been desperate, not knowing how to lift her spirits.

Chapter 25

Claudia spends the morning organizing the clothes from the two suitcases she's brought to her aunt's house. She arrives early, when Elvira is just sitting down to breakfast, and the two of them spend a while in the kitchen chatting about everything and nothing while they eat avocado toast and drink freshly squeezed juice.

That time confirms for Claudia that she isn't wrong to come here for a few weeks. Being with Elvira makes her feel good—her aunt listens to her, genuinely cares about what she likes, and supports her, which is exactly what her parents never did.

"If you don't have any plans, we'll eat out today," her aunt says after showing her to what will be her room.

She takes her to a farmhouse tucked away on a mountainside, an hour's drive away. They eat grilled meat with homemade aioli and thick slices of wood-toasted country bread that almost bring Claudia to tears with pleasure, while they enjoy views with no buildings in sight, sitting under an umbrella on the terrace.

"I haven't eaten somewhere like this in forever," she murmurs, eyes practically rolling back in her head. "My mother hates places like this—she says they smell like garlic."

Elvira nearly says exactly what she thinks of her sister and her refined tastes, but she decides it isn't necessary, since Claudia already has a very clear picture of what kind of woman her mother is.

"Her loss. I usually come here a couple of times a month—even in winter, if the day is clear and sunny, you can eat on the terrace and enjoy the views without getting cold."

By the time they get back, they're so stuffed that they both take a nap. Now Claudia stands in front of the wardrobe, looking at herself in the mirror on the door one last time before giving herself the go-ahead. There's still an hour before Laia comes to pick her up, but her nerves have her restless and she can't help starting to get ready the moment she wakes up from the nap and showers.

"Do I look okay for a casual date?" she asks after stepping out onto the terrace and finding Elvira reading a book with a glass of wine.

She plants herself in front of her and holds her arms out from her sides as her aunt lowers the book and looks her over. She's settled on straight-cut shorts, sandals, and a tank top.

"I think it's hard for anything not to look good on you, Claudia—you're gorgeous," her aunt says with a satisfied nod. "Who are you going out with? A date?"

Claudia's lips curve into a smile she can't stop, and she moves to grab a chair and set it beside Elvira's.

"I'm meeting Laia," she says, and Elvira closes the book and sets it on the table to look at her carefully. "I don't know what you think about that—I know she works for you—but in a month I won't be at the company anymore, and I like her."

Elvira furrows her brow and leans forward.

"I don't have a problem with it, Claudia. I didn't know you had something going on with her, but I think it's wonderful."

"You don't seem surprised," she says, curious.