Page 48 of All at Once

I immediately blush. “Oh you’re too kind. Look at yourself? You’re stunning.”

“Aw thank you.” She takes a sip of her drink. “You’re from California, right?”

“Yes, Dove Cove.”

“I miss living there especially during the summertime,” she says, her eyes glimmering just like her brother’s.

“I know it’s so picturesque during the summer. Does your family also go back pretty often?” I ask.

“No,” she explains. “We don’t have family there, so we rarely go. Luca goes more often though with Enrique, like this year.”

“Yeah, I heard. I didn’t see him there though. I just saw Enrique.”

“You like him, right?” Her question catches me so off guard that for a second I wonder who she’s referring to until she clarifies, “Enrique.”

Feeling dumb for even considering that she might have been referring to her brother, I regain my focus. “Yeah. I do. I’m not sure if he likes me though.”

“That’s just how Enrique is,” Sofia explains. “He loveseverybody.So sometimes it’s hard to tell if he really likes you. I’ve also had a few friends that had a crush on him. And they were just as confused.”

“Great,” I say with a nervous chuckle. “Honestly it’s nice to get a woman’s perspective. Luca doesn’t speak anything but good things about him since they’re so close.”

“There’s that, but Luca’s also so hush-hush,” she says with a gesture of her hands. “It’s honestly annoying sometimes, even though it makes him loyal as hell. Like I had to practically beg him just to find out more about you.”

Hearing her say this assures me even more that my secret’s safe with Luca. But also increases my heartbeat, wonderingwhatexactly he said to her.

Then my shoulders grow more tense, realizing how I’m more confused now than before I got here. “Even when I feel like I’m finally learning more about men, all of a sudden I feel like I know less than when I started.”

She puts down her coffee, nodding. “Literally same. That’s why I try not to get attached to just one crush. I probably have like three at a time.”

“The statistics for success just seem higher that way,” I add.

“Exactly. And I’m no expert in stats, but have you seen Luca and Enrique’s friend group?” Her eyes widen the same way mine did when I saw them all shirtless yesterday.

“Like the ones who they surf with?” I ask.

“Yes!” she replies.

I purse my lips. “Okay. They’reallbeautiful.”

She chortles. “I tried going surfing with them once, I crashed so hard in a wave since I was busy doing more important things…”

“Staring at their abs?” I guess.

“I’m too old to admit that out loud, but I also don’t care. So yes. And the ocean punished me for it. And Inever surfed again.”

I nod, deeply relating to this. “Surfing issoscary honestly, and I feel the same way about the ocean. It’s equally stunning and terrifying.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” she says. “Besides, I’m much more comfortable reading on the sand while sunbathing.”

“Sounds like a perfect afternoon to me.” I grin at how similar we seem. “Have you gone out with any of his friends?” Part of me now wonders if she ever liked Enrique as well, considering how she also thinks the rest of his friends are attractive.

“No I haven’t. Unfortunately. Luca always tells me that they’re off-limits. And I’m like ‘says who?’You? I don’t think so.” She sighs wistfully. “If I’m lucky, one day.”

I giggle along with her, asking, “You’re younger than Luca, right?”

“No I’m actually older,” she answers. “I just turned 29, and I’m already dreading turning 30. I feelso old. I’m sorry if that sounds terrible, but it’s how I feel.”

I note the fear that’s almost written in her eyes. The same one I resonate with.

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