Page 49 of All at Once

Placing my coffee aside, I express my frustration over this, “Okay, but why do I feel the exact same way even though I’m five years away from 30?”

“It’s because women are neverhappy with their age. Unless they are, which is great. I wish I felt like that,” she admits.

“It’s wild to me how accurate this is,” I say. “The irony is that if you ask a woman who just turned 18 if she wishes she was older, she can’t wait to turn 21. Then if you ask a woman who’s 29, she wishes she was still 25.You can’t win.”

“And the pressure from our families to settle down,” Sofia adds, sighing, “even though we’re still so young.”

I roll my eyes, knowing exactly what she’s talking about. “Don’t even get me started on that. I remember when I turned 20, I was told by the same people to not worry about any of it. And even earlier, that I should just focus on my education and how that stuff will come later. Which to be fair is really good advice, but why the sudden shift in opinions now that I’m a few years older?”

She leans in and says, “Welcome to the double standards of being a girl. You’retoo youngbut then boom, you wake up, and you’re suddenlytoo old.”

“Seriously,” I say, frustrated. “And look, now I’m told to go find someone when I’m trying to stay focused on my career. As if it’s also that easy. For starters, withwhat time?”

Sofia’s eyes turn a bit gloomy. “I don’t know how my mom did it. Especially with being the first generation in her family who worked while raising us, and to continue it all as a widow. And she’s actually content with her age. I hope I feel that way if I’m lucky enough to get to her age.”

“My mom’s the same way,” I share. “If I have a trace of her confidence one day, I’d be grateful.”

“You know, Luca said that you and I would get along. But he also said that about his ex, so I took it with a grain of salt. I have a feeling he’s right this time though.” She grins so warmly that it also makes me smile.

Why am I getting so attached to his sister this quickly? More importantly, it seems that Luca did tell his sister more about me than he’s letting on.

It’s then when I remember the painting from the gallery. “What’s your last name by the way?”

“Rivera,” Sofia says. “Why?”

That’s the same one I saw in the gallery.

I explain, “I saw a painting in the gallery with Luca’s name written in the corner, but I didn’t know what your last name was. Did he paint that?”

“Yeah. Isn’t it beautiful?” Her face beams with pride as she says this.

“It’s unreal,” I say. “I thought he does the finance.”

She doesn’t quite roll her eyes, but still manages to come off as frustrated when she replies, “Technically he does. He used to do both, but since his degree was in finance he stepped down from painting recently and just focuses on the finance part now.”

“Well, he’s talented. That’s for sure,” I admit, still shocked at how the painting is really his.

“I’ve told him plenty of times. I wish he’d get back into it.” Sofia’s face almost drops all of a sudden. “I can tell he misses it even though he doesn’t ever say it.” Her phone buzzes before her brows crinkle at her screen. “Should we maybe head back? I have a few calls I need to make before I can start working on the lovely stacks of paperwork.”

“Sure. Yeah.” I smile softly, wondering what that was all about.

I can tell that whatever it is, she realizes it’s not her place to tell me.

_________

Sofia immediately gets on the phone when we’re back at the gallery, while I walk up to Luca. “When’s the art festival?” I ask.

His attention is still on the boxes as he replies, “In a few weeks.”

“Are you submitting anything?”

He abruptly stops what he’s doing and looks at me. “What?”

“I saw your name on one of the paintings,” I explain, but judging by his tone, maybe this wasn’t the smartest thing to bring up.

“I thought I removed that one,” he says, his eyes going blank.

“No. It’s still there,” I reply. “It’s incredible.”

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