Page 116 of Only Fate

I’ll happily spoil Essie every minute of every day.

My abuela looks at Lainey. “Didn’t you mention needing a manicure?”

“I did,” Lainey replies.

“How about we make a stop at the salon?” My abuela’s gaze snaps to Essie. “Wouldyou like to come?”

Essie holds up her hand to show off her pink nails. “I actually just got a fresh mani-pedi.”

“Are you able to take Adrian home, then? I don’t want the salon to close before we get there.”

Essie’s face reddens, and she bites into her lower lip.

There’s no way she can say no to my abuela.

“Uh,” she stutters.

The server returns, interrupting us. I hand her the bill and cash before telling her to keep the change.

If this were a normal situation, I’d tell my abuela not to put Essie on the spot with her question. But right now, I need this.

I need to talk to Essie.

Putting her on the spot be damned.

I’ll make it up to her later.

“I actually walked,” Essie starts.

“No, we drove,” Lainey unknowingly corrects, scrunching her brows. She’s not trying to throw her friend under the bus.

“I mean …” Essie pauses, frazzled. “I was going to walk and get some fresh air.”

“That’s just perfect,” my abuela says. “Adrian loves a good stroll after a meal. It helps with his digestion.”

This time, I can’t stop myself from groaning. “Abuela.”

She stands, Lainey following her move, and they say their goodbyes and leave the table before Essie has the chance to say no.

“Okay,” Essie drawls out, her eyes wide as she glances around, “what the hell just happened?”

“You were Valeria’d,” I explain. “It’s one of her many skills.”

If my abuela wants something to happen, she’ll make it happen.

“Yeah, well, joke’s on you,” she huffs. “You can walk.”

She unwinds her purse strap from the chair, drops the bag onto her lap, and searches for her keys.

When she finds them, I immediately take them before she can stop me.

She attempts to grab them, but I jerk back.

I wiggle the keys in the air before shoving them into my pocket. “I like the idea ofuswalking. It doesn’t have to be to my place, though. We can take a walk. Like my abuela said, it’s good for digestion.”

“It’s also good for tripping you or throwing you off a bridge,” she murmurs.

“I mean, if it gets you to take a walk with me, then trip me all you want.” Standing, I hold my hand out toward her. “I’ll choose that over the bridge, though. It’s a little cold to swim this time of year.”

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