Page 98 of Guarded Love

"Your roommate's going to think you're a tourist," Blaise points out, but he's smiling as he says it.

"I am a tourist," Tyler shrugs. "Now, on three for real this time."

We bite into the fritters simultaneously, and the explosion of flavor makes my eyes widen. The crispy exterior gives way to something savory and rich, with hints of garlic and herbs I can't identify.

"Holy shit," Madison mumbles around her mouthful. "This is incredible."

"Language, Madison," Tyler teases, then immediately takes another huge bite.

"Says the guy who just inhaled half of his in one go," she tosses back.

I catch Blaise watching me as I eat, and when our eyes meet, he raises an eyebrow. "Good?"

"Amazing," I confirm, licking my fingers without thinking.

His gaze drops to my mouth and then my fingers. The heat rises to my cheeks as I realize what I've just done, but before I can feel too mortified, Tyler accidentally knocks over his water bottle while reaching for napkins.

"Shit!" he yelps as water cascades across the cobblestones. "Sorry, sorry?—"

"Tyler, it's water." Madison laughs as she steps out of the splash zone. "Not acid."

"I know, but—" He scrambles to pick up the bottle. "I'm usually more coordinated than this."

"Usually?" Madison grins, bending down to help him retrieve the bottle. "So this is abnormal Tyler behavior?"

"Very abnormal," he confirms as he begins to blush. "I blame the alcapurrias. They've scrambled my brain with their deliciousness."

"That's the most ridiculous excuse I've ever heard." I laugh, watching him try to shake the remaining water off his hands.

"It's a perfectly valid excuse," Tyler replies. "Food-induced clumsiness is a real phenomenon."

"Is it now?" Blaise asks, his voice dry with amusement.

"Absolutely. It's right up there with vacation brain and—" Tyler gestures wildly while trying to think of something, but all he comes up with is air.

Madison dissolves into giggles, and the sound is so infectious that soon we're all laughing.

"Vacation brain?" Blaise repeats, raising an eyebrow as he steps closer to me to avoid a group of tourists pushing past us with oversized shopping bags.

His hand briefly touches the small of my back as he guides me out of their path, and the simple contact sends electricity down my spine. When the crowd passes, he doesn't immediately move away.

"You know," Tyler continues, "when you're somewhere new and your brain just...stops working properly."

"I think that's just you, Ty," Madison teases, but her attention is already shifting to another food stall. "Ooh, what are those?" She points to a vendor selling what looks like shaved ice topped with colorful syrups.

"Piraguas," Blaise says, his voice close to my ear. The warmth of his breath makes me shiver despite the temperature outside. "Want to try one?"

I turn to look at him. "Yeah," I whisper. "I'd like that."

Madison and Tyler are already heading toward the piragua vendor, but Blaise doesn't move toward them. Instead, he glances around, then nods toward a tree and I’m immediately transported back to the incident between us at El Yunque.

"Come here for a second," he says quietly.

I follow him to the shaded spot beneath the tree. "What—" I start, but he's already pulling out his phone.

"I want a picture," he says simply, holding it up. "Just us."

The request catches me off guard. We've been so careful, so deliberate about maintaining distance in public. "Blaise..."

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