Page 107 of The Spring in My Heart

“You remember her?”

She nods. “She didn’t call me again after you broke up with her.”

“And you got hurt.”

“I got over it. People break up. Look at Mateo and Lux…” She winces. “Sorry, Papi.”

“For what?”

“You’re talking to her now. Nobody wants to hear about the famous ex.”

Jesus. “I’m not insecure, but, Ay…Lux and I are more than talking. We’ve gotten to care for each other.”

Her eyes round like saucers, and she lets out a small gasp. “She’s your girlfriend?”

She looks down at her menu for a while and then back at me.

My skin begins to tingle, but I don’t say anything else. I need to let her make up her mind and react to it.

“Okay, then. So how does this work?” Her face is a bit unreadable.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“Are you going to propose?”

“We are not there yet, negrita. We have to get to know each other some more. And we have to get to know each other more with you. I want to make sure we spend time together and that we’re a good family fit.”

“Why with me? If two people like each other, then that’s it.”

I shake my head. “No, it’s not. You’re my world, my life, my number one, the person I love the most in the world. I want to make sure you are comfortable.”

She glows with her Ayla smile.

“Thank you, Papi.”

“You don’t ever have to thank me for loving you or for putting you first. That’s a papi’s job. I just happen to love that job.”

She nods and looks back down at the menu.

Oh God.

Lux

Ollie

Can I stop by your house? It won’t take long. I just have something I really need to say to you.

I stare at the text from Ollie for a while and think of saying no, of saying maybe another time, but I don’t see the need to drag things out.

Me

Sure.

I don’t change out of my favorite athleisure pant set. It’s so comfy, and the fabric is soft. The perfect stay-at-home or go-out set. But I add eyeliner and put on lip gloss. It’s my way of not trying too hard but not being a bum either.

The doorbell rings fifteen minutes later, and I take my time going down. When I open the door, he’s standing there looking so hot I want to jump on him like I did in my dream last night. He’s just perfectly made, and only a fool would let him go, even if it’s just as friends with benefits.

This fool values herself, though.

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