Page 73 of Gabriel
“No,” she said at last. “I’ve never met Jet.”
And just like that, the knot in my stomach eased, the pressure releasing. I hadn’t realized how tightly I’d been holding my breath.
“Right. Okay. That’s… good.”
“Why is that good?”
“Because it means I’m not losing my mind,” I said. “I was starting to think I might be.”
“Ahh. No. You’re not. I’ve never met him, Amara.”
I nodded, though she couldn’t see it. “Right. Sorry. It was a dumb question.”
“It’s not dumb,” she said immediately. Her voice carried that gentle conviction that made it hard not to believe her.
“How is your project going?” I asked. “And more importantly, how do you like Albania?”
“I freaking love it.” I could hear her enthusiasm in her voice. “It’s like stepping into another world. People are wonderful, food is great, and everywhere I turn, there is a picture-perfect moment. My portfolio is growing, but so are my experiences.”
“That’s great. Has my grandfather come to visit you?”
She chuckled. “Once, but I wasn’t home. I sent him a note thanking him for checking up on me and told him firmly there’d be no need for that. There’re guards and—” She stopped abruptly and I waited. She cleared her throat before she continued. “Anyhow, I’m safe, and he doesn’t need to trouble himself by babysitting me.”
I chuckled. “Your family never stood a chance once you set your mind on Albania, did they?”
“I can’t help it,” she muttered sheepishly. “I might look like my mamá, but I got my papá’s temper, and from that aspect, I’m as Latina as they come. I’m proud of it too.”
“As you should be,” I agreed softly. “You know what you want and you go after it. I’m proud of you too.”
A heartbeat passed before she asked, “And you?”
“What about me?”
“I’ve always gotten the sense that you hide a part of yourself from the world,” she said carefully. “Is it a family trait?”
I stared blankly at the far wall of my cabin, eyes unfocused.
“Maybe,” I replied pensively. My siblings and I had an unconventional upbringing compared to my friends, and while I wouldn’t have it any other way, each of us hid a part of ourselves from the world.
Could it be that Jet had an endgame and was keeping me and Elira in the dark?
“Do you ever just… feel like someone’s lying to you?” I asked, thinking about my siblings. “And it’s not in anything they’resaying. It’s just… in the silence.”
Anya didn’t answer at first.
When she spoke again, it caught me off guard. “Can I tell you something? It’s a secret, though.”
“Sure.”
“There’s someone I… like.”
I sat up straighter. “Wait. Seriously?”
She gave an embarrassed laugh. “Yeah. I know. Surprising.”
“You’ve never mentioned a crush.”
“I’m usually too wrapped up in fictional romances. It’s hard for real guys to compete after reading so many love stories.” Her voice softened, dipping into something more hesitant. “But this is… complicated.”
