Page 159 of Along Came Amor
“Out with it.” Jasmine handed Ava a champagne flute. “What nonsense reason did you have for not telling me?”
“Isn’t this for the toast?” Ava raised the glass and gave it a sniff.
Rolling her eyes, Michelle lifted her champagne and muttered, “To Jasmine. Now quit stalling and answer the question.”
Ava knocked back a long gulp, savoring the tart, crisp flavor. As the bubbles danced over her tongue and tickled her nose, she cast around for where to begin.
“I’m sorry,” she said to Jasmine. “I should have told you about Roman after the engagement party.”
“Why didn’t you?” Jasmine asked.
So Ava explained how her relationship with Roman had started as an occasional fling, something she hadn’t been ready to share with them yet. And even though she’d broken it off after discovering Roman’s connection to Ashton, her feelings for him had only deepened after they went to Puerto Rico together. Finally, Ava confessed her fears about putting Jasmine in the position of having to choose between her cousin and her husband’s best friend.
Jasmine listened, and gnawed her lower lip before she spoke.“I get the concern. But Ava, you’re always going to be my family. Nothing will ever change that. We’re not just cousins, we’re friends. And we’re not just friends, we’re blood. Primas of Power forever.”
“Primas poderosas para siempre,” Michelle repeated, raising her champagne. “Put it on a T-shirt.”
“I was going to tell you after your honeymoon,” Ava insisted. “Your wedding should be perfect, and I didn’t want to ruin it... like I just did.”
“Ava, listen to me. Theonlyway you could ruin my wedding is by not being here.” Jasmine grabbed Ava’s hand and gripped it tight. “I also should’ve considered how hard all this would be for you. Ashton said I relied on your help too much. I’m sorry for that.”
The validation was nice, but Ava had trouble accepting it. “I still feel terrible about causing problems for you again.”
Jasmine’s forehead creased in confusion. “When have you ever been a problem for me?”
“Other than tonight?” When her cousins continued to stare at her, waiting for an answer, Ava shrugged. “Last year. With the move and everything. I know it was a huge inconvenience for both of you—”
“Do you think we begrudge you for that?” Jasmine interrupted. “Ava, we love you. We weregladto help.”
“Except you’re both in happy, committed relationships, and I—”
“What? You’re Debbie Downer?” Michelle rolled her eyes. “Ava, we’re big girls. We’re capable of holding space for your emotions, even if they’re different from what we’re going through.”
“That’s what we’re here for,” Jasmine added. “As you’ve been there for us, many times over.”
Ava shook her head. “I just didn’t want to burden either of you with—”
“Bullshit.”
Ava and Jasmine both stared at Michelle.
“What makes you so special?” Michelle’s tone was relentless. “What makes your problems so fucking special that no one can help you carry them?”
Ava’s mouth opened but nothing came out. It was harsh, but that was Michelle.
And she was... right.
“Nothing, I guess.” Ava’s voice was quiet with the impact of this revelation.
“It’s us, Ava.” Michelle sounded almost exasperated, while Jasmine’s eyes pleaded for Ava to trust them. “What are you so afraid of?”
Throat tight, Ava spoke her deepest fear aloud. “Losing you. Losing everyone.”
“The only way you lose us is by not letting us in,” Jasmine said, butting Ava gently with her shoulder. “We’ll always be as close as you’ll let us be.”
Ava let that sink in, reassessing everything she’d once believed. What if accepting someone else’s help wasn’t an act of selfishness, but rather, an opportunity for deeper connection? Like with Roman. By allowing him to care for her, she’d soothed something in him, too. Each experience had brought them closer together, even when Ava had been adamant about keeping him at arm’s length. Refusing to let her mother or cousins comfort her during her times of need had only broadenedthe emotional distance between herself and them. But relationships were give and take. Insisting on being the one who gave all the time would only make her a martyr, and Ava didn’t want that. Not anymore.
Martyrs died. Maybe it was time to let the part of her that needed to be seen as helpful, useful—good—die as well.
