Page 54 of Back to You
My jaw tightened. “She was eighteen. She wanted to experience college in a new city. That’s not the same as just…leaving. She came back. She bought the damn bakery. She’s building a life here.”
Nathan nodded, but his gaze didn’t waver. “She didn’t have to break up with you to do that.”
The air in the kitchen shifted, the easy banter from earlier snuffed out like a flame. Mateo cleared his throat, clearly wanting no part in this conversation.
Andres, ever the peacemaker, clapped me on the back. “Nathan’s just looking out for you, man. We all are.”
Nathan held up a hand. “I’m not saying she doesn’t love you. I’m just saying don’t let the past repeat itself. You’ve always been the all-in type, Garcia. Just make sure she’s all-in, too.”
I exhale sharply, running a hand through my hair. “I trust her.”
Nathan nodded. “I trust your judgment, man. We all care about you and just want to make sure you’re being careful. Not getting too caught up too quickly.”
The tension in my chest didn’t ease, but I forced myself to nod. “Yeah. I hear you.”
Nathan clapped me on the shoulder once before heading for the door. “Good. Now, quit hogging the kitchen. Some of us actually need to eat.”
Mateo and Andres exchanged a glance, both wisely deciding not to say anything else as they followed him out, leaving me alone in the kitchen with way too many thoughts running around my head.
Laying in my bed at the firehouse, my thumb hovers over her name in my call log. I hit dial, bringing the phone up to my ear. She picked up after the second ring.
“Hey, Seba.” Her voice was warm and soft, and just like that, the tension that I’d been carrying eased. I exhaled, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Hey, hermosa. What are you doing Friday night?”
A pause. Then, a quiet, amused laugh. “Why? You asking me on a date?”
I stretched out on the cot, staring up at the ceiling. “You know it, baby.”
She hummed, and I could picture the smirk on her lips. “And what exactly do you have planned?”
I grinned. “I can’t tell you all my secrets, Mi tesoro.”
She huffed out a laugh. “Mysterious. I like it.”
I closed my eyes, letting myself sink into the warmth of her voice. “So, is that a yes?”
A beat of silence, then—“Yeah, Seba. That’s a yes.”
CHAPTER 22
Mariana
The past few weeks have been a blur, like slipping into a life I thought I’d lost. Being with Sebastian again feels effortless, like muscle memory, like something that was always meant to be.
We’ve been spending time together—long walks through town, late-night drives with no destination, mornings in my bakery.
We’ve visited my mom, too, sitting by her bedside, sharing quiet moments where she just watches us with that knowing look in her eyes.
Analyse and Maya have become a regular presence in my days—the easy way Analyse teases Sebastian, reminding me of how much history I’ve missed out on.
I’ve been getting to know the guys at the firehouse more, too—spending time around them, seeing the way they laugh, the way they look out for each other, the way they care about him. About us.
And now, as I sit beside Sebastian in his truck, the road stretching ahead of us, it all feels surreal. Like the past is no longer something looming behind us, but something we are finally rewriting.
The trees lining the winding road blurred past the window, and in the quiet hum of the truck’s engine, I could feel my heartbeat in my throat. Sebastian’s fingers drummed lightly against the steering wheel, his other hand resting on the gearshift.
Every so often, his eyes lingered on me, his fingers tapping against the steering wheel in time with whatever thoughts he wasn’t saying out loud.
“You’re being suspiciously quiet,” I said, my voice lighter than I felt.
