Page 62 of Not For Keeps
I think about this for a moment. And then it dawns on me…how they spoke to each other as if they knew one another. They seemed comfortable.
“They’re working together.”
“What do you mean they’re working together?”
“He wants you back, right?” I say, and she nods. “And Letty wants me.”
She grimaces.
“So they’re going to be really damn motivated to break us up. You should’ve seen them there, talking to each other like they knew each other. I thought it was odd, but hell, I didn’t realize how fucked up they really were.”
“So you’re telling me that Nico and Letty set this all up? They were both at the gym. Letty got her hands on you so that Nico can take this picture and have her send it to me?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying.”
I can see Analyse’s anger begin to boil over. Shit. She’s pissed.
“Those assholes!” she yells. “I can’t believe that they’d stoop so damn low. How fucking dare they? I’m going to call Nico right now!”
She begins to go to his contact in her phone, but I stop her.
“No, don’t call him. Not now. Not while you’re this angry. Take a beat. I know you, chula. You don’t want to blow everything up. Deep down, you want him to be in Maya’s life. Not because you want him in yours, but because you think she needs her dad. I know that’s something that always hurt you. Yeah, it might’ve hurt when he left you, but what hurt you the most is that he left her.”
She sucks in a breath, and looks at me, eyes welling up. Her lips part like she wants to speak, but nothing comes out.
“You didn’t have to tell me,” I say gently. “I’ve paid attention. To every movement, every expression, every word since the day I met you.”
She just stares at me, throat working like she’s trying to swallow down the weight of it. The silence stretches, heavy and loud, until she finally whispers, almost disbelieving, “You see me.”
Her voice is quiet. And yeah, I do. I always have.
She blinks quickly, like she’s trying to push tears back in before they fall. “Sometimes, I don’t think anyone really does. Thank you. And you’re right. I just want Maya to have her dad. I hate that he left, but I sometimes wonder if this is their chance. Her chance to have everything I’ve always wanted for her. So what? I just say nothing?”
“Yeah. Let’s just say nothing,” I say, my voice low but firm. “Because they don’t matter. We matter. And we’re okay. That’s all I care about. That you and I are good.” I pause, swallowing the lump rising in my throat. “I couldn’t bear it if you didn’t believe me, if they succeeded in tearing us apart. My heart wouldn’t make it, chula.” I take a breath. “But I need you to promise me something, yeah?”
She nods, her eyes glassy. “Of course, anything,” she says softly.
“Promise me that if they try again,” I murmur, leaning in just a little, “that if they try to pull one of these stunts again, that you’ll come to me. You won’t shut me out again, please. I can’t take it.”
“I promise, Mateo. I swear it,” she whispers, her voice shaking as she threads her fingers through mine.
She squeezes my hands once more then leans back against the couch, exhaustion finally catching up with her. I can see it in the slump of her shoulders, in the way her eyes flutter even as she tries to keep themon me.
“You should rest, chula,” I say softly. “I’ll get out of your hair.”
She starts to protest, but I brush my thumb gently across her knuckles. “Mari mentioned she was holding some pastries for you. I’ll swing by and grab them so you don’t have to. Consider it handled.”
Her lips part like she wants to argue, but she’s too tired. Instead, she gives me the smallest nod. “Thank you,” she whispers.
I press a kiss to her forehead. “Rest. I’ll be back later.”
The bell over Mari’s bakery door jingles behind me as I step out, a paper bag of quesitos and pastelillos de guayaba in one hand, still warm. I barely make it two steps before a too-sweet voice cuts through the afternoon air.
“Mateo.”
I turn. Letty’s leaning against the brick wall, arms crossed. Her smile’s wide, smug, practiced. “What, no Analyse today? Or is she finally letting you breathe?”
I exhale slowly. I should walk away. Ignore it. But after everything she’s said, everything she’s spread—no. Not this time.
