Page 32 of Yours, For Now

"I have mixed feelings. They die too soon, and it makes me sad."

Gabe frowned, but didn't say anything. Tío Miguel was the one to share his thoughts instead.

Mi tío threw the recyclable tray into the trash and concentrated on his cup. "Why so picky, Lina? Your boyfriend was nice to give you flowers."

"And you think I'm ready to marry him now," I let out. I steeled myself to hide my cringe; that comment had the potential to get even more nastiness from my uncle. I usually was better off shutting my mouth, but sometimes I just couldn't help myself.

Tío Miguel was about to say something but Gabe interrupted him.

"I won't give you flowers then, Lina. When I give you something, I want it to be because you like it."

If there had ever been anything to make me consider marriage— in a joking way— it was that statement and the way he'd kissed my wrists.

"It doesn't even have to be jewelry," I managed to joke.

"I'm sure I'll find something." Gabe offered me his hand, and we walked toward the building with his warming mine. "I have a bit of time."

Miguel, Lina, and I stood at the building's foyer after the meeting. Gustavo, the Sotomayor lawyer my sister had sent to the meeting, had just left to return to the office. If I had been a little less selfish, I would have gone back to the office with him, both of us using the same corporate driver. Instead, I'd chosen the freedom of making the journey alone, and Josué waited for me nearby. In case it made sense to go with Lina somewhere instead.

"The next stage," Lina said, "is to prepare the information our teams will need to write up the division of labor part of the contract."

"Yes, I'll get started on that." I took a sip of my coffee, now mostly cold. It gave me something to do with my hands.

"¿Ya vienes a la oficina?" Miguel asked Lina.

"Ya casi. I need to talk to Gabe first."

"I get it. Saying goodbye to your novio, huh? I'll see you at the office." He shook my hand but spoke to his niece. "Don't take too long, work won't wait."

He left us and we waited until he was out of the building to turn to each other. She drank the last of her coffee, the bottom of the to-go cup up in the air, then threw it in the garbage.

She sighed. "Do you think he knows how much he contradicts himself?"

"I don't think so, no." I put my hands in my pockets. "So, what did you want to talk about? I doubt it was a ploy to kiss me goodbye."

She smirked. "It wasn't a ploy to kiss you, but it is relationship business. My mom reminded me that mi primo Luis is getting married next Saturday. She made a comment about how good it was that I wouldn't have to go alone now."

She lifted an eyebrow in question.

"Oh." I ran a hand through my hair. "Of course tu novio would go with you."

We chatted near the elevators, and a car full of people reached the lobby and emptied into the foyer. Folk in office attire surrounded us. The lunch rush had begun.

"To be honest, the wedding had escaped my mind." Lina ignored everyone around us, her eyes locked on me. I liked the attention a little too much. "I wouldn't have remembered if my mom hadn't mentioned it. I can say you had something else already."

It should have been easy to take her offer and skip the wedding; work had begun to pile high on my to-do list. I worried the inside of my bottom lip; why didn't the agreement fall ready from my mouth?

"It's okay, Gabe. I know I'm already asking a lot. And you're busy."

I studied her as she offered me another out. Maybe the no didn't want to come out for the same reason I had brought flowers and wine to dinner the other night. Because if I was pretending to be her boyfriend, I would pretend properly.

I had integrity, but it seemed I also had pride.

"I bet they tease you for attending these things alone." I finished my own coffee and threw the cup away.

"Don't worry about me," she said. "I'll be fine. I'm used to it. I just ignore them."

"Let's shut their mouths instead. What do you say?"