Page 83 of Yours, For Now

It was a risk to say that here, with my unpredictable uncle present and surrounded by people who didn't know me very well. But the words spilled out of me, unbound and full of hope.

Raúl smiled at me. "I think we could do amazing things together. More deals like this stadium business. Now let's just hope things will turn out the way we want, huh?"

"I thought you'd want to wait and see if we actually get the deal." My dad put his hand on my mom's leg. "What if Lina misjudged?"

"Lina didn't misjudge." Gabe's eyes were serious as he challenged my dad. My breathing quickened, and warmth flowered inside of me. Whatever happened between him and me, one thing was clear. Gabe was on my side. "She's done everything perfectly. If we don't get the stadium, it's because our competitors offered a better deal."

"And the contract is written to open the door to similar deals." Raúl's smile was conciliatory, and when he directed it at me again, it turned genuinely warm. "We already thought about it, and we want to keep working with Martínez and Associates. It's a pleasure to know Lina is our point of contact. She's wonderful. An asset to any business."

My heart beat at double its normal pace. I didn't know if the Sotomayor's support would have any impact on my family's vision of the future, but I wanted to wrap their words in a gold ribbon and tie them to every one of my doubts. I put my hand on Gabe's knee and squeezed; he dropped a kiss on my temple.

"Lina is wonderful, for sure." My mom nodded, her mouth tilted in an upward curl. "And it's always a treat to hear your daughter is held in such high esteem."

"Of course she is," my dad added. "We raised her well. People like the Sotomayors would recognize that, easily."

"Gabe complements her well, too, eh?" Tío Miguel's eyes sparkled. "We can see his influence in how this deal happened, too. He's great as a leader, for sure. You should be proud."

I schooled my face into neutrality, even if my chest ached with the stabbing pain of my uncle's casual insult.

Sonia grinned in my direction. "We are. As for Lina, well, Gabriel likes her. That's all I needed to know. Her business instincts are clearly sharp, as well."

"It's been a gift to get to know you all," I said, and the feelings behind my words were one hundred percent true.

We said goodbye to Lina's family, and I took a deep breath of relief.

"We're going to stay outside a bit longer." My dad put an arm around my mom's shoulders. "Anyone want to get drinks with us?"

"I will," Max said.

"I'm getting in the hot tub." Jake gazed at Vi, then away. I smirked.

Javier smirked, too. "I'll go with you."

"I'll have a drink with you guys," Vi said. "Then I'll get in the tub. Later."

"Do you want to go for a walk?" I asked Lina, ignoring the weird tension that Vi and Jake had barely managed to hide. "Sunset's coming up soon. We can sit on the dock."

"Yes! Go romance your girlfriend," Vi said, and pushed us toward the stairs that led to the lake.

"Shall we?" I asked, and Lina nodded. I'd learned her face well enough in our time together to know that, even though she didn't broadcast it, she was sad.

We followed the trail that led to the water, sparsely paved with big, rustic rocks. It was a bit of a winding path, designed to turn the steep decline into a gentle descent. We strolled slowly through it, ancient trees lining the clearing.

Five minutes into our walk, I spoke over the sound of wind on leaves. "There were several things that could have put that look on your face, but which one is on your mind?"

It took her a beat to answer. "Can I hold your hand?"

I jumped at the opportunity, and took her hand in mine.

She sighed. "I don't know if it'll ever stop bothering me, how my family talks about me."

"I don't think you're supposed to get used to it. It shouldn't be like that in the first place."

"Theoretically, but it is like that. I have to live with it, somehow."

No wonder she'd felt like she needed to harden up, when her very family put her in this position so often. It was easy for me to stand where I was, and want her to soften for me. It wouldn't be me at risk. Things were different for her.

"Thanks for the way you stood up for me. I don't think they will change their minds, but that made me feel better."