Page 24 of Love in Times of Contempt

"Yes they are, and they're very excited about it, actually. They're taking it as a road trip! They left last Saturday; they're following the scenic route. They expect to be here next Tuesday or Wednesday."

Ana overtook a slow car with ease. Soon they'd be stuck in traffic, so she delighted in the opportunity. "Where are they staying? They may have come up with excuses not to stay with us, but they have to at least accept an invitation for dinner."

"I don't remember the name of the hotel, but that's a good idea. Though you know my mom, she'll want to cook."

"C'mon. She'd be our guest. We can't make her cook."

Ely waved a hand in dismissal. "That's okay. My mom wouldn't know what to do with herself if she wasn't the one hosting the meal. I can get her to send me the shopping list for whatever dish she'd like to make, then we buy and prepare everything around it. Patacónwillbe involved, knowing her… which I'm sure will make you happy."

"Yes, ugh. I haven't had a good patacón in a long time. Probably since the last time your parents had me over. You think your mom will still want to make me some? Isn't she angry with me and renounced me as an adoptive daughter, now that I stole you away from them?"

"No, no." Ely laughed. "They said they've felt like empty nesters for long enough that they've already learned to make the most of it. You know, they said how I broke their hearts already five years ago when I moved out, et cetera. Me living in LA gives them a reason to travel around more, I think."

Ana grinned as she brought the car to a stop. They had reached the first bout of traffic. "Great, because I wouldn't want them to get into a feud with me."

Ely winked at Ana. "Don't worry, they won't. Talking about feuds, have you heard from Alex?"

"No." Ana scrunched up her nose. "We told him we needed his answer in about a month— that was a month ago. I told Liam last night, we should have given him a firm date.About a monthgives him too much leeway and now we're a bit in limbo."

"So when you say you haven't heard from him, you mean nothing at all? Not only no definitive answer but not even a text or anything?" Ely reached for a water bottle in the console.

"That's right. Complete radio silence. Liam is irritated as hell, of course, but trying to be true to his word and give Alex time to think. Meanwhile, we did start a search for candidates, because we don't want to string our business along just because Alex doesn't want to commit. There's a couple of people who seem like they could be a good fit."

Ely gulped some water before continuing. "But if Alex says yes… then it'll be Alex?"

"Probably. On paper, he is a good fit. Liam showed me Alex's profile on his employer's website and it's actually quite impressive. It's the other stuff that worries me. When I met him, he was so… unapproachable. A bit antagonizing. At the same time, I don't want to push Liam too much. He did let me hire you."

"But I am good. On paper and otherwise."

Ana laughed. "We know that! Of course we do. At the end of the day, we wouldn't have hired you and wouldn't have offered the job to Alex if we had any doubts you could actually do the job. It's the personal stuff that makes it a bit muddy. Liam is trusting me and my love for you to think you'll be a great personable addition to the team."

Ely shrugged. "He knows me a bit, too."

"Sure, but it can get weird, right? Working with family. And you're as much my family as Alex is to Liam. So he's trusting me that I trust you."

"And you're trusting Liam with his choice of Alex. Thing is, having a family business is totally a normal thing. Not only for us latine people. The part that I don't get is that they don't like each other, and why Liam doesn't seem concerned about it."

The car inched slowly forward. Ana barely registered it as the ordeal it usually was… she had Ely, now.

Ana sighed. "They don't like each other and Liamisworried about it. Part of it is that Liam does know you and I think he hopes that with the three of us in it, Alex will soften and it'll make it easier for them to get that good relationship Liam wants."

Ana gazed at her friend, who'd frowned.

Ely nodded. "I'll do my best to aid in this crusade. I'm not going to disappoint you or Liam, I promise."

Ana winked and brought her eyes back to the car in front of them. "I know you won't."

Once they finally arrived at Ana and Liam's home, they put Ely's things away in the guestroom— the same room Ana had used when she first met Liam— and spent the evening talking on the patio and looking at listings. The next day, they spent the morning driving and talking whenever traffic was too slow, and Ana showed Ely around.

Liam was scheduled to arrive that evening, surely carrying many new freebies. In preparation to wait for him, Ana ordered lunch for herself and Ely, and they took the afternoon off to relax. They put on their bikinis and jumped into the swimming pool, lazily treading water.

"This is all just… amazing, Ana. Amazing. Have I told you lately that I think you're living the best life? Look at this view! The pool! Gah! One day, you were signing with TCA and we were celebrating. Next thing I knew, you were introduced to Liam and all our lives changed forever."

After many more one-on-one classes, Ana was finally able to float. She let the water support her as she drifted in the pool, eyes closed behind her sunglasses, a smile on her face.

"I know. Itisamazing. How does that even happen for me? For us?"

"It happened. Real life facts. Now you moved in with your beau and offered me the best job in the world, and I'm basking in the glow of your sun. As one should. There's enough sunlight to share, right? 'Cuz I'm so happy, basking around. Basking hard."