Page 101 of Yours, Forever

"Everyone be ready to like the post and comment." Vi saluted us with the cordial glass. "We're boosting the hell out of it."

"The only thing I regret is having forgotten so much," Eva added.

"None of us are worried about what you're doing." Tía Sonia gazed at us with the kind of kindness that soothed me in an instant. "Especially not now that we've seen you together. Even after only two hours."

"We can tell you more by the end of the break if you like," Vi joked. "But I'm pretty sure Eva fits right in."

"We're not worried about the business side of things either. You're a savvy investor." Tío Raúl shrugged. "I know you're not just giving the money away."

"Even risky investments make us money on interest alone." Javier tsked. "It's part of the ridiculousness of owning this kind of money."

"As long as you stay married, your dad can't do a thing, right?" Jake asked.

I nodded. "This is a problem of his own making."

"We'll help you," Javier said. Everyone nodded. "As always."

Warmth cloaked my weary shoulders. With their love and Eva's affection, I could make it through.

"Try not to think of it for the rest of your visit," Tía Sonia said. "Enjoy the Dieciocho with us."

Chapter 28

Max

Our room at thelake house was simple; cozy with wood tones on the wall and white-washed ceilings. A closet in the corner, and a window looking out at the forest. Our bed had a plush duvet and soft sheets that quickly became a cocoon for Eva and I.

I got into bed with her and a deep sigh left me. I'd been holding on to it for a few hours.

"Fuck my dad," I said.

Eva pulled me to her. I lay my head on her shoulder and breathed her in.

She ran her fingers through my hair. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine. It helps that I have the support of everyone here." I put an arm around her pillowy stomach, and burrowed into the nook of her neck.

"It's pretty impressive. The love is palpable."

"Now you see why I love them so much."

"I already knew when your friends visited us. Now it just… makes me ache a bit. As much as Laguna Island is full of Latine folk and we see traces of it everywhere, I don't have something like this over there. My parents only had awful things to say about their ethnicity, so I never truly felt that connection. I know my mom's parents are from Uruguay and my dad's from Bolivia. That's it. Is that weird?"

"Not at all, darling. I wouldn't have an anchor to my roots if it weren't for the Sotomayors."

"They seem so warm and welcoming… It's only been a few hours and I already feel cared for. They said that it took them two hours with us to see that they could trust in us."

"See why I think of them as my family? I could never hope for something like this from my father. The rest of my family isn't much different, and they're all so far away…"

"It makes me sad that this is the way things are for you."

"This is how things are for you, too. It's not like you can count on family for anything."

"It's true…" she caressed my hair. "But I think I've come to terms with it, maybe. Or like I don't need them as much…"

"We all need people we can call our own. People with whom we belong. By blood or love alone, we need it. You do, too."

"I belong to Laguna Island."