Page 40 of Yours, Finally

I pretended not to notice, and not to care.

I looked up a picture on my phone and gave my phone to Gabe, who showed it to Lina. "This is the color palette. Ruby, of course, but I decided against the green as a contrast color. I don't want it falling into Christmas-type decor. I'm leaning more towards peach and pink shades."

"Yeah, this is pretty." Lina gave me my phone back. "How about flowers and other décor?"

Lina's dessert arrived, but she didn't start it right away.

"On it. We'll get to it next." I didn't look at Jake. "We started a list of options."

"What about music?" Jake asked. "I don't know if you've looked at anyone yet, but I could send you a few names."

"We probably need some background music for cocktails and the dinner portion," Lina said, "but also music to dance after, too, right?"

Gabe agreed. "Unless we want some… heartfelt performances?"

Three pairs of eyes landed on Jake. If he and I were something, I would put a hand on his back to comfort him. Things being as they were, I kept my hands to myself.

A look of consternation took over his face. "Don't look at me like that. I'm not performing at a party for your parents in front of three hundred strangers. I can write a heartfelt speech if you like, but no music yet."

"We won't push," Gabe said, "but why? You're incredible, Jake."

Jake shook his head. "That's not the point. I think I'm decent for a hobbyist. Having people watch me and have anopinion, though? No, thanks."

"You did it for karaoke," I said.

Jake's eyes cut to me. "The only people I would ever see again were the three of you, and that's different. If I were to do it for your parents, it couldn't be someone else's song."

His eyebrows wrinkled in an irritated frown, and his jaw clenched.

I peered at him. "Are you… annoyed by this conversation?"

Of all the things Jake kept under wraps, his anger was one of the most significant. I had rarely seen him like this.

His nostrils flared and he stared at the table between us.

"We're not going to push." Gabe's voice was soft. "You don't have to do it. I'll take a heartfelt speech from you— I'll write one, too."

"We can write one together," Jake replied. "With Vi… and Max and Javier, too. We all love them."

I didn't know how much Gabe knew about Jake's history with music; I didn't know much myself. Just a few weeks earlier, though, Jake had told me about how his father reacted to music,and how it drove Jake to hide it. In that moment, I could see how singing in front of people pushed him out of his comfort zone.

My instinct was to reach for Jake, soothe him with a hug, tell him he could take every small step he needed to get there. Tell him he wouldn't have to do it alone, because we'd be there with him.

But everything was off between us, so I didn't.

Jake took a deep, calming breath. "We'll write the speech. And we can go to karaoke again. Maybe one day I'll sing my music in front of everyone at the lake house. But I won't do the party."

"That's a good plan." Lina gave him a soft smile. "We'll go for karaoke soon but, for the party, just send us a few names. That would be great."

Lina reached for her fork to finally start on her chocolate cheesecake, and Gabe opened his mouth to say more, but Lina's phone rang loudly from her purse.

She frowned and took her phone out. "That's weird. Lucía never calls me."

"You should answer, just in case," Gabe said, just as Lina did so.

"Luce? Hi… What? You're crying—" Her frown deepened. "What?!"

We all stared at her, worried about whatever was happening on the phone.