Page 109 of Yours, For Good

"That's what I'm saying!" Eva exclaimed. "Still, you should come visit us, Nora. See everything with your own eyes. That is, if… well."

She frowned, and the smile she'd carried while talking about Max was replaced by a more distant look.

"That is… what?" I asked.

Eva hesitated, but Vi didn't seem to have the same scruples.

"Eva is more private than most of us, but I think I know what she's thinking. It's the same thing we're all thinking."

A warning light flashed in my mind, but I didn't have time to understand it.

Lina's mouth quirked on one side. "We're wondering if we're going to see you again."

That's what my unconscious had predicted would happen, and tried to prepare me for. Javier's found family was open, direct, and truly curious of one another. Even if someone was a temporary visitor, like I might yet be— or maybe not— likely not, but still could — they cared about those in their midst.

I cast my eyes to my coffee, a mild overwhelm twisting my guts at Lina's question.

"Maybe you will see me," I said. "But there's a chance you won't. I can't be the first partner you met who thought they might stick around, only to find they didn't. I'm sure some of the guys dated someone with whom it didn't work out."

"Every single one of them, yes." Vi laughed. "Having met Jake when I was six years old, I had to see him date other people. It sucked. Then again, he had to see me date other people, too."

Lina ran her fingers through her long hair. "Gabe was almost engaged once. If you ask his ex, anyway. And I've dated plenty myself."

"It's not the point, though, is it?" Eva said. "It's hard having to try over and over again and be disappointed each time… perhaps face heartbreak a few times… until one day, instead of disappointment, you find someone you can be with forever. It only has to work once."

I sipped from my coffee to buy myself some time. Their perspective made sense— in theory. Emotionally, it was a very, very expensive quest.

"You don't have to answer," Lina said. "But what's stopping you? You seem happy when you're together."

I cast my eyes her way, gauging if I should trust her— trust them — with it. Wanting to, but unsure.

In my defense, losing my mom and being so alone really screwed this one big thing for me.

Vi must have misunderstood my silence, because she added something out of the blue in a hard, conspiratorial whisper.

"I know he can be hard to read sometimes," Vi said, "but I swear — if Javier is secretly an asshole—"

I snorted, and the three of them laughed.

I dismissed the worry with a wave of my hand. "He's far from an asshole, even if—"

My voice dropped down a cliff until it was gone. I stopped myself right in time.

"Even if he royally screwed up?" Vi offered.

I released my surprise with a small chuckle. "I'm still shocked you know all about that."

"He came to us for advice." Eva arched an eyebrow. "All of us. He told us his version of the story and asked us for help."

"Did he tell you about my past?" I asked.

Maybe they understood that my life had taught me to keep my heart gated, and I had reasons to say no to romance. To be careful about the friendships I kept. Beyond the reasons I might present a judge in my defense, as to why I had to be careful with Javier in particular.

Eva shook her head. "He said you have reasons to hesitate."

They didn't ask for more, even if curiosity filled their bright brown eyes.

So much like my own.