Page 126 of The Replay

My brain rearranges my synapsis into a new vision. I promised myself I wouldn't put myself in this position again. But risking another heartbreak is the only way to give myself a chance at what I truly want— a life with Mariana.

I need to ask her. Get her to figure out what she wants without anyone's influence, not even mine. Because after she knows, we'll get to make choices that are only hers, and only mine.

This is the right way. It builds the foundations to fix my biggest mistake. The one where I never told her I don't want to ever lose her.

Chapter 40

Mariana

I stare at Dom. He looks handsome against the fountain and greenery backdrop, wearing dark blue trousers that hide his brace, and his light sweater and sport coat. But melancholy surrounds him like stormy clouds. The way his crutches lean on the basin add to the effect, resting next to him in a haphazard way, like they're an afterthought and could be forgotten. Gloomy Man on a Sunday. That's the title I'd pick for an artsy shot of the moment.

His friends told me I could find him here and they warned me he might be in a mood, but didn't tell me what mood that would be. I thought he might be annoyed, after seeing my parents again. I didn't expect him to look nostalgic.

"Hey." I sit next to him. "I finally escaped my family for a bit. We have about ten minutes before someone comes looking for me. I'm crossing my fingers it's Cora. Or Maisie. I'm so happy to see Maisie."

"I'm glad she made it." He gives me a small smile. "But that's not a lot of time for us."

"Then we make the best of the little we have right now."

"As you wish." He scans the party and drops a kiss on my face.

"Careful," I complain. "Too many eyes everywhere!"

But I don't pull back. His daring move is sweet, and it sparks happy feelings in my chest. Those, no one can see.

I frown. It's not that he looks nervous, per se…

"If you need an excuse," he says, and his tone sounds the same as usual, "we can go back to the tent and accidentally stand under the mistletoe. Rafa got a kiss out of his friend that way."

"He did?" I let out a nervous chuckle. "You've gotten more than a kiss out of me lately. Don't be greedy."

"Why not? We have plausible deniability if it's our friends using tradition to force us into it. No one has to know we wanted it. I could use a nice kiss from you."

"You could?" I purse my lips to hide my smile.

I think he's flirting with me. It's new, too. Is that why he's mildly agitated? In all these weeks since we crossed paths again, he hasn't flirted. He's in a mood, indeed.

And yet it brings butterflies to my stomach.

"I always could," he says. "Especially now that I won't see you for nearly a week."

He leans closer. His eyes don't waver— he studies me intensely. And his lips take on a teasing smile.

"Are you flirting with me, Dom?" I ask.

"Trying to, yes." His grin turns lopsided now.

"Why? Because we'll be apart until the gala in a week and you'll miss me?"

I don't know if I want that to be the answer. Okay, well— I'd like that. It would mean I'm not the only one feeling things we said we wouldn't.

"You see," he starts, his eyes locked on me, "my plans for the holiday break are simple. Quiet time with my mom and abuela. Lots of delicious food. I'll treat them to restaurants too, if they let me. Anything else they let me do for them. I'll even help them with the posada they're hosting this year."

"Sounds sweet. And?"

"And while all of that happens, something tells me I'll think a lot about you. I'll wish you were there with me. So maybe, if I flirt with you hard enough now, you'll think of me, too."

The happy feelings in my chest— they turn tender. I soften. This is probably why he looked glum. A week apart shouldn't feel like a lot, but it's going to be a lot. For both of us, it seems.