Strong arms wrapped around me from behind, warm and solid, pulling me back against a broad chest. Lips pressed to my temple and I looked up, searching for him to do the same to my lips.
When he finally pressed his lips to mine, my thighs tightened as I sighed into him. After a moment we pulled away, Tristian’s eyes glancing over the “stash.”
“Looks like you’ve got yourself a real underground business, doll.”
“Darragh had one too, and look where he ended up,” I murmured, wincing as the words left my mouth. “Too soon?” I asked, my face going red.
He shook his head, placing a kiss in my hair. “…We have to get you some other friends with better filters than the idiots here, baby.”
A month or so had passed. Tristian’s mother was healing. Darragh was dead. My father awaited trial. Noah, with no more strings to pull, had finally relented. Brandon and Amber were gone. Camila was finally free.
The only thing still tugging at me was Abuelita.
Even though we talked every day, I’d been worried since her move to the senior facility. I’d offered to move in and play nurse, but she wouldn’t hear it. She wanted me focused on figuring out who I was, now that I was out of my father’s grip. But I was still figuring out what that looked like.
Tristian carried the bouquet I’d picked out—daisies, yellow roses, white lilies—as we walked through the facility. It was expensive, quiet, and clean. The kind of place my abuela deserved to stay in.
We reached her room and I knocked.
“Mi nieta.“ Her eyes crinkled the moment she saw the flowers. “You brought my favorites.”
I leaned down to kiss her cheek before arranging them in the vase by the window. Tristian said hello before he hung back in the hall, giving us space. But I could feel Abuelita’s eyes sliding past me to him anyway.
“Senior living is treating you well,” I said.
She patted the cushion beside her and I sat.
“Well, I can say the same about you.” Her voice softened. “Look at my girl. All grown up and glowing.”
Then her gaze sharpened, landing on Tristian with that distinct look in her eyes. “It’s about time too. I need to see my great-grandchildren before my time is up, so tell him to get a move on it.”
Heat crept up my neck. “Abuelita…”
She gave a slight shrug, lips twitching. “What? I’m old, not dead. I want to see those babies while I can still spoil them rotten.”
I laughed despite myself, shaking my head. “We haven’t even talked about that yet. Like at all.”
“You love him?”
I didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“Then let life take its course.” She squeezed my hand. “Everything falls into place. Hopefully sooner rather than later.”
I leaned my head on her shoulder. The silence in the room wasn’t heavy for once. It was peaceful. A concept I was still getting used to.
“I missed this,” I whispered.
“And I missed you,” she said.
“Things feel… quiet.”
She was quiet for a moment. Then, “You get used to the noise at some point. And once you realize life has more to offer than suffering and pain, you get to enjoy it when the world finally goes silent. Too many people mistake peace for boredom. But peace,mi nieta… peace is a blessing. It means you survived.”
I let those words sink in. We had survived.
“You think I’ll be okay?” I asked.
She smiled, rubbing her thumb over the back of my hand. “I think you already are.”
