Felix laughs, already grabbing the bags from the checkout. “Oh, yes. We can. It’s gonna be great. Like a fucking telenovela.” He’s already heading toward the door, excitement buzzing in his steps.
I jog to catch up, my mind tangled in thought. Julio, Adriana, Kenji. Maybe if we can keep them in separate parts of the house … If I can reduce the risk of them crossing paths …
We load the groceries into the truck and head straight back home. I get why Felix was in a hurry to return because I’m eager to get back to the house as well, though for entirely different reasons. Felix doesn’t want to miss the show. And I … I need to make sure one never starts.
As soon as we pull into the driveway, my eyes land on Cecilia’s white Jeep and an unfamiliar Ford Bronco parked in front of the house. That knot in my stomach twists tighter. I spot Julio through the large front window, arms folded, jaw clenched tight as he glowers at the world outside.
“Told you, man.” Felix lets out a low whistle. “Shit is about to go down.”
I stop dead, watching Julio, who’s staring at the Bronco like it personally insulted him. Shit. This is gonna get ugly.
Felix grins, practically skipping to the door. “Man, I give it fifteen minutes before Julio blows a gasket. This is gonna be epic.”
I shake my head, unease gnawing in my gut. “Epic or a disaster,” I mutter, following Felix up the steps.
My mind’s already working on damage control.
gabriel
. . .
I stepinto the soccer house, tension pulling at my shoulders. I’m not sure what I’m walking into, but from the looks of it, Julio is waiting for me. If I know him at all, he’s already fuming about Adriana bringing Kenji. I honestly don’t know how I overlooked that. The guy’s denied anything going on between them for years but fuck—we all know there’s something. He made that pretty obvious with how pissed he was when he found out about the double date in the first place.
The air inside feels heavier than usual, thick with anticipation, like it’s charged and just waiting for the spark to ignite. My fingers tighten around the grocery bags as I scan the room, searching for the first sign of trouble.
But instead, my eyes latch onto her.
Cecilia stands by the staircase, wearing one of my hoodies, her smile hitting me like a shot of pure sunlight. Her eyes light up the moment they meet mine. I don’t even pause to think. I just react. Everyone and everything else in the room fades for a second. The bags of groceries I’m holding drop to the floor with a thud, and I close the distance between us in two long strides, sweeping her up into my arms.
She giggles, her legs latching around my waist as I lift her feet off the ground. Her laugh melts away the weight on my shoulders, and I tighten my grip on her thighs, pulling her closer. Cecilia wraps her arms around my neck, her body warm and familiar against mine.
“Missed you,” I murmur, pressing my nose into the curve of her neck. The sweet, familiar scent of her coconut shampoo fills my senses. Fuck she smells good.
“I missed you, too,” she whispers back, her breath warm against my skin. I hold her there for a moment longer, just breathing her in. The noise of the others talking dulls to a background hum, and I find myself just wanting to stay in the moment.
When I finally set Cecilia back on her feet, I lean forward and capture her mouth in a kiss. I mean for it to be quick, just a taste, but the second her lips meet mine, I’m gone. Her lips are soft. Her mouth so inviting. She tastes like cherry cola—sweet and fizzy, and before I can stop myself, I deepen the kiss, pulling her closer.
It’s not enough. It never is. This desire between us bordering on desperation. I really wish we weren’t about to have a house full of people right now.
A throat clears, and I pull back, blinking away the haze of Cecilia’s lips. I glance up to find Adriana standing nearby, Kenji right next to her. Adriana raises an eyebrow, amusement stamped across her features while Kenji offers a small wave.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Adriana says, though it’s obvious she isn’t. There’s a hint of something guarded in her smirk but if I had to guess, it has nothing to do with our impromptu PDA and everything to do with the read she has on Julio’s mood.
Kenji, on the other hand, looks relaxed. His hands are shoved into his pockets as he watches us with a smile on his face. Theguy doesn’t look like he has a care in the world. I almost envy him.
I force myself to release my girl, nodding to Kenji. “Hey, man.”
Cecilia steps out of my arms, her delicate fingers slipping into mine, and I turn my attention to the real problem—Julio. He’s across the room, his jaw tight, nostrils flaring as he watches Kenji like he’s some kind of intruder. The tension is rolling off him in waves, heavy and hot.
I already know today is going to be a long day.
“Have you met everyone yet?” I ask.
“He hasn’t,” Adriana answers for him. “Some people have been too busy brooding to introduce themselves.”
I wince. Did she really just call J out like that? Adriana isn’t dumb—she knows exactly what she’s doing. But provoking Julio? Not the best idea.
“Julio, this is Kenji,” I say, keeping my tone casual, like introducing these two isn’t a recipe for disaster. “Kenji, this is Julio.”
