It feltlike I was speechless for half an hour. Morgan sat calmly, watching me gape at her in silence.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you, but you’ve had so much going on,” she said, her eyes watering.
My own eyes started to burn. “Morgan, I’m so sorry. I’ve been such a shitty friend. I should have noticed.”
She hushed me before I could go on.
“Does Elliott know? Does Richard?” I asked.
“Richard knows because I’ve been sick at home. Nobody else does—just you. You’re the only one I wanted to tell.”
I hugged her so hard it felt like I was crushing her bones, and she was crushing mine.
“You look so much better,” she noted, pulling back. “Maybe Elliott was right. Some time away is doing you good.”
“You know what? I think so too. It’s only been a week, but I feel better. Working empties my brain and forces me to focus. And I’ve actually been sketching again. I’ve had ideas—I thought my creative well had dried up.”
Her pocket vibrated, and she hugged me once more. “Richard’s here. I think I’ll just go home and rest. Please tell your mom thank you for everything.”
I walked her to the door and out to Richard’s waiting car, watching them drive away before heading back inside. The sun was setting, and as people started to trickle out, Morgan’s confession made me forget why I’d wanted to hide in the house in the first place.
Reluctantly, I went looking for Elliott to tell him his sister had left, and I found him in the most unexpected place: the bounce house. The kids were hooting as they took turns riding him like a horse. It was the cutest thing I’d ever seen—something I never would have expected from him.
A small hand tugged on my jeans. I looked down to find one of my favorite little people—the only one still scrawny enough to carry. I scooped Gaby up, and he tucked his head into the crook of my neck. Together, we watched kid after kid try to conquer the “horse” in the bounce house. Before long, Gaby’s breathing evened out. He was fast asleep.
A tap on my shoulder made me turn. Julián smiled at me, then glanced at Gaby and whispered, “Ya me voy.” He was leaving. “But think about what I asked. I sent you the message,” he added, holding up his phone.
I just nodded, still shocked anyone would show interest in me. It had been so long I’d forgotten what it felt like. He leaned in, brushing another quick kiss against my cheek, and then he was gone. I waved at him and mytíaas she walked him to his car.
When I turned back, I felt Elliott’s gaze on me—heavy and unflinching. He’d been watching. I didn’t balk; I had nothing to be ashamed of. After a while, he crawled out of the bounce house, looking sore in all the wrong places.
“Kids, one. Elliott, zero,” I laughed.
“They’re relentless. Do they ever get tired?”
“Some do,” I said, gesturing to the sleeping bundle in my arms. “Will you help me put him down?”
He nodded, and we headed inside to my mom’s bedroom, where there was always a makeshift fort for the babies. I laid Gaby down gently, covering him with his favorite blanket—the one I’d given him for his first birthday. It meant something to me that it was still his favorite. I’d always strived to be the favorite. Maybe what I really wanted was just to be chosen.
“You’re really good with them,” Elliott said.
“They’re easy to please,” I sighed.
“You’re going to be a great mom one day, Ness.”
The compliment blindsided me. My jaw went slack, and I was momentarily speechless. I could feel his eyes on me, so I said the first thing that came out. “One day, right?”
“I think it’ll be sooner than you think.”
Had that been a sly nod toJulián? We’d just met; sure, he was handsome, but I knew nothing about him. Maybe Elliott was just trying to be kind. The thought was so foreign I couldn’t compute it.
“Thank you. For what you said earlier,” I said, sighing. “I promise my family means well.”
“I don’t think your worth should be determined by your marital status or how many babies you pop out. I know we’ll probably end up killing each other one day, but that doesn’t mean I like the idea of you popping out babies for some antiquated tyrant.”
Even though it had happened earlier, I could still hear the grit in his voice. And I hated to admit it, but it was comforting. He had my back. Despite everything, he’d seen my insecurities for what they were and shut them down. Not even my siblings had done that. I always prided myself on taking the jokes, but over time, they’d worn me down. And Elliott—of all people—had noticed.
“Okay. I’m going to hug you.”
