“Impossible. You could never intrude.”
My throat tightens, and I struggle to swallow past the lump that grows bigger with every sweet thing Luz Navarro says. “It’s really good to see you again.”
She gives my hand a brief squeeze. “I know, honey. I know.”
“There he is.”Victor Navarro beams like the proud dad he is when Bash walks into the family room and pulls his son in for a bear hug. “You were on fire out there.”
“No kidding. I should have put money on the game,” Lola muses.
Sebastian chuckles at my best friend and squeezes his dad tightly before turning and hugging his mom much more gently. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hi,mijo.” She pats his cheek affectionately. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks,” my boyfriend says, his eyes soft. “I try my best.”
“Psh. You don’t have to try. We’re always proud.”
Bash gives his mom a brilliant smile. She pats his cheek one more time before her eyes dart in my direction and she waggles her eyebrows. He laughs, and getting the message, turns to me.
The affection I see in his expression nearly liquefies me.
“Hey, Rosebud.”
Goose bumps break out over my skin and the sounds in the room that had been overwhelming a few minutes ago fade away as Sebastian reaches out and cups both sides of my face. Therough callouses that cover his skin provide a sharp contrast to the softness of his touch. “Hi.”
He stares into my eyes for another few seconds before lowering his lips to mine and kissing me with such tenderness, my heart skips a beat. “Thanks for coming.”
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss it.”
I’ve missed too much already.
He grins at me before leaning in and whispering, “You doing okay? I’m sorry I couldn’t be here when you saw my parents again for the first time.”
“Yeah. I’m great. And your parents are great. It’s been amazing spending time with them again.”
“Good.” He presses a lingering kiss to my cheek. “I’m hoping you’ll get to spend a lot more time with them in the future.”
My stomach does a little flip.
The world only comes into focus once Lola clears her throat dramatically and says, “Get a room, you two.”
Right. We’re in a room full of people. Including Sebastian’s parents.
The Navarros chuckle when I bury my face in their son’s chest to hide my flaming cheeks.
“Good to see you too, Lola,” Bash says. He reaches over to ruffle her hair, and my best friend screeches at him to stop. This makes his parents laugh even harder, and I can’t help imagining a future where this is our normal.
“You want to come out with us to celebrate, Mom and Dad?”
Victor shakes his head. “Nah. You kids go have fun. Your mother and I are up past our bedtimes already.”
Sebastian shakes with laughter. “Sure you are.”
“We’ll see you for lunch tomorrow,” Luz says. She pulls us both in for hugs, then Victor takes his turn. “Goodnight, kids.”
We’re nearly thirty, and when they call us kids, I almost feel like one again. Like ten years haven’t passed, and I’m not essentially a stranger.
We watch them go, Sebastian’s arm wrapped around me, until Griffin claps his hands and rallies the troops.
