Page 63 of Mutual Discord

Olivia’s brows dipped imperceptibly, but my brother frowned outright. “Is Caitlin going to be here?”

“No,” I said, shaking my head.

Javi’s frown deepened. “If she’s not here, why is he going to be? Why wouldn’t they spend Christmas together?”

A question I’d pondered many times.

I flourished a hand. “Like I said, Alex and I are friends. He doesn’t have any family here in Arizona, and you know Caitlin is always traveling for her job.”

“Do I know that?” Javi scoffed and glanced at Olivia. My sister-in-law arched a brow in response. “Whatever. I guess I just don’t get why he’d want to spend Christmas with his girlfriend’s best friend instead of his girlfriend.”

The weight of the room’s many gazes was suffocating, and I struggled to maintain my composure. Suddenly I wished I was drinking something—anything—stronger than water.

“He’s spending Nochebuena with us. There’s a difference.” Mamí emphasized this point by throwing her hands wide. “Alex is a nice young man who wants to connect with his Puerto Rican roots, and we can help him do that.”

“Plus, he works for the Phoenix Scorpions,” Papí said casually, taking a sip from his glass. “Maybe he can get you a ticket.”

“He does?” Javi and Olivia said in unison.

My father nodded, smug as a cat who got the cream.

“You can’t like Alex just because he works for a professional sports team,” I exclaimed, glowering.

Javi took an exaggerated sip from his margarita. “Sure I can. I’m the oldest and only son in a Latino family, and I’m a doctor. We both know that makes me a prince among men.”

“You’re also an ass,” Olivia remarked, staring at him over the top of her water glass.

“Yeah, he is,” I agreed.

My brother shrugged, a taunting smile on his lips. “And you both love me for it.”

I released a long, tortured sigh. I hated that he was right.

Chapter Seventeen

Alex: I’m about to hop on the freeway.

Sofia: Be careful. We’ll see you soon!

Alex: I’m looking forward to it.

“Will you sit down? You’re making me nervous.”

I shot the full force of my glare at Javi, who had regrettably become immune to its power years ago. “You could always go help Mamí make the masa for the pasteles.”

“Olivia is already helping her, and I’d just be in the way,” he replied, flipping a page in the medical journal he was reading.

“You know,” I began, stopping my pacing and crossing my arms over my chest, “you never struck me as the kind of machismo asshole to let the women in his life do all the cooking and cleaning while you sit back and drink a beer.”

Javi sighed and closed the journal, resting it on the side table. “First, I’m not drinking a beer. It’s too early for one. But you could make us some Bloody Marys.” When I scowled, he waved a hand. “Secondly, I do the majority of the cooking and grocery shopping for Liv and me. And lastly, Olivia asked to hang out with Mom in private.”

I went still. “Why? Is everything okay?”

Wild thoughts of what could be wrong with my sister-in-law knotted into a lump in my throat. We didn’t get to see each other very often, but I adored Olivia and wanted only the best things for her.

“Liv is fine. Better than fine.” Javi glanced toward the kitchen, where I could hear soft murmurings. “She wanted to speak to Mamí privately because she’s expecting.”

“Oh.” All the air in my body rushed out on a gasp. And to my horror, tears filled my eyes. “That’s the most wonderful news in the world.”