Page 70 of Sweet Heart

“Hi,” I whisper back, my cheeks heating for no apparent reason.

Cat’s hand cradles the back of my head for a beat as she holds me tightly against her. My fingers automatically curl into the fabric of her blouse, and I let out a warm sigh against her neck. The hum she lets out vibrates through me but does nothing to calm the swirling storm inside my chest. I try to regulate my breathing and relax into her, but my shoulders stiffen as if they have a will of their own, and Cat instantly leans back to look at me.

“Querida?”

“Hm?” I hum, trying to play innocent.

But she won’t have it. Her eyes scan me again, and I know that if she presses, I will crumble right underneath her touch. So I throw her a charming smile and raise myself on my tiptoes to press a kiss against her lips. But instead of leaning into it, Cat physically steps back, making me nearly stumble into her. Her hands instantly come up to my shoulders to steady me, but her gaze is sharp.

“Want to try that again?”

Her voice is stern, colder than I’ve heard it in days, and I blink up at her.

“Sorry?”

She squeezes her eyes closed and pinches the bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger while letting out a soft sigh.

“What’s wrong?”

“N—nothing,” I stammer instantly while the blood inside my veins turns into ice.

“Maria, por favor.”

There is no heat in her words now. Quite the opposite. But there is a slight edge to them. She extends her fingers toward me before something stops her, and she lets her hand hover in midair.

“Did Carmen say something to upset you?”

“Wh—what? No. Carmen was perfectly fine.”

“Then what happened?”

“What do you—”

“Maria, I was gone for five minutes, but it was as if the entire air had shifted. Don’t tell me that nothing is wrong. It is okay if you don’t want to talk about it, but don’t shut me out by pretending you are all right.”

Her eyes shine with a mix of hurt and desperation, and the frown on her forehead has deepened. The sight alone makes my heart shatter even more. How can this be the same woman as the one who tries to keep me a secret? It just… it doesn’t make sense.

“Why haven’t you told me about the gala?”

The words tumble out, and tears instantly spring to my eyes. The one thing I’ve been trying to push down all evening rushes up like a coiled spring. My eyes fill with tears, and my bottom lip trembles. Cat’s frown deepens, only to be followed by her eyes widen as the realization hits her.

“Maria, I…” she stumbles as she searches for the words.

I shake my head and smile up at her, sadly.

“It’s okay. I understand.”

I press my hand against her chest once, just to feel her again, to feel what could have been, before I turn and walk away.

Chapter 26

Cat

“Maria,” I gasp as I reach for her, my fingers curling around her wrist again.

She freezes on the spot, almost as if she is waiting for something. Instead of turning back to face me, she squares her shoulders and her whole body goes rigid. The sight makes me feel sick to my stomach, and I want nothing more than to pull her into my arms. How did this happen?

“Maria, por favor, talk to me.”