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“And he came to the States,” I concluded, and Lina nodded. I felt my throat work as I tried not to let everything I was feeling affect my voice. “I’m sure that whatever it is, Lucas will come around and tell you. He loves you guys, and maybe he just needs time to do it on his own terms.” I paused. “Sometimes, when we’re in pain, we need to come to the realization on our own that we need help. Before we can ever accept it.”
Lina’s hand reached out across the table and grabbed mine. “Ugh, you really are wise, best friend.”
I wasn’t. I really wasn’t. But I gave her a smile and hoped she’d still love me when I told her everything that I was keeping from her about Lucas.
“Anyway.” Lina waved her hand in the air. “Are you sure you don’t want to come stay with Aaron and me? There’s a spare room and more than enough space in his apartment. Our apartment, now.”
“I’m sure,” I told her confidently. The last thing I wanted was to disturb two newlyweds.
“All right. If you’re sure.” She shrugged, checking the time on her phone. “It’s getting late, and I told Aaron I’d help him with dinner.”
“Yep, let’s go.” I braced my hands on the table and pulled mychair back. “I should get back, too. Lucas has probably started with dinner already.”
Lina tsked. “That’s why you don’t want to leave him for us.”
I knew exactly what she was talking about, but I played dumb. “Huh?”
She cackled. “I don’t blame you. Lucas is an amazing cook. He’s somehow elevated Abuela’s recipe book to a whole different galaxy. Tía Carmen is always trying to get him to audition for one of those cooking shows.”
I smiled at the idea of Lucas on TV. God, he’d win the damn thing and everyone’s hearts in a heartbeat.
“Oh.” She caught my attention with a waving hand. “Before I forget. Do you have plans for Halloween?”
I grabbed my jacket from the back of my chair. “You know I don’t.”
Lina joined me at the side of the table, her lips twitching with a devious smile. “Well, you might now.” She grabbed her own jacket and slipped her arms in. “Aaron was invited to a—brace yourself—Masquerade Ball. Next Saturday.”
My eyebrows shot up my forehead. “Fancy.”
“It’s really a costume party, but you New Yorkers have a sexy name for everything. Anyway, it’s one of the charity things he gets invited to every year, but never attends. You know Aaron.”
“Yeah, I can imagine how dressing up is not his thing.” Or socializing, in general. “But I’m guessing Aaron is going to RSVP yes to this one? For you?”
“And it barely took any convincing,” Lina bragged, a glint in her eyes. “My husband is kind of the best.”
Her face brightened. Just like it always did when she talked about him.
That sharp bite of longing returned. It was quick but threw me off balance all the same.
Unaware, Lina continued, “The organizing committee was so happy he was attending, that they sent him two extra invitations.”
Oh. “I don’t know, sweetie. I’m—”
“You’re under a deadline, I know.” Lina seemed to consider something. “Did you re-download Tinder? Like I suggested?”
The tips of my ears turned warm. “No, I didn’t. I somehow found a different… method. It’s a long story that I can tell you tomorrow because we’re in… er… a rush now.”
She looked skeptical. “Is it working?”
“Yes,” I confirmed without thinking. Because it was. Itsowas.
“Then,” Lina pointed out with a smile, “maybe you can afford to take this one night off? Have a little Halloween fun? Fun is good for the mind.”
We started for the exit of the café, and I heard myself say, “You have two tickets, right?”
Lina sighed. “Does that mean you want to bring my cousin?”
I pinned her down with a hard look.
