AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’m so excited to see Kira, I practically run out of my room and down the stairs without giving much thought to the “splaining” I will need to do.
I know exactly what she means. She’s seen Slade. My secret is out.
I also can’t wait to hold Morgan. She’s only ten months old, but I swear I’ve never seen a cuter baby in my entire life. I’m not biased at all.
I burst out the front door and run to Kira. We embrace in a long hug. I keep myself under control, not letting a single tear fall. It’s harder than I imagined.
She finally ends our hug, giving me a stern look. “You. Left. Out. A. Lot.”
I play dumb. “What do you mean?”
Kira doesn’t buy it. “You know exactly what I mean. Check outMister He’s So Kindover there. You forgot to mention a few things. Girl, you’re in hot water.”
We both turn, standing shoulder to shoulder as we watch Slade. He already has Morgan in his arms. The Morgan who will hardly ever leave her mother’s side without wailing. She’s smiling and laughing, trying to catch bubbles.
It’s the end of the show. The bubble machine is doing its magic. Slade is dancing with Morgan to “I Knew You Were Waiting for Me” by George Michael and Aretha Franklin. When the title of the song is sung, Slade points directly at me when it saysYou. And points to himself when it saysFor Me. There’s no room to wonder if he did it on purpose or not. It was so deliberate, it’s scary.
“What the heck was that, Marin? Start splaining,” Kira says as we continue to watch Slade. She speaks from the corner of her mouth, as though she’s trying to hide the fact that we’re conversing.
I’m feeling a little breathless. Hot. Passy-outy. “I, uh, don’t know what’s happening.” All at once, I’m a ventriloquist, hardly moving my lips as I speak.
“Darn straight, you don’t. You told me he was kind and nice, and he took good care of you. Like a seventy-year-old man. You forgot to mention he’s the most gorgeous man to ever walk the earth. Are you telling me you didn’t notice?”
“Um, I noticed.”
“Because this is the man you’re allowing yourself tonotice? Your words, not mine.”
Weird sounds come out of my mouth as I try to form a sentence. “Yeah. He’s the one,” I finally manage.
“He sure is. I’d take off my wedding ring for him.”
She’s kidding. Her humor can be downright wicked at times. Kira’s happily married to the love of her life. She’s also the most loyal person I know.
“It’s Sunday. Where’s Joaquín?” I ask.
“He had to catch up on a work project. It’s just me and Morgan. Don’t change the subject. What exactly is going on here? By the way, I see why the bubble show is cool and not weird. And, boy, do I want to eat his breakfast.”
“Kira! That sounded weird and creepy.” A shiver runs through me as though I just tasted something awful.
“Truly, Madly, Deeply” starts to play over the Bluetooth speaker. The bubble dance party continues.
Kira sighs. “All of a sudden, I don’t care how creepy I sound. He, well, he can cure a broken heart. My vote is you let him do the job. Just saying. Speak, Marin. Leave nothing out.”
“That’s just it. There’s nothing to tell. Nothing’s happening. Not really.”
“And yet, something is happening?”
“Yeah, I guess something’s happening,” I admit. “Strangely, oddly, weirdly.”
That makes Kira laugh out loud. Then she says, “Blu who? Is that the new rhyme of the day?”
I swallow. Hard. “I like it. Works for me.”
“Just so you know, I’m no longer worried about you, Marin. You’re in good hands. Really big gorgeous hands.”
“Shut up,” I mutter, uneasily.
Kira again laughs, as if something is hilariously funny. As though she sees something I don’t. Like I’m an idiot for missing something.
