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I think back, vaguely recalling that night. I remember being frightened and once again feeling helpless, at the mercy of a disease I couldn’t control.
“You wanted him,” he says, bringing me out of my memory. “The first person you thought to call was Diego, even though I was right there.”
I frown, trying to remember specifically what he’s referring to.
“I don’t think you even remember,” he concludes. “You were somewhat out of it. But you asked me to call him. You said he was the one person who helped make you feel calm when this sort of thing happens.”
I watch as Lawrence visibly swallows.
“That was the moment I knew you were in love with him,” he confesses.
It steals my breath.
“The whole time we were together, whenever he visited or you mentioned him, I tried to tell myself you two were just friends. But it always felt like I was stepping into something that I had no business getting in the middle of.”
He shrugs. “But my pride wouldn’t let me admit that to you. Not back then. So I made up a lame excuse about not wanting to take care of you. I’m sorry, Monique. I never meant that shit. It was a terrible thing to tell you.”
“It damn sure was,” a deep voice that sends chills down my spine says behind me.
I have to keep my lips from curling into a smile as I turn to look at Diego over my shoulder. His face is a storm cloud as he peers down at my ex-fiancé. I fold my arms over my chest to hide the way my nipples harden at seeing him so damn sexy in the tuxedo he’s decided to wear for tonight.
One would think the scowl on his face would be off-putting. It’s the opposite for me. I have to remind myself that I don’t have time to jump his bones.
Diego’s glare drops from Lawrence’s face to the flowers in my hand. His frown deepens.
“She doesn’t even like tulips,” he scoffs.
“Really?” My ex sounds surprised.
In the time we were together, he never bought flowers for me. I never got the opportunity to tell him that I didn’t like tulips.
Diego rolls his eyes and reaches around to take the flowers from my hands. My ex stands there, a dumbfounded expression on his face, as if he doesn’t know where to go from here.
“Well, I just wanted to tell you that and to wish you luck with your gallery. It looks amazing,” Lawrence says.
“She doesn’t need luck,” Diego retorts. “She has talent, savvy, the drive, and everything else she needs.” As if to emphasize his point, he wraps his free hand around my waist, pulling me to him.
“Thank you, Lawrence.”
“Bye,” Diego says for me.
He gives a quick nod of his head before he turns to leave.
I turn to Diego. “That was rude.”
“Fuck him.” He stares over my shoulder as if he’s thinking about going after Lawrence to settle some unnamed score.
“He just wanted to wish me luck and to apologize.”
He snorts. “He did that. Good thing that’s all he wanted.” A devilish smile spreads his lips as he leans down. “Because I wouldn’t hesitate to fuck him up for thinking of doing anything else to you.”
His lips press against mine, again igniting that usual warmth that starts in the pit of my belly and slowly starts to spread throughout my body.
“Ugh, here he is again, maiming my baby in public.”
I pull away from Diego to find my parents and brother and sister approaching. They’re all dressed up, looking fantastic. My heart feels overwhelmingly full.
“You look beautiful, baby,” my mom says as she pulls me in for a hug. Like most of the hugs we’ve had lately, it lingers for a little while. I breathe in deeply, allowing my mom to hold onto me and I her.
