Page 116 of Yours, Finally

"You've been a brother to me for a long time, but I have to say…" Gabe's smile turned impish. "Brother-in-lawhas a special ring to it."

I laughed, my worries several tons lighter.

Chapter 34

Vi

I didn't hear fromJake again that day. When I went to check his office by the end of the day and didn't find him there, it didn't surprise me. Thinking he might have gone home already, I made my way to his condo.

Even though I had a code to make it into his building and get myself to his floor, I didn't have a key. I knocked on his door a few times, but he didn't respond.

Vi: are you home? I'm outside.

Nothing happened for several minutes. I sighed and changed strategies.

I knocked at Gabe's door. Within half a minute, the door opened.

"Violeta! Hi," Lina said. "Everything okay?"

She opened the door wide and I went inside. I dropped my purse on the entrance table.

"It smells great," I said. "Can I keep you company while you finish dinner?"

"Of course. Come, sit at the island. Can I offer you some wine?"

My brother's condo was a mirror image of Jake's. I had helped Gabe decorate this one, and had visited enough that I felt completely comfortable there.

"Just water tonight, thank you." I sat at the table. "What are you making?"

"Sincronizadas con frijoles refritos. It's easy to make and I can add a tomato on the side so your brother doesn't weep for the lack of a salad. Somehow pico de gallo isn't enough? But it's fine. Gabe likes it and since he cooks ninety percent of the time, I don't mind making an exception. Will you join us? I can cut up another tomato."

I smirked at Lina's mini rant. "I don't know. Probably not. I'm waiting to hear from Jake."

"Mhh. How's that going? Any thoughts about telling everyone in time for the party?"

"All the thoughts." I sighed. "After the song on Friday things kind of took on a mind of their own."

"What do you mean?"

I briefly described the events with Andrew, and the conversation between Jake and I.

"He had a hard time with it, Lina." I clicked my tongue. "I had never seen him like that. I don't know how much you know about his parents, but they were… rough with him."

My friend gave me a slow nod. "Gabe has said a bit. Not much."

"I think it's making it harder for him to tell my parents the truth. He asked me for a couple of days, even though he agreed to talk to everyone before the party."

I chewed the inside of my lips. Beyond the fact that I hated leaving him alone the day before, I couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if I hadn't come up with the brilliant idea of hiding it.

"You look worried." Lina covered the food and set it to keep warm; she put the unseasoned tomatoes in the fridge.

"I am. We messed up, Lina. You can say, 'I told you so'."

"That would be mean of me to say, even if I'm thinking it. But it's not like you can't come back from this."

"I have to believe that. It's Jake we're talking about."

She quirked an eyebrow at me, like she couldn't follow my train of thought. "Why does that sound like you wouldn't typically believe it? Are you having doubts?"