Page 121 of Only With You

“These lips are sealed.” She pinches her fingers and brings them to her mouth, pretending to zip her lips.

When we step into the living room, I’m hit with a delicious aroma of food, the sound of Spanish music, and Gabby and Daisy singing and dancing to something that I now know is called bachata.

Since moving in with the girls, I’ve learned so many things about Latin culture. I’ve also tried so many delicious Mexican dishes thanks to Gabby and Colombian dishes thanks to El.

Eloise excitedly breaks away from me and joins the girls. She’s also an expert at dancing bachata and many other kinds of dances.

“Hey, Juls,” Darius and Cara say, smiling at me as they fill their plates with the variety of food everyone made.

Polly hands me a plate and continues serving herself as she sways to the beat of the song.

“Hey.” I smile at them and attempt not to think of my mom as I serve myself a little of everything. Every few days, she’s texting me, reminding me that I need to be eating healthy and working out. “How are you guys doing?”

“Exhausted.” Darius groans. “I swear, I’m over this semester. I’m really close to just calling it quits and selling feet pics.”

I stifle a laugh at his serious expression.

“You do have really pretty feet,” Cara supplies as she fills her plate with empanadas Eloise made.

Darius smirks, serving himself enchiladas that Gabby made. “I do, don’t I?”

“Oh my gosh, you do have pretty feet.” Polly gasps, looking down. “I’m so jealous. A dumbbell was dropped on my foot, and my big toe nail grew weird after it.”

The song changes, and both Gabby and El avidly gasp, and I recognize the song because they’ve both played it so many times. “Colgando en Tus Manos” by Carlos Baute and Marta Sánchez. They’re both quick to find something to use as a microphone, but Daisy looks a little out of it. Something flashes in her eyes, but I don’t have time to figure out what it is before she blinks and stands next to us.

“What are we jealous about?” Daisy asks, grabbing a plate.

“Feet,” we all say.

“Oh, Darius has really pretty feet,” she says as she starts piling her plate with food.

For the next two hours, we talk about the most random things while we eat, and then shift to the next activity: painting.

We all sit on top of a white sheet, everyone with their own canvas while music plays in the background.

“Oh!” Polly jumps from her spot, grabs her phone from the TV stand, then a loading symbol sets in the middle of the screen. “I almost forgot Saint is going Live tonight on Instagram. I swear, you guys aren’t going to want to miss this.” She snickers to herself. “It’s not only entertaining, but the thirst is on another level.”

Gabby nods in agreement, swishing her paintbrush in the mason jar filled with water. “Prepare yourselves, because the comments are going to be unhinged.”

A few seconds later, the video loads and Saint, along with Jayden and Landon, appears on the screen.

My heart pounds rapidly, and my stomach gets to a level ten on the erratic scale.

I can feel El’s eyes on me and sense the knowing smile, but I don’t dare look at her or anyone else. I’m afraid if I do, I’ll give myself away and they’ll know what I’m thinking.

I try to resume painting, but I can’t help but follow his movements. He’s in the kitchen and it seems that he, along with Jayden and Saint, are cooking. The video then pans out to Jagger and Malik sitting on the other side, watching them cook.

Saint says something, and from the corner of my eye, I see Daisy shift, and I think I hear her scoff, but I’m not too sure.

“Wow, you weren’t kidding.” Cara’s voice drags my attention back to the screen. “Imagine how inflated their egos are right now. I’m sure Jayden’s is.”

Landon, I edge to the sound of your voice.

The way I would let Saint defile my body.

Suddenly, I love basketball.

Landon’s voice is so majestic!

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