Page 37 of Worth the Fall

Mia

Careful, Mr. Ramirez. You’re playing with fire.

Miguel

I like the burn.

The grin on my face is ridiculous. Linda pokes her head in again, giving me a knowing look. "Texting a new client or a new crush?"

"Neither," I say quickly, but she’s already gone, laughing to herself.

At lunch, Becca shows up at my office unannounced, a gym bag slung over her shoulder. “The yoga class I teach got canceled, so I figured we could grab lunch. Unless you’re buried under contracts?"

I glance at my desk, which is an avalanche waiting to happen, and shrug. "The contracts can wait. Let me grab my bag."

We head to a café around the corner, one of those places with mismatched furniture and a menu written in chalk. Becca ordersa quinoa salad, and I opt for a grilled cheese and tomato soup. She gives me a look but doesn’t comment.

As soon as we sit, she launches into the details of her morning. "I swear, this yoga teacher is a magician. I went in feeling like a rusty spring and came out practically floating."

"You sound like Cameron," I mutter before I can stop myself.

Becca raises an eyebrow. "Oh no. Did he show up with more sage and life coach wisdom?"

"Not exactly," I say, swirling my spoon in the soup. "We met last night to go over some contracts. He’s still doing his whole ‘namaste’ thing, and he suggested that his life coach could ‘help me sort my life out.’"

Her mouth drops open, and for a moment, she just stares at me. "He did not."

"Oh, he did," I say, letting out a sharp laugh. "Apparently, breaking up with me wasn’t enough. Now he thinks I need an emotional cleanse."

Becca leans back in her chair, her expression a mix of amusement and outrage. "Wow. I mean, I always thought from the way you described him that Cameron was a little clueless, but this? That’s next-level."

"Tell me about it," I say, taking a bite of my grilled cheese. "The worst part is, I don’t even know why I let it get to me. He’s not worth it."

"He’s not," Becca agrees, her tone firm. "But you’re allowed to feel things, Mia. You were with him for twelve years. That kind of history doesn’t just disappear."

I nod, appreciating her understanding. But even as we move on to lighter topics, I can’t help but notice the way my thoughts keep circling back to Miguel.

Becca seems to pick up on it, because halfway through her salad, she says, "Alright, spill. What’s going on? And don’t say‘nothing,’ because you’ve had this dreamy, distracted look on your face all morning."

I hesitate, then decide to just go for it. "It’s Miguel."

Her grin is immediate. "I knew it. So, what’s the story? How’s it going?"

"It’s…" I trail off, searching for the right words. "It’s amazing. And terrifying. I mean, he’s?—"

"Incredible?" she supplies, her grin widening.

"Yes," I admit, laughing. "But he’s also been through so much, and I don’t want to rush into anything. Especially with Felicity involved."

Becca nods, her expression softening. "Miguel’s been through the wringer, no question. The way Celine blindsided him… it was hard to watch."

I hesitate, then lower my voice. "Do you think he’s over her?"

Becca pauses, her fork hovering midair. "I do. I really do. But…" She sets the fork down, her gaze thoughtful. "It took him a long time to get here. Celine… she hurt him in ways I don’t think even she realizes. He tried so hard to hold things together—for Felicity, mostly—but when the truth came out, it broke him."

My chest tightens at her words. "And now?"

"Now, he’s better," she says, her tone more confident. "He’s focused on Felicity, on being a good dad. He’s building something new for himself, Mia. I think he’s ready to move forward."

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