Page 84 of 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love

He huffs a small laugh before nodding toward the window. “Over there.”

“Huh?” I say, turning my head. “Are those…”

“Clouds,” Joey fills in for me.

I make a small noise.

“You okay?” he asks.

“I’m just gonna rest for a bit,” I mumble, closing my eyes and sinking down onto Joey’s lap, my legs squished awkwardly against the side of the plane. “Let me know once we’ve landed?”

In answer, Joey threads his fingers through my hair, stroking gently.

At least if we fall out of the sky, we’ll do it together.

“Oh myGod,” I whisper, face pressed to the window of the car. “This is your childhood home?”

“Pretty great, right?”

“Joey. It’sonthe water. I know you’re an amphibian, but you didn’t tell me you grew up literal footsteps from the shore. Is that a gazebo?”

“A small one,” he says, putting the car in park.

“Uh, a small gazebo is still a gazebo, dude. What’s that?” I ask, pointing to what looks like a huge shed with windows.

“Guest house,” Joey says, opening his door. He climbs out but stops, leaning down far enough for me to see him through the doorframe. “Which means we don’t have to be quiet.”

Joey winks—winks—before heading toward the back of the car to retrieve our bags.

Suddenly, I’m thinking testing out the structural integrity of the guest bed sounds like a stellar plan. But then I see a woman stepping out the front door of the house. At first glance, Joey’s mom looks absolutely nothing like him. Strawberry blonde hair, a petite frame, light blue eyes. But then she smiles, big and welcoming, and I see it.

I’m out the door in no time, and Mama Delgado’s gaze swings my way.

“Mama D!” I call.

“You must be Brad,” she says.

I stop just before reaching her. “Hugging okay?”

She waves me forward. “Get in here.”

With a grin, I curl my arms gently around the woman who raised the most perfect man. She smells faintly floral, reminding me of the lemon trees in the regional office when they’re in full bloom.

“You were right,” she says, giving me a squeeze before letting go. “You give great hugs. It’s so nice to meet you, darling. How was your flight?”

“Horrible,” I say happily.

She looks momentarily taken aback, but then Joey is setting down our bags and stepping close.

“Mom,” he says, tugging her in, looking like a giant compared to her.

Mama Delgado rubs Joey’s back, the motion so casually familiar it makes my throat feel tight.

“My boy,” she says gently, hands on his shoulders as she leans back. “Look at you. As handsome as I remember.”

“It’s only been a few months,” he points out.

“Psht. A lot can happen in such a short period of time,” she says, canting her head in my direction and raising an eyebrow.

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