Page 73 of Dina's Favorite Mistake

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“It just is,” Dina insisted feebly.

“Ama.”

“What?”

“Call him.”

“I can’t.”

“You can.” Camila sat up and pulled her knees close to her chest. “You deserve to be happy. You deserve to be loved.”

Dina swallowed hard. Her throat felt tight, and her eyes stung. “I am happy. I am loved by you and our family.”

Camila rolled her eyes. “You know I’m not talking about that kind of love. I’m talking about big, crazy, ridiculous romantic love. Disney love.”

She smiled sadly. “I think I’m a little old for princesses and fairytales, Camila.”

“Disney has love stories that aren’t princesses. I mean, come on. Steve isn’t exactly Prince Charming.”

She bristled at that. “He could be a prince.”

“If he had to be any Disney character, it would be Woody.” Camila smiled mischievously. “I’d bet a million pesos that he’s yelled about a snake in his boot at least once in his life.”

“Camila!” Dina couldn’t help but laugh at the image of Steve sauntering around like the lanky cowboy doll. “What does that make me? Bo Peep?”

Camila giggled and scooted closer. Dina looped her arm around her daughter and pulled her in closer with mother affection.

“When we get home, you should call him,” Camila said, snuggling in and yawning sleepily. “He’s a good guy. He cares about us.”

Us.

He cares about us.

As Camila drifted back to sleep, Dina replayed those words again and again.

Us.

A family.

My family.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Three Weeks Later

“You got the Cortes files?” Jack Halligan, one of the newer Rangers, approached.

“Yeah.” Steve glanced up from behind the pile of folders precariously balanced on his overloaded desk. “Top of that stack there.”

Jack carefully picked up the bloated file, cupping the edge to keep papers from sliding out onto the floor. “Thanks.”

“I’ve updated the digital file as well and catalogued all the new evidence that came in last week.” Steve reached for his lukewarm coffee, eyeing the travel mug with distaste. What he wouldn’t give for another sip of Jovita’s wickedly strong brew!

“Guess they’re using you as the cautionary tale, huh?” Jack scanned the mountain of paperwork on the desk. “One bump and you’ll be buried in an avalanche of paper.”

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