Page 72 of Bound and Blitzed

The elevator arrives then, and I wave good-bye to the Garcias as they pile inside. Valentina gives me one last wave.

When the doors close and the elevator car descends to the lobby, I sigh and turn back to my condo. Staring at the empty space, I already miss Valentina. The condo feels too quiet, too empty without her.

Shaking my head, I pick up my phone and text Cohen.

Avery

What are you up to?

Cohen

Vale left?

Avery

Yeah. It sucks.

Cohen

Tell me about it. Raia’s on the same flight.

Avery

Want to grab a beer?

Cohen

Meet you at Corks in thirty?

Avery

See you there.

Relieved to have plans—anything to get out of the condo and leave the bitter reminders of this Christmas behind me—I rinse off in the shower, dress quickly, and drive to Corks.

Chapter22

Valentina

“Oh,Vale, that dress looks gorgeous on you!” Mamá announces, clapping her hands together as soon as I step out of the fitting room.

While Mamá and Carla already purchased gowns with matching shoes, purses, and jewelry for tomorrow night’s gala, I have nothing. I didn’t pack eveningwear when I moved to Knoxville. I packed warm, cozy clothing for field research and practical business attire for my days spent on campus.

I never enjoyed shopping the way my mother and sister do. But walking down the Magnificent Mile, linked arm-in-arm, and perusing racks of clothes before piling into dressing room lounges with them feels different. It’s fun and carefree. Natural and effortless. For the first time, perhaps in my entire adult life, I feel like I truly belong with Mamá and Carla. While my sister and I have always been close, Carla and Mamá are two peas in a pod. They share similar passions—fútboland fashion. And sometimes, when I’m with them, it highlights how apart I am.

But not today.

“If Avery could see you in that gown, he would die!” my sister exclaims, fanning herself.

“I love the color,” Mamá says, making no reference to Avery.

I turn to check out the back of the gown in the mirror. I’m wearing a fire-engine red gown with long, bell-shaped sleeves, and an open back. It has a high neck but hugs my curves all the way down, skimming the tops of my toes.

“I like it,” I agree.

“I love it!” Carla says.

“We’ll take it!” Mamá announces to the salesclerk.

---