Page 13 of Ignacio

“I know, but this is going to be difficult.” She turned away from the window and faced her sister. “You know what? I can handle it.”

“Of course you can, but people are going to try to find out why the two of you broke up in the first place. Do you plan to tell the truth?”

“First of all, I’m sure he wouldn’t want the world to know he got dumped, and do you thinkIwant to get tarred and feathered for being the dummy who broke up withIgnacio Santana, the Latin heartthrob?”

Vivian giggled at the exaggerated Spanish accent she used.

Delta grinned at her sister’s reaction, but then she let the smile fade from her face. “Ignacio starts filming his next movie in six months. That’s how long we have to sell our relationship and accomplish our individual goals.”

Vivian studied her in silence.

Delta tilted her head to the side. “What?”

“How was it seeing him again and talking to him?”

Delta shrugged. “No big deal.”

“I mean…” Vivian seemed to be choosing her words carefully. “Do you have any feelings left for him? It’s been a long time, but I wondered…”

“Whatever feelings I had are long gone.”

“Honestly?”

“Of course. Do you really think I’d still be hung up on my first boyfriend?”

“You two were so in love. I was going through surgeries and didn’t get to see you together much, but I remember how you talked about him, and I remember seeing photos of the two of you. Everyone thought you made a cute couple.”

Delta swallowed past the ache in her throat. As close as they were, she couldn’t admit the truth to her sister. That she had gone so far as to write love songs about him. In one in particular—“I Don’t Miss You”—she had poured out her heart and released all the turmoil and pain inside. She would never let anyone see that song. The lyrics were too raw. Too personal.

“We broke up a long time ago. In the meantime, we’ve both been involved with other people, and he was engaged to that actress not long after we split.” Miraculously, she kept the bitterness out of her voice.

“Everyone knew the relationship was a rebound thing. They didn’t last.”

“Doesn’t matter. He moved on, I moved on, and we’re both in our thirties—older and wiser.”

“Definitely older,” Vivian said carefully.

Delta narrowed her eyes at her sister and placed her hands on her hips. “Are you saying I’m not wiser?”

Vivian laughed. “No! But I’ll believe the two of you are done when at the end of the six months you go your separate ways and move on with your lives.”

“Well, I’m here to tell you that’s exactly what will happen,” Delta said.

“Okay, cool. So what’s the first item on the agenda?”

“We agreed to attend the Black and Gold Music Experience for our first official outing as a couple. Then we’re going to become more visible around Atlanta, including going house-hunting.”

“You’re moving in together?” Vivian asked in surprise.

“Unfortunately.”

“Interesting…”

“It would be, if we were in a real relationship. I hope this whole thing doesn’t backfire.” She paused. “In the meantime, I have to work on my album, but I don’t feel very inspired by the songs, and it’s obvious in my performance.”

“I’m not worried. You always pull through.”

Delta smiled appreciatively. Her sister was her biggest cheerleader and always had her back. “Thanks, Viv. What would I do without you?”

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