Page 41 of Dex

“And his father?”my father asks.

“Paul Knight is drawing up a contract,” I say carefully.“He said we’ll both have a chance to review it.”I look at my father, for some input, but he’s quiet.“But Dexter and I thought we needed to be involved from the start.”

“It’s not necessary, not now.Don’t complicate things, filha.”His voice is firm.“You and Dexter, you both just focus on the romance.”

My stomach tightens.

“Papai,” I start.“There’s no romance here.”

“There must be something if you’ve agreed to meet him,” my mother says lightly.I close my eyes.I don’t know how to explain to them that this isn’t a love story.

Just as I begin to question myself again, about what I’m about to do, I hear a ping on my phone.It’s Raquel.Again.I read her text.

If I don’t hear from you soon, I’m heading out on a search and rescue mission.

I quickly say goodbye to my parents, and tell them to get some sleep and that I’ll call them tomorrow.Then I to call Raquel because I can’t stall her any longer.

She picks up on the first ring.

“Daniela, where the hell are you?”

“I’m in New York.”

“I know you’re in New York, but where?Seriously, you’ve been acting weird for the past few weeks, and I … I don’t know.Is there something going on that I need to know about so I can help you through it?”

I laugh, remembering our late-night talks in college, the boyfriend drama, breakups, tequila-fueled pep talks in the early hours of the morning.

“I’ve met someone,” I say.“And we’re getting married.”

The conversation falls silent.

Then, “Youwhat?” Her shriek is so loud I have to move the phone away from my ear.

“I love him,” I blurt out.

How easily that lie fell from my lips.

“You’re getting married?”Raquel repeats, slow, like she’s making sure she heard me right.“Andthisis the first I’m hearing about it?”

“It’s… complicated.”

“Complicated how?”

I inhale a shaky breath.“It’s been an on-and-off, international kind of thing.”

“An on-and-off, international romance?”Raquel echoes, incredulous.

“He was in Brazil a few weeks ago.Over a month ago, actually.”Another lie.I hate myself.

“Aha.In the summer you said something was going on but you weren’t sure what.”

I swallow.That was when the whole Jett situation was happening.“Things are clearer now,” I say quickly.

“Things are clearer now?What the hell does that mean?”Her voice sharpens.

“We had … uh … things to sort out.”

“So, let me get this straight.A few months ago, you weren’t even sure what was going on, and now you’re in New York, about to get married?”

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