Page 157 of The Spring in My Heart

“She wasn’t the only one. All of us have been the happiest since we found her.”

“She loves that she also got another aunt and Chase.”

“How’s your mom, A?” This time, I do look at her when I talk.

She shrugs. “Good. She got me a bunch of clothes and shoes. We talk from time to time. She’s trying.”

“That’s really cool. That reminds me. I brought you presents from Positano. Want to see them?”

She turns the brightest smile on me. “Yes.”

We go to my bedroom, and I grab the bag where I kept the stuff I brought her and Bron. I pull out the canvas bag.

“It’s so pretty,” she says, looking at the Amalfi Coast panorama painted on the canvas.

“The real gift is inside.”

She pulls out the blue jacket first, and her eyes go round. “O-M-GEE. It’s so beautiful. I never had something like this. Thank you.”

She shrugs it on, and just like I imagined when I first saw it, it pops against her brown skin.

“You look amazing in it.”

She throws her arms around me. “I love it.”

“I got an orange one for Bron because I know the two of you need to twin it.”

She bobs her head up and down. “Can you take a pic? I want to show her.”

I take several photos.

“Papi doesn’t like me wearing makeup, but he says the stuff you got me is okay. Can you show me what I can do to make it look even better?”

We end up going upstairs and using the lighting in my studio to make a video so we can watch it later.

When we get downstairs, Ollie is on the couch, waiting for us. He’s gaze is on me, and it’s like he’s searching for something. I smile at him, and I swear something like relief pours over his face.

He stands. “We should probably get going, negrita. Lux needs to rest.”

“Are you going to stay by yourself?” Ayla’s question brings my attention back to her.

“Yes.”

She frowns. “You shouldn’t be by yourself. You should come home with us.”

I look between them and shake my head. “Thank you, but I want to sleep in my bed tonight.”

Ayla thinks about it. “I can stay with you.”

Ollie’s eyes widen a little, and he shakes his head. “You shouldn’t impose?—”

I raise a hand to still him. “She never imposes. I would love for her to stay with me tonight…if you agree.”

I know I’m throwing down the gauntlet. I want to see how he reacts.

“Okay,” he says, shocking me to my core when he says, “I can come get you in the morning, negrita.”

My heart is beating so fast because he trusts me, and he came to New York. He’s showing me he means it when he says he loves me.

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