Page 87 of The Boyfriend List
As we sit outside staring at the ocean, Paulo says, “Whatreallyhappened with you and London?"
I take a sip of coffee. It's a familiar taste, sweet and creamy in a way that the coffee I have back in L.A. never is, no matter how much sugar and milk I add. "He didn't want to come."
"I thought you two planned the trip together."
"He changed his mind." A sob threatens to strangle my vocal cords. "The day before we were supposed to leave, he said he couldn't come."
"Why?" Protectiveness creeps into Paulo's tone, like he's going to fly to L.A. and beat up London for me.
"His parents are getting a divorce. He needed time to process everything." I take another sip of coffee, willing the warmth to comfort me emotionally as well as physically.
"Oh." Maybe he thought London broke up with me, or he flaked out, scared of meeting my family.
"I know."
"I'm sorry, Gloria." He wraps his arm around my shoulders, squeezing me into his side for a moment. "Did you guys break up?"
"No… I don't even know. He said he needed space and time.” Even though he said it wasn’t space from me that he needed, it still feels like it.
“I’m sure you two will be okay. From everything you’ve told me about him—except for him ditching you on this trip—it sounds like he really cares about you.”
A lump forms in my throat. “Yeah. I wish you guys could have met him.”
"I would've liked to meet him, too," Paulo says. "But I can't say that I wouldn't have liked to have words with him, too."
I chuckle. "'Have words with'? You mean you wouldn't whip out your boxing moves on him?"
"We both know I'm a healer, not a fighter." Paulo laughs.
I finish my coffee. "What happened to the girl you were telling me about? The one you were writing letters to?”
“We’re still writing letters. We still haven’t officially met.” He shrugs. “But we’re not here to talk about me.”
A frisson of guilt gnaws at me. “I shouldn’t be laying all my problems on you. I’m sure you have things going on in your life that you want to talk about.”
He sighs. I’m reminded of all the times that we were little, and my parents would say something along the lines of,why can’t you be more like Paulo? Look how well-behaved he is, and his good grades, and how respectful he is…On and on the list went of how I fell short in comparison to my older brother.
He’s too old for us to really have been competitive—except maybe when it came to games or karaoke, where we would fight over who got to pick the first song. But other than that, he’s always been a steady force in my life that I mentally compared myself to every time I had any accomplishment.
Maybe that’s why I went to the States and went into law. There, I could compare myself to Paulo less. Even though he was the one who stayed behind to take care of everyone, the one who stayed with our family, the golden child.
“You’re going through a lot right now, it sounds like. We can talk about me tomorrow. But for now… You're my sister, and I've missed you. I want to hear about your life." His brown eyes meet mine.
Momentarily, I wish I was a kid again, before any of this ever happened—before I ever met London. Before I ever moved to the States. Especially before Eddie lost his mom. Just me and my brother, playing on the beach.
"I missed you, too.” I sigh, rubbing my temples before a yawn overtakes me again. "Let’s talk more tomorrow. I should go to bed."
"Me, too." We say our good nights and go back inside. I trudge toward my old room, my feet feeling like bricks.
Exhaustion finally blesses me with a deep and dreamless sleep.
Chapter Thirty-Two: London
YOU’RE INVITED.
What:Emergency Young family meeting. Yes, there will be snacks.
Who:Paris, Troy, Brooklyn, Savannah, and London.
