Page 102 of The Fallacy of True Love
“Remember what I told you about my parents’ business partner stealing from us?”
I nodded.
“I overheard my parents talking about how they could go after the guy if they had a good enough lawyer. But with the money they’d lost and having to pay for Lola’s chemo, they couldn’t afford anyone who could beat the guy’s defense.” Alonzo’s gaze settled on our hands, though it seemed to pass right through them. “I didn’t know what a lawyer was, so I asked Tala. Things happened so fast after that—Papa left to work abroad and Mama took on more shifts at the hospital. Tala pretty much looked after us at home. She was, what, twelve?”
“She sounds amazing.”
“Yeah. I felt useless. But even then, I knew I was smart. So I figured I’d use my brain to keep anything like that from happening to us again, and to help other people who might be in similar situations.”
My fingers curled into his as my chest swelled with an emotion I couldn’t name. I wanted to tell him I was sorry for giving him shit about his family and that I felt for that lost six-year-old. I wanted to tell him that I admired him for figuring out what he wanted and for sticking with it more than a decade later.
What came out of my mouth was “You’re amazing too.” I wished I could sink into the upholstery because that was the stupidest thing I could have said.
“I don’t know about that,” he murmured. “I almost got thrown out of class today because I wasn’t paying attention.”
“Oh.” I paused to consider how to respond. I’d said so many wrong things to him, hurting him in the process. I didn’t want to do that again, especially when it came to something so important. “Has that happened before?”
“No.” He stared straight ahead. “I’ve gotten the answers wrong, but I’ve never spaced out and missed a question entirely.”
“So it was an off day. You’re allowed to have them, you know.”
“I know. I’m just disappointed in myself.”
“Because you want to get things right.”
His jaw tightened. “Yeah.”
“I think that’s great. But maybe you don’t have to aim for perfect all the time. Maybe progress is just as good.” After I spoke, it hit me how unqualified I was to tell him that. “Of course, that’s my perspective as someone who didn’t even graduate, so you shouldn’t listen to me.”
He squeezed my hand. “No, you’re right. I get caught up in my idea of how things should be. The results. I forget that the process—the mistakes—those are also an important part of learning. And your opinions are just as valid as mine. I want to listen to all of them, anything you want to share.”
He raised my hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss on the back. My heart seized. I’d experienced plenty of kisses before, but none of them came remotely close to the sweetness of this one.
My eyes lifted to meet his. It was like looking into a mirror, only instead of seeing my face, I saw my emotions reflected in his gaze.
I blinked and looked away, but my hand stayed where it was through the remainder of the ride.
When we got to my rental, he stayed outside the door, looking at me.
“Aren’t you coming in?” I asked.
His lips curved into the slightest hint of a smile. “If I do, I don’t think I’ll be able to keep my hands off you.”
“And?”
“And I told you. I’m not just in this for the sex.”
“Weren’t you the one who wanted to spend the night together?”
“Yeah, and we did—in a different way.” His smile grew. “Besides, you need to rest up. If tomorrow’s your last full night here, we’re going to make the most of it. And for the record, Maya? I happen to like you. I like you a whole damn lot.”
Before I could say a word, he stepped toward me and wrapped me in his arms. Every inch of me felt enveloped in his warmth. My head found a resting place in the center of his chest, and my arms wound around his waist.
Beneath my cheek, his heart raced. Then it slowed as we stayed like that—entwined in an embrace that made me feel the safest, most grounded that I’d ever been.
And for the first time in my existence, I wished I didn’t have to leave Manila at all.
Chapter Thirty-Six
