Page 46 of The Fallacy of True Love
Part of me wanted to give Dani another chance. We’d been through a lot, and based on the texts she kept sending me, she still wanted to be with me. We were in the same friend group, which meant we’d have to see each other anyway. Besides, didn’t true love necessitate forgiveness? What if she was the only person meant for me and I missed out on my only chance of love because I gave up too easily?
But every time I thought of her, her confession echoed in my ears. I pictured her with Aaron all over again, and I didn’t see how we could move past that—or if we should even try to.
“Am I stupid if I consider giving her another chance?” I asked them.
“No,” Tala answered. “It’s a big risk though.”
“Just be careful if you do, okay?” Luna added. “I don’t want you to disappear on us again.”
“Yeah.” I cleared my throat. Her words unleashed the memories I’d tried to lock away. Memories of Cam’s hot mouth on mine. The sound of her moans as she ground her hips against me.
Focus, Alonzo.
“I’m planning to meet up with her later this week, so I still have time to figure it out,” I told them, though I already knew which way I was likely to go.
“Let us know if there’s anything we can do to help,” Luna offered while the others nodded.
“Thanks,” I said. “So, did I miss any wedding updates?”
If I was looking for a sign that my sisters understood me, I got it when they obliged my obvious topic switch. They launched into a discussion on their plans for handling the news when it broke to the public and options for the wedding date. I listened and gave my input, agreeing that late June to early July sounded good.
Through it all, I watched my sisters with their partners and how they shared an undeniable connection. How they seemed truly happy and genuinely themselves while being attached to someone else. That saying about your partner bringing out the best in you? I saw that reflected in them.
Once, I thought it was the same for me and Dani.
Too bad it didn’t feel like that anymore. I doubted I’d ever feel that way again.
Chapter Sixteen
Cam
If Christmas Eve was a quiet affair, New Year’s Eve was a whole other thing. Nikki welcomed local musicians and artists to Cuppa Jo, and we all jammed to good music as we waited for the clock to strike midnight. Some tables had arts and crafts supplies laid out, while others had cards, board games, and even a full mahjong set. Readers sat on floor cushions, engrossed in their books, and then there were those who were content to talk over good food and drinks.
There was no pressure to try to fit in. So long as you respected other people’s space, you could do whatever you wanted—which was just how I liked it.
I wandered away from Nikki and Eric, who were chatting up the last singer, and watched Jo play with Milo. Milo licked Jo’s arm, and she squealed and giggled at his antics. It was enough to put a smile on my face despite my worries about work.
Noticing me, Jo hurried over. “Tita Cammy, what happened to your Manila boy?”
I reminded myself not to swear. “What?” I had successfully pushed him out of my mind, and now he’d popped up again, prompted by the one person I never expected to mention him.
“You know, Tito Ally. The tall man who could lift me up to the ceiling.”
“He’s not my Manila boy.”
“But you call him Manila. And Ma said you kissed him.”
“Your ma told you that?” My question came out louder than it should have, but I couldn’t help it.
Jo hummed, waggling her head from side to side. “I heard her and Tito Eric talking about it.”
I could strangle them. What could I say to this girl without lying to her or giving her the wrong idea?
Clearing my throat, I decided on, “Sometimes grownups do things without thinking and they make mistakes.” That sounded good enough, right?
Jo scrunched her forehead. “So kissing Tito Ally was a mistake?”
“Yes.” The biggest I’d made in a while.
