Page 12 of Where She Belongs
Andrea shoots me a questioning look, but before either of us can ask what’s happening, my screen lights up with a preview of Tristy’s latest Instagram post—the airport family shot with Andrea tucked against my side, her head fitting perfectly under my chin.
When your mom’s gorgeous doctor bestie turns out to be her secret boyfriend!!!Living for this plot twist! #WeddingWeek #MayDecemberRomance #CoupleGoals
For the next minute, our phones continue vibrating until I turn off notifications. Andrea can’t find her Setting fast enough so she hands me her phone and I do it for her.
Who knew going viral would end up being on my Bingo card this year but it is what it is.
When I suggested I be Andrea’s plus-one, this development wasn’t on the agenda. But I’d underestimated Tristy’s popularity.
Finally giving in, I open my Instagram to assess the damage.
OMG your mom is stunning! Asian don’t raisin is real!!
Younger guy, successful doctor, totally hot... Get it Dr. Martin!
Your mom deserves this after everything! Team Andrea!
My DMs are even worse:
Courtney
Three months? THREE MONTHS? We broke up four months ago you lying piece of shit. Was she the reason? Is this why you never wanted to get serious? Too busy chasing after women old enough to be your?—
Nope, I don’t need to read any further.
Three messages pop up from my sister:
EXCUSE ME???
Mama is freaking out that you didn’t tell her
Since when do you date women over 35??? What happened to ‘keeping it casual’???
A phone call from my father comes right then but I let it go to voicemail. A minute later, his transcribed message appears on my screen:
Gabriel Alejandro Vasquez, you call me back right now. What is this about you dating Dr. Martin??? The woman is 40+! Divorced! With a grown daughter! What are you thinking?
I stare at the phone, something hot and defensive rising in my chest. Because of course that’s what he’d focus on—Andrea’s age, her divorce, her grown daughter. Not her brilliance, not how she built a clinic from nothing, not how she’s respected throughout New Mexico’s medical community.
Well, he’s in for a surprise because whatever this pretense is between us, I won’t let my father’s prejudices taint it.
Beside me, Andrea is staring at her own phone with a mix of horror and fascination.
“How bad is it?” I ask.
She wordlessly turns her screen toward me. It’s her clinic’s internal messaging system:
Dr. Ramit
Girl, you’re giving me hope! But please tell me you made him wait until the divorce was final
Dr. Kim
Finally! The way he kept visiting your office during last month’s board meeting makes so much sense now.
“Oh God.” Andrea drops her head onto my shoulder, which probably isn’t helping our case. “The board meeting? What visits?”
“Maybe it was all those times I brought you coffee and those chocolates for the staff,” I suggest, trying to lighten the mood, acutely aware that Simon is watching us. “Very romantic.”
