Page 37 of Springtime Love

“Oh,” I sigh. “Did she get any sleep?”

“Not much but she’s just like her father. They both can run on zero sleep for days,” she assures me.

“Hope she’s okay,” I say softly. Mr. and Mrs. Copeland both smile.

“You’ve got it bad, Mijo,” Mr. Copeland chuckles.

“Javier! Don’t tease him,” Mrs. Copeland scolds him. “Ysenia has it just as bad for him.”

Mrs. Copeland’s words catch my attention. I look at her with so many questions on my mind. Ysenia has it bad for me? As in more than just fun? How long has she had it bad for me?

“Even a blind man can tell that you two have it bad for each other,” she grins.

“She won’t be single forever,” Mr. Copeland states. I look at him and he chuckles. “Not every day you’ll have the help of the girl’s parents and their blessings to ask their daughter out.”

“Wait. What?” I ask in disbelief. “Even though I got sh– drunk and–”

He waves off my words.

“You’re human,” he shrugs. “Now, if Ysenia had called me crying, we would be having a different discussion.”

“Understood, Sir,” I whisper.

“Don’t scare him off, Javier. You remember how sad Ysenia was when Miguel left the first time,” Mrs. Copeland waves a finger at him.

“First time?” I repeat. They both nod.

“Let me ask you something, Miguel.” Mrs. Copeland had just leveled up her voice to mom-mode. She sounds very sincere and stern.

“Yes, Ma’am,” I say, giving her my full attention.

“All last night, you kept telling Ysenia how you’re never going to let her go again. And how she’s the only woman you want and need. Did you mean that or was it just the alcohol talking?”

This is the part where I should be digging a hole to stick my head in it. How could I have said that out loud in front of Ysenia’s parents and her? That’s probably why she went towork. Didn’t want to have to face me. But didn’t Mrs. Copeland say Ysenia was sad when I left?

“I meant every word,” I reply, rubbing my face and trying to figure out how I got myself into this mess.

“That idiot Kevin was never her first choice,” Mrs. Copeland grins.

“What?” I ask in disbelief.

“Why do you think she was always over at your house? Grant it, Jenna was Ysenia’s best friend; however, you were the real reason,” she smiles sweetly.

“I wasn’t too fond of the idea of my little girl being in the house with a boy, but Ysenia assured me that you didn’t even know she existed,” Mr. Copeland states.

“What?” I roll my eyes and laugh. “She’s crazy. I had the biggest hots–”

When Mr. Copeland’s eyes meet mine, I realize I’m treading a thin line.

“I really liked her,” I reply, making them both laugh.

“Stop scaring him, Javier,” Mrs. Copeland giggles.

“Yes, my love,” Mr. Copeland smiles.

“So you did like Ysenia when you were younger?” Mrs. Copeland asks and I nod. “Well, I know you went through a lot as a child and had to leave for your sanity. But you’re here now and Ysenia’s feelings haven’t changed. She lights up every time she talks about you. Just like she did when she was younger.”

“Are you sure she doesn’t still care for Kevin?” The words come out before I register that I had the thought.

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