Page 17 of Curvy Love

“I’m not. I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad they’ll get to meet you.” I pause and eye her face, trying to gauge her emotions. “Is that okay? Do you want to meet them?”

She swallows visibly. “Sure. I have sisters, remember, I know how they are.”

I feel like there’s something she’s not saying, but I don’t push her. “I should get out there, or they’ll just come back and this time open the door.” I kiss her briefly, then stand and pull on new boxers and yesterday’s jeans. I don’t bother with a shirt because it’s my damn house.

I look at Laurel. “Take your time. Take a shower if you want, feel free to raid my drawers. Whatever you need. Okay?”

She smiles shyly and nods.

I turn to go.

“Alex?”

“Yeah?” I ask, facing her again.

“I just want you to know that last night was amazing and I don’t normally do that sort of thing.”

“What sort of thing?”

She shrugs. “You know, the one-night-stand thing.”

It’s like a kick to my gut. I just nod and turn and walk out the door because what the fuck am I supposed to say? Tell her that it was so much more to me? Tell her that I want all of her nights? Forever?

I don’t have time to think about it though because my sisters are already destroying my kitchen so I head in that direction.

Connie and Toni are fighting over a skillet on the stove. Isabel is cubing potatoes at my kitchen table.

“Mijo,” Connie says with a wicked grin. “You had a sleepover.”

“I hate all of you,” I tell them and walk straight to the coffee pot. “But thank you for making coffee.”

“Why are you half naked?” Toni asks.

“My house,” I remind her. I sit down at the table with Isabel. She’s the sister I’m closest to, both in age and relationship. We have a lot in common, mostly the fact that we’re both in the food business. She’s just getting hers off the ground. She makes gourmet chocolates with a spicy flair and they’re amazing.

“Who’s your friend?” she asks me quietly.

“Her name is Laurel.” I know I’m smiling like a jackass, but I can’t help it.

Isabel stops chopping for a minute and eyes me. “You like her, like her.”

I take a swallow of my coffee. “I really do. She’s special.”

Isabel beams at me. “I’m happy for you.”

“What are you two whispering about?” Toni asks.

“Your big butt,” Isabel says, then winks at me.

“Hey, Alex,” Laurel’s voice comes from the kitchen doorway and the entire room falls silent. Three sets of identical brown Vargas sister eyes turn to my beautiful girl. Laurel smiles. She points over her shoulder. “I should get going.”

I stand and walk over to her, wrap my arm around her. “They won’t stay forever,” I tell her quietly.

She chuckles. “No, I just have a final I have to study for.”

My sisters walk over to us, practically hovering like goddamn vultures. I sigh. “Connie, Toni, Isabel,” I point to each of them, “This is Laurel. Be nice to her.”

“When are we not nice,Mijo?” Connie asks, clicking her tongue.

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