Page 50 of The Amazing Date

“Here, let me read it.” I hear the shuffle of movement across the line. “Your brother’s an asswipe. I’m turning off my phone and going to sleep. Good night.” Her laugh returns. “Do I need to ask?”

I shake my head, knowing she can’t see me. I twist in my seat, turning to stare out the window. I attempt to not sound defensive as I explain the entire day. I skim over the restaurant, leaving out the part about us making out and nearly ripping each other’s clothes off, and dig in, starting with the overnight wild goose chase. I mention the lack of sleep, the detour to the diner, the shortcut, exacting revenge on the blondes, and the wild finish.

Gabby is a great listener and must sense my frustration as her normally smart retorts are kept to a minimum.

“And that’s when she left me with two dollars and told me to stay out of the room until midnight.” I wrap up my tale, the anger and frustration dissipating. “Ridiculous, right? It was the right thing to do, letting them take first place.”

I finally pause, take a sip of my coffee, and wait for Gabby to cosign each of my decisions. When the line remains quiet, I check the phone for a connection. “You still there?”

“Yeah.” A loud exhale comes across the line. “You can’t be that blind, can you?”

My shoulders rise, and I tilt my chin down to respond. “What are you talking about?”

“If you did that to me, I’d be just as pissed, Roy.”

“I don’t believe what I’m hearing. Abuela would approve of what I did.”

“Would she?” Gabby’s tone is clipped. “You are focused on being kind and rewarding this couple. I get that. And yes, Abuela would approve that part, but this has nothing to do with what you did, Roberto. It’s how you did it.”

My frustrated fingers run through my hair. “What exactly did I do, other than lead with kindness.”

“You treated Rylee like you used to do me, your kid sister who doesn’t get a vote. You never gave her a chance to weigh in. You decided for her.”

“That’s not what happened.”

“Really? You just described it for me like she had no choice. Did you or did you not plant your feet and refuse to budge?”

“Yeah, but—”

“And when this couple asked if it was okay for both of you, what did you say?”

“Well… I said we will be.”

“We,” she scoffs. “You used the word ‘we,’ speaking for her as if Rylee doesn’t have a voice. Have you met her? You’ve done this to me a thousand times, but she’s not me.”

I roll my eyes. “Trust me, I know she’s not you.” I decide to change tactics. “So, you think it’s okay for her to leave me out here with two dollars?”

Her snicker returns. “It could be worse.”

“She’s a troublemaker.”

“I’m sure she has a few choice names for you as well.” A comfortable silence fills the line, and I take a long sip of my coffee. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on between you two?”

The question doesn’t surprise me. It’s one I expected four years ago in Puerto Rico. One I expected would be asked prior to the start of this ridiculous race. At either of those points of time, I would have been prepared. However, sitting exhausted and hungry in a diner in the middle of nowhere, I no longer have the reserves to deflect.

“You know me better than anyone, hermosa. I think you know.” It’s four simple words that should’ve left my lips years ago. “She’s in my soul.”

The admission eases the burden I’ve been carrying. The one secret I’ve kept from the one person whom I’ve never held a secret from before.

“How long have you known?” Her calm response validates my suspicion, she’s known all along.

“To be honest, looking back, from the very first second I stepped on the beach in Guánica. The moment I met Rylee. I’ve tried my best to keep her at arm’s length, but the feelings refuse to go away. She’s infuriating, uncontrollable, and it drives me insane at times, but I’ve never felt more alive than when I’m with her. Does that make any sense?”

“I get it.” Her acceptance eases my confession. I’ve feared this moment would form a wedge between us, but if anything, it’s solidifying the bond we’ve always shared. “She does the same for me. I don’t have the answers to my own life, and she’s a whirlwind of chaos, but she brings so much joy. She’s my best friend, and I miss her so much at times. It’s the reason I have Columbia Law on the top of my list. It’s the reason I’ve not said a word to her. I don’t want to get her hopes up. I don’t want her to solve my issue. I’ve been sitting on the acceptance letter for almost a month now. I just don’t know how I can make it work financially. Between the loans and the cost of living in New York, it’s too much.”

“Mi hermosa, you know I got your back. I believe…” I float the offer yet again in her direction, already knowing her response.

“No.” She huffs out a stubborn breath. “This is my issue to solve. I can’t have my big brother swooping in like I’m still eight years old to fight my battle.”

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