Page 64 of Taming Liberty

Simone frowns. “You could’ve at least warned the girl.”

“That’s my brother’s responsibility.”

Simone groans and shakes her head.

Luis runs his hands over his knees. “Should I now?”

Simone doesn’t answer. The more they talk, the more nervous I become. I dart my eyes away when Luis looks at me, as if that’ll hide the fact that I was staring at him. My cheeks heat, and I shift in the chair.

“Liberty?” Luis calls.

I move my eyes back to him and raise a brow.

“No, don’t,” Simone says in Spanish. “You’re right, Mamá will want to meet her. Don’t scare her off.”

Luis clears his throat and blinks at me. “Would you like something to drink?”

I stare at him and let a second pass. “Sure. Water please?”

He smiles and stands. “Yes, of course. I’ll be back.”

He walks toward the kitchen, but he pauses when Angel starts down the stairs.

Angel finds me with his eyes, and the muscles in my shoulders relax a hair.

“Can you come here for a minute, Lib?”

I nod and stand, eager for the chance to get away from the awkwardness in here. I meet Angel halfway up the stairs, then I follow him the rest of the way up and to a closed door down the hall.

He turns to me in front of the door, his mouth curved down in a frown. “I need to tell you something.”

I stare at him and wait.

“My mother is sick. She was diagnosed with ALS a few years ago, and she doesn’t have much time left.”

I put my hand on his shoulder while my lips sink. I have to pretend this is surprising information, but I don’t have to fake the sympathy I feel for him in this moment. I can see the sorrow in his eyes, the defeat in his slumped shoulders. I can see he’s hurting. There was a time when I thought he deserved to hurt, but I don’t feel that way anymore. I can’t pinpoint when I stopped.

“I’m sorry I’ve put you in such an awkward position,” he says, his voice low. “I told her that I love you and our relationship is getting serious… She would like to meet you. I understand if you don’t feel comfortable going along with the lie, so just say the word, and I’ll take you to my hotel. I’ll think of an excuse to tell everyone later.”

Going along with the lie.Why does my chest hurt hearing him say that?

I swallow past the boulder that’s suddenly appeared in my throat. “It’s okay… I’ll do whatever you want me to.”

He gives me a tiny, sad smile. “Finally.” He winks.

He turns toward the door and knocks gently twice. Without waiting for a response, he opens the door, and we step inside.

Angel’s mother lays in bed with her head turned our way. Tubes trail from her nostrils to an oxygen tank that rests on the floor. Her salt and pepper hair is pulled back in a loose bun, and she has a blanket pulled up to her chest. If I could describe the way she looks in one word, it would be exhausted. Her eyelids are half-open, and when she smiles, it’s sluggish.

Angel’s palm rests on my lower back as we come up to the bed. “Mamá, this is Liberty.”

“Pleasure to meet you, ma’am,” I say, my lips curving into a friendly smile.

“The pleasure is mine, cariño. It’s an honor to meet Angel’s love.” She looks at Angel. “You have good taste, mi vida.”

Mi vida.My life.

“Liberty’s a very special woman,” he says, running a hand over my back. “Better than I deserve.”

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