Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Reese
With the balcony doors open, I look out at the ocean and breathe in the sea breeze. Three months ago, I would never have imagined that this would be the view I’d be waking up to every day. Then everything happened with Kirk and Melissa, and I knew staying in Minnesota wasn’t an option. If I’m honest, I knew that long before all the drama.
Since our parents started dating, Melissa and I have had issues, but I always chalked it up to all the differences in our personalities. I’m more of a bookworm, and she’s more Barbie. I like to stay home. She likes to spend her days shopping and her nights partying. None of that would have mattered if my mom hadn’t had us move in with Richard and Melissa after Richard proposed. Or it wouldn’t have mattered if I weren’t stuck living in Melissa’s dad’s house while going to college, her in her second year, and me in my fourth and on the verge of graduating.
The morning I caught Melissa and Kirk together, I called my aunt Ileana—my dad’s sister—who lives in Florida, and asked if I could stay with her while I figured things out. Thankfully, she agreed immediately. After I talked to her, I called my mom to let her know I would be moving. To say she was upset would be an understatement, especially when I refused to give her a reason why.
I just couldn’t bring myself to tell her that Kirk and Melissa were sleeping together behind my back, not when she’s loved Kirk for as long as I have.
I also didn’t want to potentially cause any problems between her and Richard by telling her what his daughter did. Not that it was all Melissa’s fault. I mean, Kirk could have—and should have —said no. If he had wanted to be with Melissa, he could have been honest with me.
It would have been weird, but his betrayal wouldn’t have blindsided me.
After talking to my aunt and Mom, I spoke to the college counselor to see what I needed to do to transfer schools. He basically told me that even though he understood my desire to move, something I made clear was a dire situation, it wasn’t smart. I only had two months before I graduated, and I might not be able to do that if I decided to transfer.
After that conversation, I knew that even if it sucked, I needed to stay put. Which sucked more since I had already told my mom I was moving, and my aunt and I had made plans for me to get down to her.
The good thing was that one of my friends had a room available in the small condo her parents had bought for her and offered it to me.
After sorting out a place to stay, I called my aunt back, told her my new plan, and lived with Hellen for two months as I finished school, ignored Kirk, avoided—or mostly avoided—my mom, and totally avoided her fiancé and his daughter. Then, as soon as I got my walking papers, I got in my car and drove to Florida. I didn’t even take the time to walk across the stage before I left.
So, I’ve been here for a month, have sent off my application to get into the marine veterinary program at the University of Miami, and will hopefully find out soon if I’ll be attending school in the fall. In the meantime, I’m working at the aquarium, which I love.
Even though my heart still hurts because I lost my best friend, and I hate the new rift between my mom and me because I can’t tell her the truth about what happened—and she feels like I abandoned her for no reason—I get to wake up to the gorgeous view out the balcony doors in my bedroom every day and work with all the sea life I’ve been fascinated with since I was little. I also get the joy of being around my aunt, who didn’t have kids of her own but loves me like I’m hers. She has since I was little, and she gave me even more love when my dad—her twin brother—passed away when I was only two.
With that thought, I toss back the blanket covering me and walk to the bathroom. My aunt’s condo in Miami is stunning and seriously spacious. It has three bedrooms, three and a half baths, an office, kitchen, dining room, and two huge balconies—one off the kitchen and living room, and the other off two of the three bedrooms.
My aunt did very well for herself, just like my dad had before he passed away in a car accident. When she was eighteen, my aunt left Sacramento, where she and my dad had grown up with my grandparents and moved to Los Angeles with aspirations of becoming a movie star. She never made it to the big screen, but for twenty-six years, she was on one of those daytime TV shows with all the drama and love triangles. And she had a leading role until the show was canceled when she was in her forties. Now, she does some modeling here and there, which isn’t a surprise since she’s gorgeous.
After brushing my teeth, I leave my bedroom and go to the kitchen, the smell of strong coffee permeating the air. Going right to the pot, I pour myself a cup, dump in some sugar and cream, then grab a bowl for cereal.
“Good morning, my beautiful girl,” Aunt Ileana greets. Her Spanish accent isn’t very thick but it is still noticeable as she drifts into the kitchen, the brightly colored dress she’s wearing floating around her frame. Like always, she looks like she’s ready to step onto the set to perform a scene. Her dark hair is perfectly curled, and her makeup is done to perfection.
“Morning, tu tiá .” I smile as she stops to kiss me on the cheek, probably leaving her red lipstick behind. “Are you excited for your trip?” I ask, dumping cereal into my bowl as she walks over to pour herself a cup of coffee.
“I’m packed.” Her smile is sad. “Are you sure you can’t come with us? It’s not too late.”
“I need to work,” I remind her—and myself, because tagging along with her to Paris, Rome, and London while she works and travels for two months would be magical. And I know from traveling with her in the past that I would have zero regrets.
“Next time,” she says.
“Yes, hopefully,” I agree. “Plus, someone needs to be here to keep Mickey company.” I glance over at her fat white cat as he saunters into the kitchen, taking in the black at his ears and on the top of his head.
“He would be okay with James and Tony downstairs.” She smiles at him when he falls to his bottom next to his empty wet-food dish, likely having eaten earlier this morning. “So,”—her eyes meet mine—“what are you going to do while I’m gone?”
“Work.”
She scrunches her nose. “You need to live a little, Reese. Work is good, but you’re young. You need to enjoy yourself and your life. Maybe hang by the pool or go to the beach. You could even find a handsome man to spend some time with.” Her eyes wander over my face. “You’re so beautiful, so young. You shouldn’t let that go to waste.”
“Maybe.” I lie because the only thing I plan on doing in the weeks she’ll be gone is catching up on all the books I’ve missed out on while studying for finals, and vegging out in front of the TV when I’m not working.
“At least agree to go to the pool. Get some sun and fresh air.”
“I can do that,” I give in, taking my bowl and coffee to the counter and pulling out a stool. “What time is Marco getting here?” Marco is Ileana’s boyfriend, or her partner as she refers to him. They’ve been together for fifteen years, have never lived together, and she says they never will. She was married in her early twenties, and her husband was a jerk. Not only was he controlling, but he was also abusive, and none of that abuse started until after they were married and living together. By that time, their lives were so tangled it was difficult for her to just walk away. Years after she finally divorced him, she met Marco, and before things ever got serious, she let him know that she never wanted to get married or live with a man again. And since they’re still together fifteen years later and one of the happiest couples I have ever seen, I have to assume their arrangement works for them.
“He should be here any minute now,” she says, right as I hear the front door open. I lean back in my chair to watch Marco walk in wearing a dress shirt and slacks with a single piece of luggage I know, at least from the print covering it, is very expensive. While he sets it next to the door, I take him in. He’s pretty. Not handsome or beautiful, but pretty with his pitch-black hair, darker complexion from his Dominican heritage, bright sea-green eyes, thick lashes, strong jaw, and perfect facial hair. Literally perfect . Like he takes time to style it.
“Good morning, princess,” he greets me with a smile as he walks toward the kitchen.
“Morning.” I grin and tip my head to the side to accept the cheek kiss I know is coming.
“Morning, mi amor. ” Aunt Ileana smiles when he comes out of his bend and walks toward her. Then, with the two of them looking like a clip from a movie, he wraps his arm around her waist, bends her over it, and kisses her. Smiling to myself, I shove a spoonful of cereal into my mouth.
“Are you packed?” he asks her, taking the cup from her hand to take a sip of her coffee.
“Yes, my bags are in my room.”
“How many?” he asks with a grin.
She rolls her eyes. “Only three.”
“Only three.” His smile widens. “I’m going to need to rent a plane just for your luggage.”
“We’re away for almost two months.”
“Yes, and in that time, you’ll shop every day, and I’ll have to buy you two more pieces of luggage for all your new stuff.”
“Are you complaining?” She rests her hand on her hip.
“Never.” He kisses her cheek and then looks at me. “What are your plans while we are gone?”
“Work,” I repeat, sticking to my earlier statement and then glancing at my aunt when she makes a noise. I roll my eyes. “And the pool.” Marco grins, probably knowing my aunt already talked to me. I look between the two of them. “Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you to the airport?”
“The driver is already downstairs waiting,” Marco tells me, stepping away from my aunt after handing back her mug. “I should go grab your things.”
She watches him leave and then looks at me as she walks to the sink to rinse her cup. “Remember, Rosie will be here Tuesdays and Fridays to clean and pick up any groceries you need.”
“I remember.” I don’t even bother telling her I can clean up and shop for myself while she is out of town. I offered to do those things when I moved in, and she explained that with the work she does for my aunt and a few other families in the building, Rosie takes care of her daughter, who needs extra care, and depends on every penny she makes.
“Ready, my love?” Marco calls from the door, and I slide off my stool to stand and give my aunt a hug.
“I love you.” She wraps her arms around me. “Make sure you don’t spend all your time inside.”
“I won’t.”
She leans back to look me in the eye. “If you hear that you got accepted into the program, I expect a call.”
“You’ll be the first,” I assure her, giving her one last hug before walking with her to the door to say goodbye to Marco. Once they’re gone and the door is closed behind them, I walk back to the kitchen to clean up. When I’m done, I carry my coffee out to the balcony and take a seat on one of the loungers. I look down at the ocean and the people beginning to gather on the beach. Even from up here, I can hear the buzz of happiness in the air. When did I last have fun or step outside my comfort zone? Never would probably be the truthful answer. I let out a sigh. Maybe my aunt was right. Maybe I do need to live a little.