Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Esteban
The moment we step outside the airport, I have to tilt my face toward the sky.
Hot. Bright. Blissful.
Unlike back home, where February still bites at your skin with cold wind and you have to wear three layers just to take out the trash, here it feels like summer is in full swing. The Florida sun warms every inch of me, and I close my eyes for a second, breathing in that salty, humid air.
God, I missed this kind of heat. The kind that sticks to your skin and makes you crave a cold drink and a hammock under a palm tree. It reminds me of Puerto Rico. Of sticky popsicle fingers, salsa music on Sunday mornings, and the sound of coquíes at night.
“Alright, is our Uber close?” Josy asks, bouncing Everly gently in the carrier strapped to her chest. The baby lets out a content sigh like she’s already vacationing.
Noah’s looking at his phone, then glances up and say, “Ours just pulled in.”
A black SUV rolls up, sleek and shiny, with tinted windows and enough room for all of Josy’s luggage and Everly’s gear which, somehow, is more than any of us packed.
Josy unclips the baby carrier from her chest with practiced ease and turns to me. “Here, hold your niece for a sec while we get her seat set up.”
I grin and scoop Everly into my arms. “Hola, princesa,” I murmur, bouncing her gently. She blinks up at me, then yawns like the travel has already worn her out.
Noah opens the back door of the SUV and place the car seat inside. “We’ve got five minutes before this guy takes off without us,” he mutters.
Austin walks over to help. “Let’s knock it out. I’m not getting yelled at by Violet for forgetting to buckle that thing right.”
Together, they crouch down in the back seat, muttering instructions to each other and clicking parts into place.
Meanwhile, Violet’s unfastening the baby carrier from her chest, and Eva’s right there beside her, holding out her arms. “I got him.”
“Thanks,” Violet says with a tired smile, carefully handing over baby Ethan.
Now Eva and I are both standing on the curb with babies in our arms like some weird preview of domestic bliss. I glance over at her and wiggle my eyebrows. “So... this is what our future looks like, huh?”
She laughs softly, adjusting Ethan in her arms. “Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
I chuckle. “Come on, admit it, we look good like this. Me and you, matching babies in tow. People would believe we have twins.”
“Twins?” she raises an eyebrow. “Are you trying to scare me off?”
“Not at all. I’m just saying, if this whole fake engagement thing works out, we’ll have practice for the real thing.”
Eva shakes her head but she’s smiling, cheeks faintly pink as she looks down at Ethan. “You’re impossible.”
“I prefer charming,” I say, flashing her a grin as Everly grabs a handful of my shirt and tries to eat it.
Josy walks over and reclaims her daughter. “Thanks, tío. You’re hired for babysitting duty anytime.”
“Gladly,” I say. “But only if Eva helps. We’re a team now, remember?”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t argue.
After another minute, the car seat is secure and Josy climbs in with Everly. Noah kisses her forehead, then turns to us. “We’ll see y’all at the house.”
They wave goodbye as the SUV pulls away from the curb.
Austin’s Uber isn’t far behind, and soon he, Violet, Adrian and Ethan are on their way too, Adrian already asking Austin a thousand questions before the car even starts moving.
That leaves me and Eva standing at the curb, waiting. She’s beside me in a flowy white tank top and jeans, her long dark hair pulled into a messy ponytail. Sunglasses cover her eyes, but I know exactly what’s behind them. She’s nervous. Trying not to show it.
I nudge her lightly with my elbow. “Ready to dazzle people with our love story?”
She turns her head and smirks. “Yes, sir.”
We laugh, and something in my chest tightens. I’ve seen Eva smile before. I’ve teased her a million times over the years. But this version of her, the one who banters back and doesn’t immediately blush or hide, yeah, she’s something else.
Our Uber finally pulls in and we toss our luggage in the trunk and slide into the back seat. The driver greets us with a cheerful, “Welcome to paradise,” and pulls out onto the palm-lined road.
It really is something. My eyes are glued to the window as we pass pastel-colored houses, bikes parked in front of tiny shops, streets filled with tourists in flip-flops and tank tops.
Bougainvillea climbs over fences, and the ocean peeks out between buildings every few blocks like it’s playing hide and seek.
“I’ve never been to Key West,” I say out loud.
Eva hums. “Me neither. It's gorgeous.”
Fifteen minutes later, we make a right onto a long private road. At the end of it, framed by towering palm trees and fronting a white sand beach, is a house that makes both of us go completely silent.
“Holy shit,” I whisper.
“Is this—?”
“Yep.”
The Uber rolls to a stop in front of what can only be described as a goddamn mansion.
The place is massive, white stucco walls, modern glass balconies, and big arched windows that reflect the turquoise ocean behind it.
There’s a wraparound porch with wide, comfy chairs and hanging lanterns.
A stone path leads through perfectly manicured tropical gardens to the grand entrance, where double wooden doors stand at least twelve feet tall.
“This guy said he had a house in Key West,” I mutter, jaw still slack. “Not that he had a freaking oceanfront palace.”
Eva just stands there, her mouth slightly open, staring like me.
“Well,” she finally says, glancing at me with a grin, “let’s go make a good impression on the king of the island.”
I grab our bags and follow her up the path, trying to focus on the mission ahead: Play the role. Be the charming fiancé. Impress the McNeals.
But as she walks in front of me, her laugh still echoing from whatever joke she cracked seconds ago, I can’t help but wonder. If this whole fake relationship thing keeps going the way it has, am I going to be the one who ends up fooled?
Before either of us can even reach for the doorbell, the massive front doors swing open, revealing Mr. McNeal with a wide, welcoming smile.
“Hi! Welcome!” he says cheerfully. “I’m so glad you guys could make it. Austin and Noah are inside. Come on in, let me show you around.”
Eva steps beside me, her face lighting up as she takes in the sprawling property again. “Your house is beautiful,” she says.
“Thank you,” he replies, pleased. “My wife has a great eye for design. Come on, you’re just in time.”
We walk in and it’s like stepping into the cover of a luxury lifestyle magazine.
The floors are polished marble, cool and gleaming under our feet.
High ceilings make the space feel even bigger, and there are elegant, gold-accented light fixtures hanging like chandeliers from the beams. The living room opens up ahead, with massive floor-to-ceiling windows letting in a flood of Florida sunlight.
Plush neutral-toned furniture fills the space, accented with tropical plants and abstract art.
I’m still hauling both mine and Eva’s luggage as we walk into the living room where our friends are already gathered. They’re sitting on a huge sectional, chatting easily with a woman I immediately recognize as Mrs. McNeal.
She’s tall and elegant, wearing a light kaftan and gold hoop earrings, with sun-kissed skin and an animated expression. She’s clearly in the middle of a good story when she notices us, standing quickly with genuine excitement.
“Esteban!” she says as I shake her hand. “It’s so nice to see you again. You’re just as handsome as I remember.”
I chuckle and set the suitcases down carefully on the floor. “Mrs. McNeal, it’s so nice to see you again too. You have a beautiful home.”
She turns to Eva with a warm smile and gives her a kiss on the cheek. “Eva is so good to see you. Come, come, sit.”
She gestures toward the large couch, and I gently guide Eva toward it. As she sinks into the cushions beside me, I reach for her hand and give it a little squeeze. When she glances my way, I offer a wink. She smiles back and shoots me a wink of her own.
Mrs. McNeal clasps her hands together. “Would you like anything to drink before I show you to your rooms?”
I glance at Eva, and she gives a small shake of her head.
“No, thank you,” I tell Mrs. McNeal.
We sit for a few minutes, exchanging pleasantries.
Mr. McNeal joins us again, laughing easily with Noah about something.
Adrian is beside Violet, and Austin has Ethan resting on his chest. The whole vibe is relaxed but energized, like we’ve stepped into the kind of vacation where people wear linen, close big deals, and fall asleep sunburned and happy.
After a few minutes, Mrs. McNeal claps her hands. “Alright, I’ll show you all to your rooms so you can get changed. It’s only noon, and the weather is perfect. I thought we could spend the afternoon by the pool. My husband loves to grill and talk business while I sunbathe and drink margaritas.”
“All the yes, please,” Josy says, immediately perking up.
“Count me in,” Violet adds with a grin.
“Sounds like a plan,” Eva says, already sounding excited.
We’re led down a wide hallway that branches off to a guest wing of the house. Our room is directly beside Adrian’s, with Austin and Violet next to him. At the far end of the hallway are Noah and Josy’s quarters.
Once she leaves us at our door, I glance at Eva and say, “Five minutes to change and impress the crowd at the pool?”