Chapter Seventy
The sharp counter edge digs into my hip as I lean against it, watching Elise dancing around the kitchen with my mother, apparently in her new element.
She’s integrated herself into my family so well, it feels like it would be impossible to ever go back to a life without her.
I’d never be able to move on. Never be able to bring another woman home without my family comparing them.
Anyone else would fall short because Elise is the closest thing to heaven on earth I’ll ever know, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
She’s stunning in an unattainable way that makes my chest ache, and the way I feel about her makes me physically ill to think about living this life without her.
These thoughts sound dramatic, even to my own brain, but they ring true.
“You love her, hermano ,” Carlos whispers beside me, nudging my forearm with his shoulder.
I have no idea how he manages to know what I’m thinking even when we’ve gone years without seeing each other in person.
“I do,” I whisper back, and the thought of saying those three little words has my chest fluttering and my hands sweating.
“Does she know that yet?” he asks, peering up at me with a knowing look on his face. We’ve had a similar conversation to this before, but I haven’t gotten myself to tell her since then.
I shake my head. “I’d hope she knows, but I haven’t told her in so many words.”
Carlos lets out a loud snort, reaching up to pat me on the back.
“You’re an idiot, Rafa. You better tell her soon.
There’s no reason to wait.” He nods his chin to where Elise is leaning over the kitchen counter, rolling out dough for medialuna , her head tossed back as she laughs loudly at something Mamí is saying.
Warmth spreads through my chest watching the two of them together.
Carlos’s smooth, hushed voice draws me back to our conversation. “She’s not going anywhere. Tell her how you feel so she can return the favour and put out that fire burning a hole in your chest with worry.”
I don’t bother asking how he knows this feeling because it doesn't matter. He’s right. He usually is. “I will.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah. I promise.”