Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Alonzo
A s expected, Luna and Gabe’s arrival brought with it plenty of embraces, laughter, and tears—the latter courtesy of Mama and Luna herself.
Our family didn’t have fancy meals often, but we’d booked a private room at a nice restaurant to make the welcome celebration extra special.
Unfortunately, the emotions of the day seemed to be too much for our mom, who had already been tired from her shift at the hospital.
She and Papa ended up excusing themselves after dessert, leaving us siblings with Jason and Gabe.
“This still feels so surreal,” Luna said as she looked around everyone gathered at the table.
“You were here two Christmases ago,” I reminded her as I checked my phone again. Still no message from Dani. Stomach clenching, I shoved down my disappointment and tried to focus back on my sister.
“Yeah, but that’s different. Gabe wasn’t with me,” Luna said. “We weren’t even together then.”
“And look at you two now.” Tala, my eldest sister, grinned at Luna and Gabe. “What did I tell you, Gabe?”
He raised an eyebrow. “I already told you that you were right.”
“It’s still satisfying to hear it again.”
Tala’s boyfriend Jason put his arms around her shoulders. “And you say I’m the competitive one.”
“I’m not competitive. I just like getting one up on this guy.” Tala nodded at Gabe, who gave no reaction.
That was, until Luna poked a finger into his chest. He smiled then—a small curve of his lips that should have been unremarkable if not for the accompanying warmth in his eyes. If there was a perfect embodiment of a guy head over heels in love with his partner, it was Gabe.
“He doesn’t look too torn up about it,” Jason drawled, earning a narrow-eyed look from Tala. “Just kidding, Tal.” He kissed her forehead, and I had to amend my statement.
There were two whipped men around the table, and they didn’t seem to care who knew it.
When my sisters moved to the United States, the plan was for them to earn their college degrees, get well-paying jobs, and hopefully become citizens so they could bring the rest of us there too.
Tala had gone ahead, and then Luna joined her, leaving me alone with our mom while our dad worked in the UAE.
Three years ago, Tala returned to Manila the same month that Papa did, and in the biggest surprise of the century, her college friend turned freaking NBA star Jason retired from basketball and followed her here.
Meanwhile, Luna was busy falling in love with Tala’s best friend Gabe, who happened to be a professor at her college back then.
To say my life was boring in comparison was an understatement.
Sometimes I wondered what would have happened if I had taken that path too.
“Is Dani on her way?” Luna asked.
“She left the event a while ago, so she should be close,” I said. My phone pinged with a text. Reading it, I got up. “She’s here. I’ll be back in a bit.”
I excused myself and headed out into the main restaurant area. Dani stood at the entrance wearing a cream-colored dress with her hair tied back—the epitome of a poised, gorgeous, unattainable woman.
Doubling my pace, I came up to her and put my hands on her waist. “Hey, Dani.” I leaned to kiss her, but she turned her head before I could make contact.
“We’re in public,” she muttered as she pulled away.
My annoyance spiked. We’d had this talk before, but moments like these always had me wondering if she was ashamed of me and our relationship.
“Sorry I took longer than expected. Dad got into one of his lectures.”
“It’s cool. I’m just glad you’re here now.” Shaking off my annoyance, I led her to the private room.
As we walked together, she whispered, “Are they upset that I missed dinner?”
“No, they know you had a work commitment. Don’t worry about it.” I paused outside the door. “Ready?”
“Yes.” Giving a little nod, she morphed into Danielle Lim.
It had freaked me out the first time I saw her transforming into her mom’s clone when she introduced me to her family.
I learned it was how she’d been trained to present herself at social gatherings, but she shouldn’t feel the need to put on the act with my siblings.
“They’re going to love you, Dani,” I assured her as I opened the door. To the table, I said, “Everyone, Dani’s here.”
“Hi. I’m so sorry I’m late.” She gave them a smile that might be the same one she gave to her family’s business partners.
They all stood to greet her, and Tala approached first. “Hey, Dani. Don’t worry about it.” Tala pressed her cheek to Dani’s. “I’m glad you could join us.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it,” Dani said.
Luna dashed forward. “It’s so good to finally meet you in person.” She went right in for a hug, and Dani’s shoulders seemed to tighten before relaxing.
“You too. I wish I hadn’t missed you last time.”
“You were with your family, and that’s the most important thing. Thankfully, our schedules worked out now.”
“Yes.” Dani looked at me—rather, my hands—and froze. Turning to Luna, she said, “I have a welcome gift for you, but I left it in the car. Let me call my driver?—”
Luna waved a hand. “Later is okay. That’s so sweet of you to think of that. Thank you.” Putting her hand on Gabe’s arm, she said, “This is my partner, Gabe.”
Gabe held out a hand to Dani. “Nice to meet you, Dani.”
“It’s nice to meet you too.”
Jason greeted Dani last. “Dani, always a pleasure.”
“Likewise.”
Pulling out the seat next to mine, I ushered Dani in and sat down in my own chair once she was seated.
Across the table, Luna grinned at us. “Wow. I’m finally seeing you together with my own two eyes.”
“And you saw our pictures with whose eyes—Gabe’s?” I asked.
Dani nudged my foot with hers, and I gave her an innocent smile.
“You gave me and Gabe a hard time. I get to tease you in return.” To Dani, Luna said, “You’re safe, Dani. It’s just my brother I need to annoy.”
“After what he put you through, that’s fair,” Dani reassured her.
“Hey.” I gave Dani a wounded look. “Shouldn’t you be on my side?”
“I am, but you said yourself that you need to make it up to your sister.”
“Here, here,” Luna said.
The rest of the table laughed, leaving me to look at the ceiling and sigh. It was more of a show than real annoyance because I was just relieved Dani was loosening up.
She gave me a smile that tugged at my chest. Then Luna asked her about work, and I was more than happy to watch three of the most important women in my life chatting and getting along.