Like It Was Our First Time

Chapter 1

THE WEDDING INVITATION

VICTORIA

The world is in complete chaos, and at this time of day, the newsroom is a constant bustle of people coming and going.

The wars ravaging the world are getting worse as the months go by, and Europe is under pressure that will eventually explode.

All of us in the news business keep wondering when this will end, but I try to keep a cool head and follow the course of events without making too many assumptions.

It’s one o’clock in the afternoon, and my desk is piled high with news stories to approve or reject, but instead of focusing on what I need to do, my eyes are fixed on a blue envelope I picked up from my mailbox a few days ago.

When I found out that Carolina, my best friend, was getting married, I didn’t think the moment would come so soon.

If I’m not mistaken, I heard the news in February, and now there’s just under a month left before I see her become the wife of Jorge, my ex-wife’s younger brother.

I can’t stop tapping the envelope on the table, keeping time with my heartbeat in an attempt to clear my mind of all thoughts so I can make a decision.

Carolina wants me to be her maid of honor; it’s obvious that Elena will be there, and although I really want to celebrate something like this, I don’t know if it’s a good idea for us to meet again after the past we shared.

The last time we saw each other, I acted like a cold, lifeless robot.

That day, I knew that if I didn’t put on that armor, I wouldn’t be able to sign our divorce papers.

I regret pretending not to feel anything because seeing Elena devastated broke me inside.

Our marriage was madness. I remember the screams, the tears, the frustration, and the pain all too well…

It wasn’t easy, though it was worse facing the passing months and the loneliness that remained once she left.

It took me a tremendous amount of effort to move forward and look toward the future, to find a home, to move on, and to make the dreams come true that were ripped from me without warning.

In an attempt to quiet my thoughts, I set the envelope down among the papers and get up, walking over to the window to breathe in some fresh air.

I close my eyes for a couple of seconds, and as I do, I’m transported back in time to my favorite beach.

The sea breeze brushes my cheeks, and when I look to my right, Elena gives me a smile that stirs something deep inside me.

I miss her, and I don’t know why I’m hesitating so much.

A couple of knocks on the door force me back to reality, and I focus on Joana, who appears with her charming smile and leans in to steal a kiss from my lips.

“How’s my girl today? Very busy?”

“When am I not?” I let out a sigh and point to the desk. “These days are crazy, and I have so much news I don’t know what to run tomorrow, the day after, or the day after that. The world has gone mad and…”

“Hey…” Joana places her hand on my cheek and strokes it with her thumb. “If you keep scrunching up your face like that, you’ll turn into a raisin before you’re forty.”

“I thought you liked them,” I joke, raising an eyebrow. “But seriously, I need a vacation or my head is going to explode. I can feel the pressure in my temples.”

“What if we go to a spa for a couple of days?” she suggests without thinking too much.

“We’ll see,” I sigh again. “Don’t you have anything to do? Is the weather forecast for next week all set?”

“Are you kicking me out?” she crosses her arms with feigned annoyance.

“No, it’s just that it’s one o’clock, and I don’t know about you, but I’m dying to finish,” I conclude, walking over to my chair and plopping down in it without much grace.

“What if we leave now?” she suggests, leaning on the table. “We could grab something to eat and then enjoy a relaxing bath together…”

“I’m interested in the plan, but at this rate I’ll have to settle for a sandwich and a soda from the café across the street,” I reply without looking at her, holding the folder that covered the invitation. “We can save it for another day, if that’s okay with you.”

“Sure, no problem. Plus, that way we can plan our vacation together,” she says, and, curious as always, holds the envelope between her fingers. “What’s this? A fan letter?”

“My best friend is getting married in August. She’s asked me to be her maid of honor.”

Joana lets her curiosity get the better of her; she opens it and reads the contents in silence.

“Wow, Ibiza…” she whispers, intrigued. “We could go—it says here you can bring a guest.”

“I don’t think that’s the best idea.”

“Why not? We’ve been together for over six months.”

“It reminds me,” I say, looking her in the eyes, not quite sure how to tell her something I should have told her sooner. “Or is it that you don’t want me to meet your friends?”

“You know Martín and Tere. They’re my friends, too.”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. You’ve always told me your family is in Ibiza.”

She snorts in exasperation. “But look, fine. Do whatever you want.” She drops the invitation on the desk. “I guess our relationship isn’t serious enough for you to take me to an event like that.”

“Don’t say that…” It takes me two seconds to get up, wrap my arms around her waist, and stop her from leaving my office. “Let me think about it, okay? It’s not easy for me to go back. A lot has happened and…”

“Whatever you want, but I get the feeling that, even as time goes by, we’re still stuck in the same place.”

“What do I have to do to get you to stop thinking that nonsense?” I ask, looking into her eyes.

“Focus on work, pick the four news stories, and invite me to lunch,” she says, turning in my arms and wrapping her arms around my neck. “That, and spend the rest of the day with me.”

“Okay. I’ll text you when I’m done.”

“That’s the spirit.”

Once I’m alone, I bring a hand to my forehead and let out a sigh. I should have hidden the envelope and kept Joana from reading it, because now I’ll have to tell Carolina that I won’t be attending the wedding alone.