This was so not what he planned his arrival to be like.
Then again, Emilia seemed to have it all planned out by the time she asked if he could tour her around Cartagena for a couple of days, as part of her so much-needed vacations. She felt inspired by Joy’s sudden travels, she said.
“That’s… great for you. But I’m really going to be busy this time, and I have a wedding to attend, so maybe I won’t be a good guide.”
Still, he’d agreed to take the same plane, and for her to stay the first day at his home before checking into a hotel. Daniel couldn’t bring himself to say no, seeing how much of Emilia’s confidence was gone after the recent events in her life and how this was her attempt, in a way, to take it back.
People in love had a certain light around them at the beginning.Emilia could understand it now. At times during the past month, she fancied herself having rekindled old feelings of love, but it was mostly because she no longer knew how to be alone, and Daniel was such a good friend. Someone she knew. Someone safe.Above all, people in love had a certain something of bliss and good spirits about them that made others want to get some of that too. Now she guessed she must have felt that, too.“Emilia, this is my girlfriend, Valeria.”“Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”Emilia hadn’t heard about her, which was weird, but who was she to question things?
Luckily, Mateo left when he realized the threat to call the police was serious, and before Daniel punched him in the face, which he later confessed he wanted to do.“I still think you should have called the police to set a record for this. He is dangerous.”Even if he didn’t say it, Valeria already knew, but an hour ago she only wanted that madman gone from her house, and that night she was content having Daniel lying on the right side of her bed, softly caressing her head.“It’s going to be fine.” Her words were more to convince herself than to convince him.“Okay.”“I’m just glad you’re here now.”It f
At some point, he’d got to look at himself in the mirror, and all of their interactions in the last ten years, and realize just how he’d remained oblivious only because he wanted to.“I think I started liking you when I was… fourteen, maybe? If I didn’t say a word about it, how could you know?”That’s what she said.However, they had been friends for so long, shouldn’t he have seen it?Daniel thought of Leah, and the last discussion they had before breaking up (was it just around two years ago? It felt like a lifetime had passed after that very short-lived relationship).“Why are you making it so complicated? I’m just saying we should wait a coupl
Ignoring Rosa’s words, Valeria was actually grateful that Manu could stay with the Garcías that night. It was only six in the evening but she really wanted to sleep, and ten minutes later when they got home, she crashed on the couch.“I know you’re tired, but at least go to sleep in your bed, Vale.”She shook her head. “I can’t get up anymore. Would you bring me a pillow?”He sighed, and she heard his steps around the room but then, very abruptly, she was being lifted in his arms.“What are you doing?!” Valeria’s eyes were wide open, and she held onto his shoulders tightly, afraid of falling.“I’m taking you to bed, and then I’m leaving
After waiting for a lifetime to confess, and then the person you loved was the one to say those words first, it was like suddenly reaching the very top on the stairway to heaven.He loved her.And yet, that day, and even until now, Valeria found herself not being able to say it back.“Look who’s there waiting for you.” Luz elbowed her when they were walking to the parking lot after the staff meeting ended.Daniel waved his hand at them.“And that’s a really nice car that he got. “Her friend seemed to be especially enthusiastic with the story of Daniel moving to the city and celebrated it as a sign that Valeria would soon be joining the club of
“What? When? An hour ago? Why didn’t you tell me immediately?” Valeria hated herself for not picking the phone at the first ring, although one minute wouldn’t change or solve the problem at hand. She knew there was a reason for her to feel uncomfortable with letting Manu go with that man. “You are an idiot. And where are all your ‘men’ protecting my son when he’s with you?!” She hopped into the car, and Daniel put a hand on her shoulder to remind “Ask him where they were when Manu disappeared.” Her eyes were red and her lips were trembling after she ended the call, in part because of her anger, but mostly because of fear. “In the Plaza Mall. But they have looked there
“I was shopping with some friends, and I found him in front of a store. We went to your house, but you weren’t there, and the kid was crying, so I figured out it’d be better to bring him with me until he calmed down a bit.”It felt as if the dark clouds over her head cleared out, the moment Camila called to say she’d found Manu and that he was okay.What were the chances of that happening? And she’d never imagined Camila would call her first, if she knew that her cousin was in charge of Manu that day. Maybe she didn’t know. Either this had been a horrible act from Mateo’s side, which she doubted since the bastard called the police after all, or it was a miracle and she was lucky enough to get her son back in one piece.Valeria barely waited for Daniel to
“A lot of things have changed recently here, haven’t they? I’m sorry for not talking to you sooner, and not seeing how you could be upset. I thought that since you’re already used to Daniel and we all get along well, it was going to be fine.”“I like uncle Daniel.” Manu was grabbing the edges of the blanket and ready to sleep, but his eyes were wide open as he looked at her. “But are you going to marry him?”“Maybe.” She hoped that one day they’d be there. “That is nothing you should worry about. If we marry, then isn’t it like just making him an official member of our family?”“Mom, I love you the most.”Valeria caressed his chubby cheeks, wishing he’d alway