Say Nothing... (The Speak Series Book 2) (30 page)

Figures. Rich bastard.

"Speaking of. I passed by Ari's on the way home, and her car was gone."

She'd flip if she knew he was keeping tabs on her.

"Yeah, I know. She's staying with her parents. Uh . . . it's cool. You don't have to go out of your way to do that anymore. She just fell asleep, and we're good now."

"It's no problem. She's just a few minutes away."

"Yeah, I don't think she appreciated me sending you over there."

"Why's that?"

Insert foot in mouth. What the hell am I supposed to say?

"No reason. She just didn't like that I sent someone to check up on her without her knowing."

"Well, if stopping by makes her uncomfortable, I could always call her for you. I mean, with the time change and all, it'll be hard for you guys to keep in touch."

His persistence makes me uneasy, and I'm starting to see what Ari was talking about.

"No. We've worked it out, and I think it's better that I give her some space. She has enough going on to keep her busy."

"Okay. Well, if you change your mind . . . I don't mind."

He's the only link I have left to my dad and grandmother, and I don't want to fuck up our already strained relationship by saying something I might regret.

"Okay. Listen, I'm going to start getting ready to head out. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll let you know how it goes."

"No problem,
mijo
. Anytime."

Actually leaving the king-size bed was easier said than done. I finally will my body to the kitchen and make myself something to eat, using the time to convince myself to leave the apartment. It's really nice out, and I know I'll regret it later if I miss the opportunity to go explore.

Heeding my uncle's advice, I hop a train into the city and look for a guided bus tour. Taking a seat on the top of the double-decker bus, I put in my earbuds and settle in for the two-hour tour.

Being around my family is just what the doctor ordered. I wake up to the smell of fresh coffee and a home-cooked meal.

"Morning.” I turn the corner into the kitchen and find my dad flipping pancakes while my mom sets the table.

"Good morning,
mija
. How did you sleep?"

The bed in the guest bedroom is pure heaven; I could have stayed there all day.

"Too good. That bed is so comfortable. I might have to come trade you."

My sisters come trailing in a few minutes later.

"Morning," I say cheerily. Alba ignores me and heads straight for the stove. Amelie plops down on the chair next to me.

"Morning. So are you moving back in?" Amelie asks looking hopeful. "Yeah, Relz. It was fun having you here overnight. Maybe you can just stay until Ben gets back," Alba says chomping on a piece of bacon.

"No. I'm all for the occasional slumber party, but I like being at my place."

"They just worry about you,
mija
," my dad says placing a plate in front of me.

It's just like old times, us sitting around the table enjoying Sunday breakfast together and talking about the upcoming week. I do miss them, but nothing beats being able to wake up to Ben every morning.
Four weeks.

"We lost her again," Alba says breaking me out of my thoughts.

I toss a crumpled napkin at her as the back door opens.

"What's up,
primas
?" a voice calls from behind me.

"Letty? What the heck are you doing here?" I ask getting up to hug her.

"I just got back a couple of days ago."

Letty and I are first cousins. We're only a few months apart in age and were inseparable growing up. I haven't seen her for almost a year.

"So what have you been up to? How's Esteban?" I hope that was his name. The girl changes boyfriends like I change my panties.

"Esteban? Oh, please, we broke up months ago."

"What happened?"

"He wanted to settle down and put a ring on it. You know I'm not a for sure thing."

"So how long are you in town for this time?" I ask with a laugh.

"About three weeks, then I'm off to Texas."

Letty is a freelance makeup artist. She was at the right place at the right time and got the chance to do makeup on an indie film. One job turned into another and she's been traveling ever since.

"Are you working on anyone we know?" Amelie asks.

"Not really, just some local news anchor. She's getting married and has a bunch of events coming up. I used to do her makeup a while back. She asked if I'd come out to do it for her wedding."

"Vonne's going to be bummed she missed you."

"How is that
loca
? I’ve missed you guys."

"She's good. She's in San Diego for her internship. She'll be back at the end of the summer."

"That's cool. So a little birdy told me you have some hottie football player boyfriend. When do I get to meet him?"

I shoot a death glare at my sisters, and they're looking everywhere but at me. I love my cousin, but she has no filter. She lives to embarrass me, and I do enough of that on my own.

"He just left to London yesterday for his internship."

"Fancy. So are you going up to visit?"

"No. He'll only be gone a month, and I couldn't get the time off."

"That sucks, but maybe we'll get some time to hang out."

My phone starts to ring from the other room.

"Definitely. Hold on, let me go get that."

The loud ring comes through again letting me know it's a FaceTime call. I rake my hands through my case of bedhead and get to my phone before the last ring. It takes a few seconds for the screen to come into focus and Ben comes into view.

"Hey, babe."

"Hey, yourself. Where are you?"

He looks like he's sitting in some kind of convertible, large buildings are moving in and out of focus behind him.

"I'm on a double-decker bus tour." He pans the phone around, giving me a better look.

"That's awesome. Do you get to get off and look around or are you stuck on the bus?"

"I could get off, but this jet lag is kicking my ass and it wouldn't be as much fun without you here with me."

"Aww . . .” I turn around and my cousin and sisters are eavesdropping.

"Who's that?" he asks.

The girls walk further into the room and stand behind me.

"Hi, Ben."
Groupies.

"Hey. Thanks for checking on my girl. I owe you one." He gives them that dimpled smile and they're all giggling like idiots.

"Ben, this is my cousin, Letty."

"Hey, Ben. Nice to meet you. Do you have any brothers?"

Ben laughs, and I shove her out of the way before she can ask any more ridiculous questions.

"I'll even take a third cousin. Dayuuuummm," she says fanning herself.

"So, uh . . . yeah. That was my family." I walk to the guest bedroom and shut the door.

"You're blushing." His finger traces the screen, and my heart melts. "God, I miss you."

"You've got it bad, Rodriguez. It's only been one day." I miss him just as badly, but I know if I tell him how much, it'll just make it harder on both of us.

"Is that right," he says chuckling. "So what else are you crazy girls up to today?"

"Nothing much. Probably just hanging out here and catching up with Letty. I'll drive home in a little while."

"All right, the bus is already getting to the last stop. I'm gonna grab some dinner and head back to the loft. Give me a call when you're on your way home."

"Okay."

The girls and I spend the rest of the afternoon lounging around. My cousin, Letty, is a riot and her stories keep us laughing into the early evening. The sun begins to set, and I've been so engrossed in conversation that I've forgotten about the time difference between Ben and me.
Shit.

"All right, I hate to break up this party, but I need to get my butt home."

"Boo . . .” they say in unison.

"Okay,
mija
, be careful on your drive home. Call us as soon as you get there," my dad says as he pulls me into a hug.

"I will, Dad. Thanks for letting me spend the night."

"Of course, this is your house too. You're always welcome to stay."

I do my round of hugs and kisses, and fifteen minutes later, I'm finally on my way home. Note to self: in a Latino family, you should start your good-byes at least twenty minutes before you actually need to leave.

Checking the time on the dash, I do the math and mentally smack myself for not calling Ben earlier. It's about 4:00
A.M.
in London now, and his first day at the new office. Hoping to catch him before he leaves, I decide to wait a few hours before calling him.

I'm more relaxed than I've been in weeks. Turning on the radio, I sit back and enjoy the quiet drive home. Usher's "Good Kisser" begins to play, and I smile, turning it up a little louder. Just five months ago, things were so different, and it's crazy to think how a split-second decision changed my whole life.

ARI LOOKED AND SOUNDED HAPPIER
than she has in a while. Getting a glimpse of how she used to be gives me hope that we can get back there. I hope spending time with her family helps her work through whatever's been bugging her.

The bus tour was a good idea; I was able to take in all of the tourist sites in just a few hours. Before getting off the bus, I promised myself I would go back and pay a few of them a visit—when I wasn't feeling like shit, of course.