Page 54 of Love Unwritten
“Your dad apologized to me.”
Nico’s arms slip from around my neck as he pulls away. “Really?”
“Yup. He was sick to his stomach over letting me go. Told me that he couldn’t sleep at night knowing I wasn’t here with you both.”
Rafael sends icy daggers in my direction.
I bite back a shit-eating grin.
“He couldn’t?” Nico asks. “He didn’t say anything to me.”
“Yup. He begged me to come back.”
“Does that mean you’re staying?” Nico’s guarded gaze slides from me to his father. Whatever happiness Nico felt from my surprise appearance disappears within a blink as a frown replaces his bright, gap-toothed smile.
I’m going to have my work cut out for me with these two. There is no way we are going to spend the next couple of weeks on vacation, tiptoeing around each other while ignoring the obvious tension.
I push Nico’s glasses up the bridge of his nose to get his attention. “I’ll stay, but only if you want me to.”
He wraps his arms around my neck and squeezes until every artery protests. “Of course I want you to!”
“Oh, great.” I fake my relief. “I was worried you’d forgotten all about me already.”
“Never, ever, ever!”
“Are you sure? Because you probably liked not having to eat your fruits and vegetables.”
His adorable, small nose scrunches. “Papi still made me.”
“How dare he care about your health,” I say with feigned outrage.
Neither one of them laughs.
All right then.
Nico wraps his legs around my waist and squeezes as tightly as he can. “You’re not allowed to leave again. You got it?”
“Never? What if you get sick of me?”
“No. Never. Right, Papi?” Nico hesitantly looks over at his dad.
I’m paralyzed when Rafael locks eyes with me. “No te preocupes, mijo. If she runs, I’ll bring her back for you.”
Goose bumps break out across my skin. Thankfully, my boss doesn’t notice, although I’m painfully aware of them and what they mean.
No matter how many times I tell myself I’m not attracted to Rafael, my body will always call me out on my pathetic lie.
Doesn’t mean you need to act on it.
For everyone’s well-being, it’s best for me to lock away whatever residual feelings I have toward him and focus on why I’m really here. Nico needs me, and I’m not about to ruin everything we have because his dad makes my stomach flip and my heart race.
No te preocupes, mijo: Don’t worry, son.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ellie
Nico quickly changed his stance on having a birthday party. Although the original plan was scrapped, Josefina Lopez, the town’s expert event planner, took charge and converted part of Rafael’s property into the perfect Nerf gun party within a short twenty-four hours. The whole place was transformed with inflatable obstacle courses, shooting forts, and an interactive practice zone. Even the round target piñata Josefina handpicked herself while visiting family in Mexico matched the blue-and-orange theme.