I take a deep breath. And instantly become consumed by Evan’s scent. It somehow has a calming effect on me, and I feel myself melting more and more into his embrace.
“Trust me Evan, my mom didn’t want anyone around her besides dad, Antonio and me. And we never left her side. We’re just glad you’re all here now.”
He kisses the top of my head and I close my eyes to steady my heartbeat. “I can fly back and forth from California any time, Amelia. Will you please let me know when you guys need me? Even if it’s just for dinner and some company. I’m serious,” he mumbles into my hair.
I chuckle against his dress shirt. “I hope you have a lot of air miles then.”
“I have a jet, you know this,” he groans.
“Yeah, I know. Just wanted to hear you say it again so you could hear how ridiculous that sounds. Which reminds me, I remember lending you fifty cents so you could buy an Italian ice once. How much do you think I’ve earned in interest at this point?” I squint my eyes.
He slowly leans back to look at me with feigned shock in his eyes. “Amelia Nuñez, is this a shake down at your own mother’s funeral? I knew you were a force to be reckoned with, but damn that’s cold.” He laughs, and I do too.
I can’t remember the last time I had a full belly laugh. And once it starts, I can’t stop. Then one by one, each of the ladies of the cousin crew start laughing too. They have no idea why we’re all laughing, which is what probably makes the moment even funnier. I’m now wiping away tears of laughter instead of grief, and it feels like the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding since learning of my mother’s diagnosis, is released. All thanks to Evan Cooper.
Amelia
APRIL
“You’re late!”Vanessa yells at me over the phone.
“I know, I know, I’m almost there!” I yell into the phone.
“We’re all here and on our second round. You set this up, how are you the late one?!” Vanessa complains.
“Trust me, it’ll be worth the wait. One block away, bye!” I hang up and slow my pace a little bit, I don’t want to be sweaty when I share the good news.
I’ve seen almost everyone from the cousin crew here and there since Mom’s funeral, but this will be the first time that we’ll all be in the same place again.
When we want to get away from our parents after a holiday party, aka get super drunk, we usually make it to our favorite pub on the Upper West Side,The Avenue. So, when I texted the cousin crew group chat to meet up here, I’m sure they were prepared to get their day drinking on.
I finally enter the bar and spot them right away.
“¡Por fin!” Lucy shouts as soon as she spots me.
They all get up from their seats and offer hugs and kisses. I don’t usually get this type of reception, but I’m sure I’m still getting the wholemy mom just diedtreatment. While it is sweet, I kind of do wish that they no longer treated me as if I were fragile.
The best thing my mom did for me is set up grief counseling sessions before she passed. She’d even come to the first few sessions with me before her death. I really underestimated the power of having the proper grieving tools to help me throughout this process. It also helps that I love my grief counselor. Kelly Olson, LMFT has saved me from going on a downward spiral. I kind of wish she were allowed to be my real-life friend, but something about ethics and boundaries is getting in the way of that. I know this because I asked her to be my friend.
Don’t judge me.
Just as I’m about to take a seat at the long high top table, I realize that I haven’t greeted everyone.
Evan is seated at the end of the table taking a sip of his beer with a mischievous smile playing on his lips. He stands and makes his way towards me.
“What are you doing here?! I didn’t know you were in the city!” I shriek as I give him a quick hug.
“I wasn’t. But you texted us to be here today, so here I am.” He smirks as he walks back to his seat.
Sheesh. That look alone almost takes me out.
You see, sometimes you look back at your first crush and think, “What the hell was I thinking?” But this is not the case with Evan. He is kind, funny and devastatingly handsome. He’s 6’4, annoyingly fit and knows how to dress well. He has the face of 2022 Chris Evans, trimmed beard and all, and the charm and swagger of Channing Tatum. Life can be so cruel sometimes, ladies.
And to top it all off, he’s now filthy rich. Cover of Forbes magazine rich.
He created PassportMed, a software that made it feasible for hospitals to provide care for tourists from different countries to apply their home country’s health care cost to them. For instance, if you’re from Canada, and healthcare is free, then if you need to be seen by a doctor while on vacation in New York, you can do that free of cost. His software algorithm helps insurance companies follow the proper channels with each country’s insurance laws, so you’re never stuck with the hefty American healthcare system bill while on vacation.
His software is now in every hospital in the United States, and last year he sold a part of his company, but still holds majority stock. Word on the street is he’ll be inducted into the billionaire’s club soon.
