Deck nodded, then asked, “Where am I going, Cori?”
“Huh?”
“We took your car here. Are you dropping me off, or…”
I waited for my lizard brain to insist I push him away.
It didn’t.
I knew it still might in the morning, that I hadn’t magically figured out how to share my burdens in the past hour, but for now, I was taking the W.
“We already slept in your bed,” I said levelly, reaching for his hand. “After all the stuff with Johnny tonight, I really need to see what you look like in mine.”
He stepped closer and cupped my cheek. “Sí.Te amo.”
I shivered as the intensity he’d had in his eyes when he stared down Alejandro returned. Except this time, the force behind it carried no menace. Only a promise.
Deck and I went back to my houseand, contrary to the sexy implications of his words outside the hospital, fell asleep almost immediately. I woke up first and gave myself a few minutes to marvel at the sight of him lying in my bed. He’d stripped down to gray boxer briefs and slept on his stomach, clutching a pillow. His smooth skin rippled with muscle, and his inky-black hair spilled out over my sheets. He looked soft like this, sweet even, and I smiled recalling his fumbling admission of his lack of experience last night. Sixteen-year-old me squealed internally.He’s here, she said.We made it.He’s so beautiful! We love each other. And then, inevitably,fuck you, Chi-chi.
Deck had been to my house enough times over the past few weeks while visiting Johnny to feel comfortable in thedownstairs spaces, but he’d never been in my bedroom. Yet he’d had no hesitation when we’d climbed the stairs earlier, almost like he knew how much I relied on his certainty. I’d fallen asleep on his chest and woken up with his arm draped across my torso. Now, his jeans and T-shirt hung over the chair by my window, and his presence in my bed didn’t feel new at all.
Around noon, I woke him up and told him I was headed back to the hospital. We agreed he’d go by J&D to check in with Juan and then meet me in Johnny’s room. I’d wait for Deck before telling my brother about Rocco.
When I got to the hospital, I was surprised to find Marisol coming out of Johnny’s room.
“You came to visit my brother?” I asked.
“Deck texted us last night.Mamámade the brownies Johnny likes and asked me to bring them since she had to get to work.”
“The brownies with the spicy chocolate?”
“You remembered.”
“Of course. Johnny told her once when he was twelve how much he liked them, and she sent me home with them all the time after that.”
“Mamá cares about him.” Marisol shoved her hands into the back pockets of her vintage-looking corduroys. “We all do.”
Studying her face, I saw genuine concern in her eyes. Marisol had known my brother her entire life. She’d been young when Johnny had come around every day, but that didn’t mean she cared any less. And over the past twelve years, the Deckers had done what they could for him, operating on the same tough-love principles I had while still trying to make sure he knew they loved him.
“Thank you,” I said. “Hopefully, your mom won’t mind that at least one of those brownies will be mine.”
Marisol tittered lightly. “I’m sure she was counting on it. If Johnny eats the whole pan, he’ll have to add diabetes to his list of problems.”
I laughed. “You’ve got jokes. Even now. No wonder you and my brother get along.”
“Cori, whatever you need, you know you have us. All the people who love you and Johnny, especially my family.”
“Thank you, Mari. Johnny and I are very lucky to be honorary Deckers.”
“About that…” She grinned slyly. “I heard a rumor that it’s not so honorary.”
I tensed. Deck and I had agreed not to tell people about us. He wouldn’t have told his sister?
“What do you mean?”
“When I asked the nurse if I could bring the brownies, and gave her my name, she said something about how one brownie wouldn’t hurt, and it was fine for me to visit, because I was family, you know, since Johnny’sbrother-in-law’slast name was also Decker.” She folded her arms and raised an eyebrow, trying not to crack up.
“Long story,” I mumbled. “Don’t ask.”
