I’m rummaging in a drawer for tea, because Valencia prefers it, when I see my mother pull her aside. I strain my ears and watch out of the corner of my eye.
My mother takes Valencia’s hand. “I heard about your parents, dear. I’m very sorry.”
“Thank you. My condolences to you as well.”
“Holidays are more difficult than other days, aren’t they?” Mom says lightly. “It’s more obvious that someone is missing.”
My mother pats Valencia’s shoulder, then carries a box of pastries to the dining table. Caio follows, balancing a tray of espresso cups.
The second they’re gone, I stride over to Valencia. Her mouth is pink and swollen from scrubbing off the lipstick. I want to kiss her, but I’m worried about getting caught again.
“Are you all right?” I ask her.
She gives me a penetrating look. “Areyou?”
“I guess.” I glance over my shoulder at the doorway. “I just can’t believe my mother is dating someone—”
“Younger?”
“Who doesn’t brush his hair.”
“Oh, stop.”
“I’m serious. Why do you think I’m such a tyrant about mine?”
She grins and ruffles my hair, which I combed before she tied me to the tree. “Is that why you teased me for having messy hair when we were kids?”
I think about that for a moment. “I’ll mention it to Ralph. It’s possible I subconsciously equated wild hair with freedom, and secretly envied yours.”
Her mouth twists wryly. “Mine is pretty wild.”
“I like it. And I especially like it like this.” I twine my fingers in her hair now. She’s taken it down from the ponytail, and because she washed it last night, it’s a long, alluring mass of dark curls instead of the straight, shiny curtain she prefers these days.
But even Valencia’s hair can’t distract me from the current situation, and I ask, “Do you think he’s younger than we are?”
“I’m thirty-four.”
I spin around, and Caio is standing right there, a wan smile on his face.
“I moisturize obsessively,” he says. “And age is nothing but a number. Where do you want these?” He holds up a few gift bags and sends me a shit-eating grin. “Since it seems like the space under the tree is reserved for something else.”
Valencia groans, but I can’t help laughing. I like this guy.
We spend a surprisingly nice Christmas with my mother and Caio. Valencia calls her grandparents in Florida, and Rodrigo sends me an all-caps text, demanding updates. I forbid Valencia from telling him anything.
She raises her eyebrows. “Is your work husband the jealous type?”
“No, but I gave him shit when Bailey moved in after a week, and he’ll never let me live this down.”
She pats my chest. “We’ll hold off on the press release.”
After breakfast, I join Valencia for her volunteer shift at a food kitchen, then we swing by her apartment to pick up Archimedes. In a move that shocks everyone, my mother scoops Archie into her arms and smothers him with kisses. Even more shocking? Archieallowsit.
By the time Mom and Caio leave, it’s 10:00 p.m. and Valencia is yawning.
“One last thing,” I tell her. “Then you can sleep.”
“I’m fine.” She immediately yawns again. “Okay, maybe I’m a little tired. What’s the one last thing?”
