could do anything but withdraw money on. Every penny I had was spoken for, which was why I had to work so hard to stay here so that I wouldn’t live the rest of my life like that.
“Let’s grab a seat,” Aida said, hauling her bag higher over her shoulder. She weaved between all the patrons, finding a small table in the back corner of the coffee shop. It was darker here, the windows to the front of the store not lighting it as well. But that was okay with me. I wasn’t in the mood to be on full display.
The chair scraped against the tiled floor as I pulled it out, and when I sat down, I looked around at everything but the woman sitting across from me. There was so much I wanted to ask her, so much I wanted to know about Mateo. Like, where the hell he was and why he hadn’t dropped her off in the same spot as last week.
But when I finally looked at her, I knew I couldn’t ask.
“I’m so over today,” Aida sighed, leaning her head back and staring up at the ceiling. I stayed quiet, not sure what to say, but she continued, “I hate when my routine is changed.” She let her head drop, meeting my stare. “Know what I mean?”
“I…sure?”
Our coffees were placed on the table between us, steam flowing off each of the cups.
“Mateo always brings me to college.” She wrapped her hands around her cup, and I just hoped she couldn’t see the way my pulse quickened at the sound of his name. “But Romeo brought me this morning.” She growled and my brows shot up on my forehead. “He doesn’t even talk. Literally just grunts.”
“Romeo?” I asked, having no idea what she was talking about.
“Yeah.” She lifted her cup, blowing on the hot liquid and then taking a sip. “My husband is their boss. Although, he’s Romeo’s cousin too.” She paused. “Not that I’m complaining.” Her eyes widened. “I’m glad Mateo has moved out of that apartment, but it means I’m stuck with the silent, broody guy today.”
“Moved out?” I asked, trying to sound completely casual as I picked up my coffee too. I’d seen the trucks there this morning, but now she was confirming it.
She nodded, then froze. “Mateo did tell you, right?”
“Yeah, yeah.” I grinned, acting like an Oscar winner. “Of course he did. I just didn’t realize it was today.”
“It’s going to be good for him and the kids.” She placed her cup down and clicked her fingers. “You’ve met the kids, right?” I didn’t even have a chance to answer as she leaned closer. “I’m dying to meet them. What are they like?”
All of the front I’d put on since I’d run into her washed away, and a gentle smile lifted at my lips. “They’re…such good kids. Chiara, she’s four and so cute. Honest to God, the cutest kid I’ve ever set eyes on.” I stared at a spot on the wall behind her. “And Riccardo, he’s always talking or doing something, mainly looking after his little sister. You’d never guess he was seven if you met him.”
“Ugh.” Aida leaned back in her seat with such force the chair moved. “I just want to meet them. I bet they’d get along so well with my niece.” Her eyes glazed over, her mind taking her anywhere but here.
I waited for her to say something else, but when she stayed silent, I said, “Ask him to meet them,” wanting to take that look away from her eyes. I didn’t know why I didn’t want to see anything but happiness in her eyes. When I’d first seen her on the pathway last week laughing, I’d thought she was easygoing, but now that I was sitting opposite her, I could see there was so much more to her than what I’d first seen.
And in that moment, I realized I’d judged her, just like everyone did to me. They took one look at me and who my parents were and shoved me to the side, not wanting to bother. I hated when people did that to me, and that was what I’d done to Aida. I’d put her in a box, not even giving her a chance. And now I was here, sitting opposite her and wishing I could get to know her more.
“I keep asking, but he just has so much going on. And then the business is—” She cut herself off, her cheeks turning