Elena Armas

ecause his words were, without a doubt in my mind, the most beautiful thing I would ever hear said about me. To me. And for me.

“Everything that had happened hurt me, left a scar, but it didn’t break me.”

the more we swayed, the further I was from feeling anything that resembled peace. Not when Aaron was so … big and hard and warm against me.

But the more we swayed, the further I was from feeling anything that resembled peace. Not when Aaron was so … big and hard and warm against me.

Aaron’s arms tightened around me. “Just for precaution,” he said, bringing me even closer.

“Is that what you want to be, Catalina?” Aaron shot back calmly. “Friends?”

Mamá had taught me better than to leave things hanging over my head. Ignoring and waiting for them to go away on their own wasn’t the smart thing to do. Because they didn’t. Sooner or later—and just when you least expected them to—they’d fall off right on top of you, and chances were, they’d take you down with them if you let them.

“Of course,” he said with his brows still furrowed. “I always have time for you.”

You don’t need any of that goddamn shit. You are smarter than that.”

Now, you can let me walk you out and drive you home”—he paused, like a total drama queen—“or I can carry you out of this building and into my car myself.”