Chapter 26


    “Whoa,” came from the door. It was Rosie’s voice.


    Good. I needed someone I trusted to retrieve me from this madness I had gotten myself into and register me into the


    closest mental facility. I couldn’t be trusted to … adult properly.


    “Is everything okay, Lina?”


    Nope.


    Nothing about what I had just done was okay.


    “Wait, wait, wait, wait.” Rosie shoved her hand between us, making the universal sign to hold your horses. “You told


    your mom what?”


    Gobbling down the rest of my pastrami panini, I shot her a look. “You gnow whatf I saifd,” I told her, not caring that my


    mouth was still full.


    “I just want to hear thatst part again.” Rosie leaned back on her chair, her emerald eyes wide with shock. “You know


    what? How about you start from the beginning again? I must be missing something because this whole thing sounds a


    little too much, even for you.”


    Narrowing my eyes at her, I gave her a fake, toothy smile that I was sure showcased some of the contents of my


    lunch.


    I didn’t care that anybody in the coworking space on the fifteenth floor, where we were having lunch, could see me. At


    this time, there weren’t many people left on this floor anyway. Leave it to apany in New York City to dedicate this


    much space—and money because the decor was right out of hipstend—to a coworking and shared space for a


    bunch of workaholics who didn’t make use of it outside of their lunch break. No more than a couple of tables to my


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    right were upied by now—the ones closest to the impressive floor-to-ceiling windows, of course.


    “Don’t look at me like that.” My friend pouted across from me. “And please, I love you, but that’s not a nice look. I can


    see some … lettuce hanging out of your mouth.”


    I rolled my eyes, chewing and finally washing down my mouthful.


    Contrary to what I had hoped, food had done nothing to appease my mood. This pounding ball of anxiety was still


    asking to be fed. “I should have ordered a second panini.” On any other day, I would have. But the wedding would be


    in no time, and I was trying to watch what I ate.


    “Yes, and something else you should have done? Told me about all of this before.” Her voice was soft, just how all


    things Rosie were, but the weight behind those words prickled at my skin all the same. “You know, like from the


    moment you decided to make up a boyfriend.”


    I deserved it. I had known Rosie would—sweetly—kick my ass as soon as she found out that I had kept from her all


    that me lying to my family about being in a rtionship business.


    “I’m sorry.” I reached my hand out across the table, taking hers. “I’m so sorry, Rosalyn Graham. I should never have


    kept this from you.”


    “No, you shouldn’t have done that.” She pouted some more.


    “In my defense, I was going to tell you on Monday, but we were interrupted by you know who.” I wouldn’t say his name


    out loud, as he often appeared out of thin air when I did. I squeezed her hand. “To make it up to you, I will ask my


    abu to light a few candles to one of her saints, so you are rewarded with many children.”


    Rosie sighed, pretending to think about it for a moment. “Fine, I ept your apology.” She squeezed back. “But


    instead of children, I’d much rather get introduced to one of your cousins maybe?”


    I reared back, shock etched on my face. “One of my what?”


    As I watched the light blush rise in her cheeks, my surprise only grew when she said, “The one who surfs and has a


    Belgian shepherd? He is kind of dreamy.”


    “Dreamy?” None of my savage cousins could ever be considered dreamy.


    Rosie’s cheeks turned a darker shade of red.


    How the hell is my friend acquainted with one of the members of the Martín n? Unless …


    “Lucas?” I sputtered, immediately remembering that I had shown her a few of his Instagram stories. But it had all been


    because of Taco, his dog. Not because of him. “Lucas, the one with the buzzed head?”


    My friend nodded casually, shrugging her shoulders.


    “You are too good for Lucas,” I hissed. “I’ll let you take part in the kidnapping of his dog though. Taco is also too good


    for him.”


    “Taco.” Rosie giggled. “That’s such an adorable name.”


    “Rosie, no.” I retrieved my hand and reached for my bottle of water. “No.”


    “No, what?” Her smile was still there. Hanging on to her lips as she thought of my cousin, I supposed, in ways that—


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