“We should still go. When they extend an invitation, it’s always best to comply.”

“Are you taking Emma?”

“Of course. You know she’s obsessed with that gala.”

“Hm.”

“What?”

“I don’t feel right taking Cindy. It’s too new.”

“Too new?” Chris eyed me. “Or is it that you’re not as into her as you wished you were?”

“I’m into her.”

“Yet you keep texting Vanessa.”

“What do you all do when you get together, do you sit around in a circle and tell each other all the gossip or do you text each other throughout the day? I’m curious.”

That makes him laugh again. “You’d know if you were still part of the circle.”

“I would still be part of the circle if you hadn’t banned me from attending poker nights.”

“Hey, take it up with your sister. I said you should be welcome.”

“And Emma chose my ex-wife over her own blood.”

“The kids love Vanessa.”

“The kids love me. I’m their uncle.”

“You’re a boring uncle. Let’s be honest. When did you become such an old man?”

I focused on my beer again because that was the very question Vanessa threw at me during our last argument and I didn’t have an answer then and I don’t have one now. The only thing I’m certain of is that I need to break things off with Cindy. As incredible as she may be, it’s unfair that I’m having all these doubts about letting Vanessa go.

Chapter Three

Vanessa

I glance at my watch for the third time since arriving at the café. I’m supposed to meet my sister, Camila, here, but she’s nowhere in sight and she’s not answering her phone. I try texting again.

Me: where the hell are you?!

Cami: Just meet me at our usual booth!

I roll my eyes and set my phone away in my back pocket, looking up to tell the hostess that we have a reservation under my sister’s name, Camila Silva. She and her husband practically own this place, as often as they eat here, and thus have a designated booth. I mean, it helps that her husband is one of the biggest soccer stars in the world, something that our baseball-loving family didn’t really have an appreciation for at first. That was, until we started getting the perks one gets from having such a distinguished family member. Not only that, but he’s also the biggest sweetheart. When I divorced Adam Hirsch, it was Warren who paid for me to explore Europe for the summer. I felt special until I found out he’d also paid for Adam to go to some of his league games and sit in the box level.

When I reach the booth, I don’t find my sister, but Adam instead, and my heart practically explodes in my chest.