“But that’s only part of it for Alba.” I raised an eyebrow at that, but from our conversation that night on the couch, I’d suspected that what drove Alba was more than just a strong work ethic. Julia looked at her glass, the clear pink liquid swirling around. “I’m not going to give you her life story because I would never betray her confidence like that.”

It warmed me to Alba’s friend that she looked out for her, even in this way.

“She’s been carrying a lot for her family, for a long time.” That was not exactly new information. In the time she worked for me, I’d overheard enough whispered conversations with her mother to assume Alba did more than just help out occasionally. But she never once gave me the impression she was struggling. “It’s only really getting easier now.” Julia quieted for a moment and frowned like she was considering what to say next.

“Go easy on her, she has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Some her mother put on there, but a lot of it at this point is because Alba can’t not fix things for her family. If her sister needs money for school, she offers to pay for it. If her brother moves in with his boyfriend, she’s there with the deposit.” No wonder she never stopped. “I’m still amazed she finally took the plunge with Bookish.”

“How’s that?” I asked, and again Julia seemed to weigh her answer. But in the end she told me.

“She’s been wanting to go out on her own for over a year now, but with her—” She paused, her eyes wide suddenly, like she realized she’d said too much.

“With her what?” Julia’s mouth was clamped shut. Something about the panic in her eyes told me I might have been part of the problem.

“Did it have to do with me? Did she think I would give her a hard time when she left?”

“You’re here, aren’t you?” Julia retorted, then narrowed her eyes, a pugnacious expression on her face. “Why are you here, by the way?” I’d known that was coming. I didn’t feel like I could say it until Alba knew.

“I think I’m going to hold on to that answer a little longer.”

“Chicken,” Julia teased, but she pulled her sunglasses down and winked at me over her the lenses, so she couldn’t be that mad.

“Damn, why do the two of you look so serious?” Salome asked as she plopped down on the chaise next to mine. “This is not the kind of vibe I need when I’m living the penthouse pool life.”