To be honest, I was impressed. Proud of Rodrigo.
But if he was making a move, then he had another thing coming. He’d broken my heart into so many pieces that eleven years later I was still trying to recover them all. I wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
“I still can’t believe you’re a mom,” I said, changing the subject.
Juliana glowed. “I know. I’m way too cool, right?”
“Definitely,” I laughed.
“It’s strange. I never thought I would like it as much as I do.”
“They sound amazing.” I thought back to the photos Juliana had shown me of the two of them. Both girls took after their mom, with big eyes and mischievous grins.
“Why do you look so sad?”
“Do I?” I internally shook myself. “I’m fine.”
“Rodrigo’s son sounds like something special. A hero in the making.”
“Yeah.” I carefully applied mascara. “He is.”
“Where’s his mother?”
“That’s a good question. Neither one of them mentioned her. It makes me think she might have died.”
Poor Sebastián. And poor Rodrigo, too. Clearly, he had enough resources to raise a child on his own, but that was a loss no one should have to go through.
My makeup finally done, I used my crutches to stand and inspect myself in the mirror. The sequined gold dress looked out of place next to the cast.
“That lizard.” I shook my head.
“Do you think he’s telling all his lizard friends about the human who nearly ran him over?”
“Probably,” I laughed. “Ungrateful little reptile.”
With my purse slung over my shoulder, I used the crutches to navigate to the elevator.
Juliana, walking slowly next to me, shook her head. “I can’t imagine you traveling like this. You’re welcome to stay with us until you get better.”
I gave her a grateful smile. “I appreciate that, but there’s one big problem. My job.”
“Oh. Right.” She winked. “Maybe Rodrigo could offer you a position at his company?”
“No way.” Even though I laughed, the idea of working for Rodrigo made me cringe. With our history, it could only be a bad idea.
In the lobby, I waved Juliana on. “You don’t have to wait for me. You have your girls to get to.”
“Call me tomorrow.” She kissed me. “And tell me everything.”
I had a moment of déjà vu. It was so similar to eleven years ago, when I was about to go on my first date with Rodrigo.
Except tonight wasn’t a date, and I no longer had rose-colored glasses on when it came to him.
“There won’t be much to tell,” I said. A pinch formed under my breastbone. Perhaps it had been a bad idea to say yes to dinner.
What was I really after here? Did I expect for Rodrigo and me to just fall into our old, friendly ways? Not that our ways had ever been friendly. They’d been passionate, romantic. Confusing. Over way too soon.
I could have told Juliana all of that, but she was already waving goodbye and walking out the hotel’s front door. I wave goodbye as well, still wondering what the heck I was doing.