“At least I have my ADHD diagnosis as an excuse. What’s yours?”
“None that are good enough for me to act the way I do.” His voice lowers. “I’m not perfect, nor can I make a promise that I will be, but I’m working on it. Just give me a chance.”
I clap him on the shoulder. “Fine, but only because Iris doesn’t like it when we fight.”
His eyes roll. “Good enough for me.”
Cami sits at the end of the long dining table beside Zahra and Rowan. My brother wears one of Cami’s crowns on his head like royalty while answering her never-ending questions about Dreamland and his job.
Her attachment to Rowan is endearing. Especially when paired with Declan shooting daggers at him because Iris keeps swooning and commenting on how Rowan will make a good father one day.
The typical heaviness that arises whenever I’m with my family settles as I wrap my arm around the back of Lana’s chair. She looks up at me with a smile before continuing her conversation with Iris, who spares me a few curious glances throughout dinner.
Once I’m done eating, I fiddle with the ends of Lana’s hair, twirling them around my finger over and over again.
“You’re quiet tonight,” Declan says from across the table.
Because I don’t feel the need to disguise my pain and loneliness with endless conversation and fake laughter.
“Just taking it all in,” I say instead.
“Taking what in?” Declan asks.
The family I always wanted but never felt like I could have.“Rowan showing you up as the best uncle.” I stick to a silly answer, knowing that’s what’s expected of me. I’m the fun brother. Thehappyone. The guy who can cut tension with a single smile and a self-deprecating comment. No one wants to hear about my demons, depression, and damn insecurities.
I don’t even notice what I said until uncomfortable silence settles over the table. Zahra and Iris shoot looks at each other over the rims of their wineglasses while Declan’s eyes look ready to bulge. I can’t bear looking in Lana’s direction, so I face forward like a soldier reporting for duty.
Rowan points at the crown on his head. “Please. Like Declan ever stood a chance at beating me.”
Cami presses her hand to her mouth and giggles.
Declan frowns. “I haven’t even had a chance to spend time with her, asshole. You’ve been hovering over her the whole night because she feeds your ego.”
“You owe the swear jar!” Cami jumps out of her seat and walks over to Declan with her hand held out. “Billetes, por favor.”
“What?” He stares at her fingers like they might carry a flesh-eating bacteria.
Iris nudges him in the ribs with her elbow. “That means you have to pay whenever you curse.”
“How much?” His expression is a pleasant mix of panicked and somewhat intrigued.
Cami gives Declan a quick pass-over with her eyes. “One thousand dollars.”
Lana chokes while sipping her water. I pat her back as she sucks in huge breaths of air.
“One thousand dollars? What’s it for?” Declan doesn’t even blink before pulling out his money clip and handing her hundreds.
“Collages.” She grins up at him.
“College,” I correct for her when Declan’s brows tug together with confusion.
Declan shrugs as he drops the last hundred in her palm. “A good cause I can get behind.”
Lana finally regains the ability to speak. “Camila Theresa Castillo, give all that back right now. You know we don’t ask people to pay a thousand dollars at home.”
“But Cal gave me a thousand dollars.” Her pinched expression is so damn cute that even Declan smiles.
Iris shoots me a look and mouthsone thousand dollars?