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“When did you learn-”

“Did you think that your sister was that good at hiding things from me?” She laughed, switching back to Portuguese. I gave myself a mental pat on the back for being able to follow along.

“How long have you known she was studying English?” Mia chuckled.

“A few months,” her mom replied. “But that’s not why you’re here, is it? Don’t you have something to tell me?”

Mia turned shy eyes to me and I smiled. “Reid and I are dating now,” she said, holding her hand out to me. I laced my fingers through hers and pressed my lips to the back of her hand.

“Only now?” her mom teased, and I laughed. She turned her gaze to me with a smile. “And you, you’re learning Portuguese?”

I glanced at Mia, gathering all the lessons I could remember to reply. “I’m learning,” I told her, my pronunciation nowhere near as good as theirs. “I still have a long way to go.”

“Well, you have an excellent teacher.”

“She’s going to make an even better CEO.” I nodded.

Her mom’s brows rose and she looked at Mia for confirmation.

Mia grinned. “I’m staying here,” she said, her eyes shining. “I’m going to be heading up the new company here in Rio, so we can see each other a lot more now.”

Her mom said nothing as she walked forward and wrapped her arms around both of us, squeezing tight.

“I’m going to take this as a resounding hooray,” I told Mia quietly, the air in my lungs whooshing out of me.

“It’s a thank you,” Mia said, her eyes bright. “From both of us.”

She pressed her lips to my cheek and a lump shot up into my throat.

Her mom sniffled and pulled away, turning back to the stove with a thick laugh.

“Let me get lunch ready,” she said, wiping her tears away with the backs of her hands. “Mia, tell your sister to set the table.”

Mia walked out and her mom turned back to me as soon as Mia was gone. “Be good to my girl.”

I had no other plans for the rest of my life.

Chapter 39

Inches or Oceans

MIA

Afterlunch,Reidhadstepped outside to take a call with Warren, and I slumped on the sofa next to Vitoria, unable to move. I didn’t know how it was possible, but I always ate twice my weight in food when my mom cooked. It was probably unhealthy, but I didn’t care.

I didn’t care about most things just then. Not when my girlfriend - and yes, my wife, but that felt unreal to me - was just outside and my family was safe around me.. Vitoria stretched out on the sofa next to me, groaning long and deep as she dropped her feet into my lap.

“Um, ew,” I drawled, flicking her pinky toe.

“I get to be an annoying little sister again,” she said irreverently. “You’re going to get so sick of being back here.”

“Are you really trying to make me regret staying in Brazil?” I scoffed, reaching over her feet to grab the remote.

“What? I wouldnever,” she said in mock outrage. “Speaking of which, where are you going to be staying anyway? Will you move in with us?”

“No.” I sighed. “I think I’ve lived alone long enough that I wouldn’t be able to live with your stinky feet ever again.”

Vitoria clicked her tongue but snickered. “Then where are you going to live?”