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“What...?”

“The hospital address, Kendra.” She repeated.

“Are you in Belinda?” I couldn't believe that information.

“Ok, wake up and get ready, I'll be in front of your dorm in an hour.” She declared, ending the call. She just hung up on me.

I felt that, suddenly, I no longer needed coffee, because the simple information that I would have to face my mother during that day gave me enough energy to forget about sleep and focus on my despair.

I got back to the room faster than I could have imagined and I could already see some students waking up and starting their days.

I entered the room and took a big sip of my coffee, burning my tongue and the roof of my mouth slightly. I cursed under my breath and went to the bedroom, where, with my chaotic energy, I woke Veronica up.

“Hey, good morning...” Her expression, like someone who had just woken up, was the most beautiful thing. I smiled a little, allowing myself to take a deep breath and forget for a moment that my mother was arriving.

“Good morning, shorty…” I left the coffee cup on the bedside table and sat on the bed, stretching out to kiss her lips. “Did you sleep well?”

She smiled.

“I should be the one asking you this, mami... Are you okay? Did you sleep well?”

I shrugged. I couldn't lie to her, and I didn't want to.

“I'm fine, yes... I mean, I'm nervous...” I took a deep breath and waited for Veronica to sit on the bed. She grabbed my hand and, silently, encouraged me to continue: “My mother is coming, she has already arrived in Dallas and is coming to Belinda.”

Veronica's eyes immediately widened.

“Is Mackenzie Winfrey coming?”

“Yes, she is.”

“Wow... I didn't think I'd meet my mother-in-law in these conditions, but...” I felt my cheeks start to burn and Veronica soon burst into laughter. “I'm kidding, I don't need to meet your mother today, Ken.” She placed a kiss on my cheek. “But it's fun to see you nervous about that possibility.”

I swallowed hard and said the obvious: “She doesn't know...”

“I figured, but don't worry, I'll stay here until you want to walk around holding hands with me, I don't want you to feel pressured into anything, okay?!” Her brown eyes seemed a little bigger when she placed them close to my face, touching our noses.

“Okay… Thank you.”

“You don't need to say thank you.”

She touched my face for a moment and I thought the world might stop in that second. That all the problems could disappearand I would just stay there in my dorm with Veronica. I would spend the day with her in bed while we would caress each other and I would actually sleep in her arms this time.

Unfortunately, the world did not obey our wishes.

“Okay, you need to go.” I declared, being direct. “And I need to get ready.”

“Are you kicking me out?” She mocked.

“Yeah, a little...”

She rolled her eyes and, luckily for me, took the situation in good humor.

“Ok, I will, but you will have to reward me later.” I looked at her, a little surprised. “I'm not talking about sex, you naughty girl.”

“I didn't say anything.” I raised my hands in surrender.

“Your face said it.” she replied. “Let's have dinner together, like on a date, but without holding hands in public.”