Page 67

“Hi, Mrs. Dean,” Isa said.

Mom dropped the bags and pulled Isa into a tight hug. “You look so beautiful. I bet you’re driving all those Boston boys crazy.”

“Mom,” Mandy snapped.

“Oh, I mean girls.”

Mandy shook her head. Could she be more embarrassing?

“It’s fine,” Isa said. “My girlfriend, Tally, teases me about it all the time. It’s like the boys in Boston have never seen a Mexican.” She wanted to be happy for Isa, for her and Tally, but Mandy’s stomach burned all the way up to her cheeks.

“That’s wonderful,” Mom said.

“Yeah. Sometimes things happen for a reason,” Isa said, but Mandy was pretty sure she wasn’t talking about boys on campus and instead about what had happened between Isa and her. Mandy glanced to the table where Isa had been sitting before with her mom and Abuela, but they were gone, and a bunch of rowdy boys had taken their place.

“You should come by before you head back. We’re planning a last supper, so to speak, this weekend. Bring your mom and Abuela,” Mom said.

“That’s sweet, but I’m leaving on Friday. Mamá and Abuela could stop by though.”

“Absolutely. Please tell them seven and not to bring anything; I have it all covered.” Which meant the caterers had everything under control.

“I will.” Her eyes met Mandy’s. “If you’re not busy, maybe we can get lunch or something tomorrow.” Did her voice sound hopeful? Or was that Mandy just wishing it did?

Mom shook her head. “We’ve got—”

“Totally. Yes. Not busy at all tomorrow.”

“Great. I’ll call you,” Isa said.

“Okay,” Mandy said.

“Talk to you then.” And Isa walked away.

“Honey, we’ve got plans tomorrow,” Mom complained. “And you cannot miss your hair appointment.” She eyed Mandy’s messy locks. She hadn’t had it cut since the time she decided to go all Edward Scissorhands.

“Mom.” Mandy glanced toward where Isa just left. It wasn’t like Mom didn’t know their history. Didn’t listen to Mandy cry over the phone for weeks after she went to Europe. Although Mom didn’t know the exact details that brought about the end of Mandy’s relationship with Isa, she knew enough to understand how big a step this was. And it had to be a step in the right direction, didn’t it?

Mom’s jaw clenched, and she let out a long sigh. “Well, we better get a move on then.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

January 2015

The new ring onMandy’s finger was too big, and she had to bend her hand awkwardly to make sure it didn’t fall off. After a round of champagne flutes were passed out and loads of congratulations were patted onto Edmund’s shoulders, he had to get back to the office to finish up a few things, and Mandy had to pretend she wasn’t completely undone by how the evening transformed. Aziz was beyond excited when the rush of euphoria in the room translated into all her paintings being sold. Admittedly Mandy should’ve been pleased too. Ecstatic even. And while she wasn’t unhappy, something was missing.

“Congratulations.”

Mandy didn’t need to turn around to know that voice, and a rush of tingles raced up her spine, but she spun around anyway.

Isa.

Things had still been awkward since their last encounter, and that was putting it mildly. Mandy had fucked up—again. She was really good at that when it came to Isa, it seemed.

“Thanks,” Mandy said as she tucked a stray hair that had come loose from her chignon behind her ear. “And thank you for coming.”

Isa shook her head. “As if I’d miss this.” She gestured around. “It’s really incredible. I always knew you could do it.”

The back of Mandy’s throat got thick. She would not cry.