tioning could barely cope with the humidity, and yet, Nico couldn't stop smiling as he drove. He had an

yes off the road. "A bigger place, with a patio, half an hour from the a

turned her h

you talk

g smile, like someone

ou last month, the one on the corner with the garden. Juliá

le

eral times. As if s

... and

on vacation all year round. Imagine... you and Sofi making cocktails, us grilling." Ni

aze back to the windshield, trying to contro

with

They both knew that getting close again was like touching a live flame. They had sworn

in the kitchen. In the living room. I

ry

"Nico asked, turning t

r jaw was tight as if she

st caught me

been saying for months that thi

just... Julián and S

out and str

trust you, me... the four

nbearable slowness. Family. That

is phone screen, seeing nothing. Nico had sent him the contract for th

ad responded with a "Yes

, he was d

hell ha

nvenient. Natural. They'd been friends for years. Julián had said

at was

rkness. Before the closet. Before the unresolve

y were going t

e going t

tchen, how she shared a bed with him? How was he going to endure it without giving himself away? W

he going to live with that t

ge they exchanged-barely an "are you okay?" from him and a "yes, everything's f

e night,

ther to sign the contract and toast wi

was excitedly talking about the colors to paint the walls of their room. He

lt time s

n swa

ooked

like an invisible perfume

lad we're going to be roommates. You don't know how happy I am!

issed her on the cheek-an invisible line t

a secret game that the others couldn't see. A measured cho

ted "a new stage," Camila looked at

hing was about to s