The Disappearance of Valentina Moreno

Chapter 21 ~ Saying Sorry

That evening, with a container full of banana nut muffins to represent the embarrassment I’m about to swallow, I push my shoulders back and head across the courtyard. Moses isn’t expecting me, but I know he’s home by the flicker of TV light against his curtains. The flight of steps is like climbing a cliff, and when I get to the top, I let my head fall back to catch a breath. 

The sky is gorgeous. 

There isn’t a cloud in sight to compete with the rust and amethyst streaks setting the horizon on fire, and it’s not dark enough for the moon to glow, but it’s there like a ghost. I take a few more paces to his door, but it pulls open before I get a chance to knock, and out walks Lisa. 

“Hi…” I blanch.

“Hey!” She smiles and steps out, adjusting her oversized sweater. “We were just talking about you.”

The door opens wider, revealing Moses, and our gazes flash to each other. His eyes grow wide, but mine dodge to the ground as I hug the container, regretting ever making the muffins. 

“How is everything?” She adjusts her sweater again, and jealousy growls in my stomach because her hair looks slightly disheveled. Were they fooling around? “My dad told me things didn’t exactly go as planned with arresting your father.”

“It went fine,” I say with some bite.

“I’m here if you need to talk.” She places her palm on my shoulder, and I hug the plastic container tighter to avoid whacking her hand away. “Thanks.”

“Well, see you guys later.” She waves and walks away. I’m also tempted to leave, but instead, I stand there, like an iceberg.

“So…” Moses says, tapping the container. “Did you make those for me?”

“Yeah, but now I’m not sure I want to give them to you.” My eyes follow Lisa, then flick back to him. “You sure move on fast.”

“Huh?” His brows fly towards his hairline.

“I’m not stupid. I know what it looks like when people have been messing around. She has sex hair!”

“Sexhuhwhat!?” Moses barks a laugh. “What are you talking about?”

“Take your damn muffins!” I open the container and chuck one at him.

“Whoa, Val, wait.” He ducks as I throw another, then another, and shove the container into his chest. When I turn to leave, he slides in front of me, blocking the path. “Do you seriously think I cheated on you?”

“We’re not together anymore. You’re free to do whatever you want, so move out of my way.”

“Val.” He doesn’t budge, but a shade of somberness takes over his expression as he stares at me. “You don’t think highly of me, do you?”

“I—” The words falter, and I blink a few times because I actually think the world of him. He's been nothing but sweet and selfless, so why am I being so stubborn? Pride. It’s my pride. So, I swallow it down and look him in the eyes. “I’m sorry. You were right about the reporter. She ambushed me earlier.”

“I noticed,” he exhales while running a hand through his ash blonde hair.

“So, if you weren’t banging Lisa’s brains out, what were you doing?” 

“She was freaking out because she thought she might be pregnant,” he says, then holds up his finger. “With her coworker’s baby, and since I’m a nurse, she wanted my expert opinion.”

“And?”

“And one pregnancy test later, and she’s in the clear. Although, I did urge her to make an appointment with her doctor to run an official test.”