UNRAVELING AMAYA.

10

The scent of fresh paper and coffee filled the air as Ryan and I entered Barnes & Noble. The atmosphere was a comforting blend of hushed conversations and the soft rustling of pages turning. I felt a thrill of excitement as we made our way to the Black Romance section, my fingers tingling with anticipation.

Ryan followed me, his eyes darting around the store with mild curiosity. "You really love this place, don't you?" he said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Definitely," I replied, my eyes already scanning the shelves for new titles. "It's something so beautiful about getting lost in a good book."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "I can see that. So what do you recommend for somebody who's not really into all the romance?"

I gave him a playful glare. "You don't know what you're missing, Ryan. But if you're looking for something different, how about some historical fiction? Or maybe a good thriller?"

"Thriller sounds more my speed," he admitted, browsing a nearby shelf. "But I'm open to suggestions."

As we wandered through the aisles, my thoughts drifted back to my mother and our conversation at the diner. The memory of our argument lingered, a dull ache that refused to fade. I tried to focus on the books, but the weight of her words pressed down on me.

"You okay?" Ryan's voice broke through my reverie, his concern evident.

I forced a smile. "Yeah, just thinking about...family stuff."

He nodded, his expression understanding. "Want to talk about it?"

I hesitated, then shook my head. "Not right now. Let's focus on finding you a book."

We continued our leisurely search through the store. Ryan found a thriller that piqued his interest, and I immersed myself in the Black Romance section, pulling out books with beautiful covers and compelling blurbs. Every so often, Ryan would circle back to me, peeking over my shoulder at my selections.

"Find anything good?" he asked, leaning in to get a closer look.

"Always," I said, holding up a book with a stunning cover. "This one is about a woman who moves to a small town and falls in love with the local carpenter. It's supposed to be really heartwarming."

He grinned. "Sounds like something you'd like."

"Exactly," I replied, returning the grin. "What about you? Did you find a thriller?"

He held up his selection, a book about a detective unraveling a complex murder mystery. "This one looks cool."

As we walked toward the checkout, Ryan's hand brushed against mine. I felt a warm flush spread through me, a reminder of how much closer we'd become. Our relationship was evolving, and I was starting to see a side of him I hadn't noticed before.

We paid for our books and decided to grab coffee at the in-store café. Settling into a cozy corner, we sipped our drinks and chatted about Cordelia's upcoming wedding.

"You know about Ivan and Cordelia's wedding?" I asked, stirring my latte. I was easing into the subject before I popped the big question.

Ryan nodded. "Yeah. They make a nice couple, I can't lie."

"They do," I agreed. "I've been so busy with helping with the wedding planning. It's nice to take a break."

Ryan's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "I didn't know you were that involved in the planning."

"Yep, Cordelia and Ximena roped me into it. It's been a whirlwind, but it's worth it," I said, taking a sip of my drink. "Speaking of which, how do you know Ivan?"

Ryan chuckled. "Oh, we go way back. Our parents are pretty close so we kind of grew up together; it's been shaky tryin' to keep up with friendships but we stayed in touch, especially with the wedding and all comin' up."

My eyes widened in surprise. "Really? I had no idea you two were so close."

"Yeah," he said, leaning back in his chair. "I'm actually one of his groomsmen."

"You're kidding," I said, genuinely shocked. "I had no idea. Cordelia never mentioned it."

He smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Guess we'll be seeing a lot of each other at the wedding."

I laughed, the initial surprise giving way to excitement. "Well, that's a pleasant surprise."

As we continued to chat, I felt the weight of my earlier conversation with my mother begin to lift. The time spent with Ryan was helping me push those lingering thoughts to the back of my mind. Still, the unresolved feelings about my mother and our tense exchange lingered in the background.

After we finished our coffee, we decided to head out. The evening air was crisp and refreshing as we made our way to our cars. "Thanks for today," I said, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the coffee.

"Anytime," he replied, his eyes holding mine. "I always have fun with you."

I nodded, smiling. "Me too."

We said our goodbyes and I drove home, feeling lighter than I had in days. But as I parked my car and walked up to my apartment, my thoughts drifted back to my mother. Her face, filled with regret and sorrow, haunted me. I couldn't shake the feeling of abandonment, the years of pain and disappointment that she had caused.

As I settled into my apartment, I received a text from Ximena inviting me to lunch with her and Cordelia. I agreed, hoping to the escape the possibility of Adrian popping up. I'd been dodging his calls in an attempt to decompress from the situation with our Mom and I knew he was just going to pester when he got the chance.

After a quick shower, I met up with Ximena and Cordelia at our favorite spot. Darcy's. The aroma of freshly cooked food greeted us as we sat down in our usual booth.

"So, how was the book date?" Cordelia asked, a teasing glint in her eye.

I laughed. "It was great. Ryan and I had a good time." I kept it vague.

Ximena leaned in, curious. "Are you two getting serious?"

I hesitated, then nodded. "I think we are. He's... different from what I expected."

Cordelia's eyes widened. "Different how?"

"He's thoughtful, attentive, and he really listens," I said, a smile tugging at my lips. "And he's going to be at your wedding as a groomsman, apparently."

Cordelia gasped. "No way! Ivan didn't tell me that."

Ximena nudged me playfully. "So, you're going to have a date for the wedding after all."

I laughed, feeling a warm blush spread across my cheeks. "Looks like it."

As we chatted, the conversation inevitably turned to my mother. The weight of our argument still hung heavy on my heart.

"So I met with my mom the other day," I admitted, my voice tinged with frustration.

Cordelia and Ximena exchanged concerned looks. "How did it go?" Ximena asked gently.

I sighed, feeling the familiar ache in my chest. "Not great. She wants to make things right, but I can't just forget everything she did. She left us, and now she wants to come back like nothing happened."

Cordelia reached out, squeezing my hand. "It's okay to feel that way, Amaya. You don't have to forgive her right away."

Ximena nodded in agreement. "Yeah, take your time."

We spent the rest of the lunch talking about lighter topics—wedding details, funny memories, and future plans. By the time we parted ways, I felt a renewed sense of clarity.

As I drove home, I couldn't help but think about the new bond forming between Ryan and me, and the unresolved tension with my mother. Life felt complicated again.

Reaching my apartment, I pulled out one of the new books I bought and settled into the couch, feeling slightly hopeless for the first time in a while.