“I didn’t know he was so deep,” I remark and look out into the backyard, where a tire swing hangs from a huge oak tree and rocks from side to side in the breeze.
“I’ll always be your friend, Lindsay. Always. That’s what friends do. They forgive each other when they hurt one another.”
“I needed to hear that,” I say, swallowing down a newly formed lump in my throat. We spend the next few minutes in complete silence, comfortable in each other’s presence. Birds are chirping, and the sun is beginning to set.
“I should probably get going,” I finally say, breaking the silence.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m not exactly sure. I was just going to spend the next couple of days checking out the coast. I’ve never been to California.”
“Stay with us. I’ll take you to Santa Barbara and Laguna Beach. Gabe has to work, so I’ll be alone anyway. Please stay,” she begs.
“Are you sure you don’t mind the company?”
“Not at all. We’re going to dinner at Gabe’s parents’ house tonight. You’ll get to meet all of the Garcias.”
“They won’t mind?”
“Are you kidding me? They’ll love it. They are the best.”
Through the glass doors, I see Gabe standing at the kitchen island with another guy that looks almost identical to him, just a little bulkier and a little taller. Both are drinking a beer and laughing.
“That’s Luke,” Jess says with a smile. “Gabe’s older brother. He’s taken or I might try to set you up with him.” She laughs.
I hold up my hands in defense. “I don’t need any more man drama, trust me.” We both laugh together.
“Is it safe to come out?” Gabe pokes his head out the door, asking Jess and me. Still laughing, she nods and smiles. Gabe and Luke join us at the table and we spend the next hour talking and laughing. My heart thrums with happiness just sitting here with my friend, content and laughing.
Gabe retrieves my suitcase from the car while Jess gets me settled in the guest room before we leave for dinner. It’s a short walk three houses down the street to Gabe and Luke’s parents’ house for dinner. My stomach growls immediately when we step in the door and into the kitchen. I’m not sure what’s cooking, but it smells amazing.
“Mijo, Mija,” Gabe’s mom says when we walk in the door. She walks around the L-shaped peninsula and pulls Gabe into a hug. She kisses him on the cheek and he blushes slightly, but he lets her fuss over him. She does the exact same thing to Luke, then Jess. I smile at how loving she is with her two sons and Jess.
“Mija, welcome,” she says, pulling me into a warm embrace.
“Mom, this is Lindsay, my friend from North Carolina. We worked together when I was in Wilmington. Lindsay, this is Angelica, Gabe’s mom, and John, Gabe’s father.”
“So nice to meet you, Lindsay,” Angelica says with a smile. John shakes my hand and quietly disappears into the living room.
“Nice to meet you too. I hope it’s okay that I join y’all.” Her eyes light up when I say “y’all.”
“We have more food than we’ll ever eat. We’re happy you were able to join us.” With that, Gabe pulls two beers from the fridge and hands one to Luke. The guys quickly retreat to the living room where they make themselves comfortable and watch a football game on the TV. Jess grabs an apron and starts helping in the kitchen without any direction from Angelica.
“Is there anything I can do to help you, other than touch the food?” Angelica looks at me and her eyes narrow slightly. “I mean you don’t want me touching your food. I’m a horrible cook—terrible, actually—and I ruin anything I touch.”#p#分页标题#e#
“Then let me teach you,” she says kindly. She reaches out and pulls me toward the counter where she has all kinds of fruits and vegetables sitting alongside a cutting board and knife.
“You’re going to make the guacamole.” She smiles and taps my forearm. Her brown eyes shine under the bright kitchen spotlights.
“I think this is a bad idea,” I mumble and she shushes me. She is patient and kind as she shows me how to cut open avocados and how to remove the pit, and then cut the ripe flesh inside the skin into small squares. We each cut up two avocados. She finely dices an onion while she has me pulling cilantro leaves off the stem. In a large bowl, I begin smashing and mixing the avocados and onions while she adds salt and pepper along with the cilantro and diced tomatoes. She finishes it off by squeezing some fresh lime juice into the bowl. With a few more stirs, we have an amazing-looking guacamole.