Despite my reservations, I'm having a fantastic time at the twins' party.

With their kind words and welcoming nature, the De la Mora's are experts in putting me at ease. They're everything a family should be, just like those old sitcoms Mom used to watch on TV. They have no qualms about showing their love for one another, and they're just as quick to playfully give someone a hard time.

Whenever a sliver of guilt needles its way into my conscience, I push it to the darkest corners of my mind. Perhaps in another life, another time, all of this could have been mine? The big family; support and security. Unconditional love.

But I don't want to think about that. I can't. Because how can I miss something I never had to begin with?

As Claudia and Elena show me off as the newest member of their family, part of my attention remains fixed across the yard. From where I'm standing, it's impossible to get a good read on Leo and Lela's conversation. Judging from the look on Leo's face, whatever they're talking about must be serious. His brows slant inward, and tension pinches the delicate skin around his eyes. But he doesn't look upset—perhaps pensive is a better word.

Every so often, Lela, who looks to be about my age, gives him a smile or offers him her hand. Their obvious connection makes me wish I had siblings of my own, which is something I'd never given much thought to before. Mom had a way of making me feel like we were enough, just the two of us on our own, with Uncle Gus and Aunt Elise—and of course, Willa Mae—decorating the fringe. I wanted for nothing.

Or maybe I did and I just didn't realize it.

When the twins are satisfied with their round of introductions, we head back to Leo and Lela and claim the empty seats. While I was gone, Sonny doffed his leash and acquired a bowl of water. Lazily, he laps at it from his place in the grass.

"How'd it go?" Leo asks as I settle in beside him.

His expression is lighter now, not as sober as before. "Your family is amazing," I tell him. "You're very lucky."

"They're your family now, too."

The more I'm around them, the more I wish that were true. An uncomfortable ache swells in my throat, but I swallow past it and nod.

Once the food is set out, we help ourselves to roasted pork, black-eyed pea salad, baked plantains, and more side dishes than will comfortably fit on my plate. After even more introductions, we wander back to our seats, and I'm surprised to find Lela in the chair next to mine.

"Hope you don't mind," she says as I slide in beside her.

"Not at all."

Leo sets down his plates, but doesn't sit. "Can I get you ladies anything to drink?"

I grin up at him. "Thank you. Water would be nice."

When he turns to Lela, an expression I don't understand flits across his face. It almost looks like a warning. "And what about you, mi querida hermana?"

Lela flashes an innocent smile and holds up her bottle of soda. "I'm good."

As Leo makes his way to the coolers, I push a fork around my plate and bite into a side dish I don't recognize. It looks like chunks of pineapple drizzled with herbs and sauce, but the moment it hits my taste buds, I make a screwy face. "Oh! This isn't what I was expecting."

Lela laughs. "It's called yuca con mojo. It's yuca roots mixed with onions, garlic, and lime juice. You don't like it?"

I'm on the fence. Before I make a decision, I fork another piece into my mouth and savor the flavor as it unfurls across my tongue. "It's not bad. Sweet yet nutty—very interesting."

"It was a staple in our house growing up. Abuela's recipe has a secret ingredient which gives it an extra kick. And believe me, every other recipe pales in comparison."

"What's the secret ingredient?"

Lela grins and rolls her eyes. "I don't know, they won't tell me."

"Seriously? You're not still going on about Abuela's yuca con mojo recipe, are you?" Leo asks as he returns with our drinks. "Maybe when you're a big girl, they'll trust you enough to share it."

"Who asked you, anyway?" When Leo resumes his seat, Lela balls up her napkin and shoots it toward his face. It rebounds off his nose and lands in a pile of rice and corn. The twins, who are sitting across from us, can't stop laughing.

When their giggles die down, Claudia and Elena absorb Leo's attention, while Lela pushes her fork through the mess of food on her plate. "I heard you've been up to see Val a few times. I'm surprised we haven't run into each other."

"I usually stop in after work, and only for short intervals," I say. "It's amazing how someone from your family is always there with him—even now." My gaze roams around the party, knowing that both Leo's father and brother are missing out.

She takes a sip of soda. "It's a blessing to be part of such a supportive family. We always look out for one another."

Her comment stabs me in the chest. I know it's not directed at me, but it might as well be. I'm a predator. A villain. The person responsible for taking advantage of an unfortunate situation. Once they realize what I've done; how I've lied to them all... They're going to hate me. And Leo—

Lela gives me a funny look. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, thanks." I try to look her in the eye, but can't and turn away.

She must sense my discomfort. "So, how's life with Sonny? Val always said he can be a handful."

Next to our table, Sonny rolls onto his back, shamelessly basking in a patch of golden sun.

A handful—yes. Sonny's loud and messy. He poops in my flower bed, and rolls around in the dirt. But he loves to give kisses almost as much as he loves to snuggle. And every day when I get off work, he's at my front door, tail wagging and that big, goofy grin stretched across his face, happy for no other reason than the fact that I'm there. It's been a long time since anyone's waited for me to come home. I didn't realize how much I missed it.

My lips quirk into a reluctant smile. "He's growing on me."

A siren from somewhere nearby cuts through our festivities. Everyone stops what they're doing, and glances around, confused.

As the alarm grows louder, Alejandro tosses his napkin onto the table and curves around toward the street. "What in the world is going on?" It only takes a moment before his shoulders relax. He gives Leo a suspicious side-eye. "Is this you're doing?"

Leo shrugs innocently. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

I turn in my chair just as a bright red fire engine pulls up to a reserved curb near the house. With its pristine paint job, primitive pump, and rounded corners, it's obviously an antique.

The twins let out identical gasps. "Oh my God, it's Jabari!" Claudia swoons. "And Deangelo!" Elena adds.

Once the engine parks, Leo stands and waves as four men and two women spill out of the truck, each one wearing their first responder overalls. Two firefighters lead the way, and from the way the twins are squealing, I'm guessing it's Jabari and Deangelo.

"We heard there are a couple of birthday girls who might be in need of rescuing," one of the guys call out.

The twins' excitement is palpable. They cling to each other, laughing, their faces ten different shades of red as the crew takes turns wishing them happy birthday.

As several family members get up to check out the old engine, Marisol sneaks up behind Leo. "You just made their whole year, you know that?" Her arms fold around his neck. "Where in the world did they get that thing?"

"From the Fire Fighter Museum. They rent it out for weddings," he says with a proud smile. "The guys plan to take them for a spin later, as long as you don't mind."

Marisol laughs. "How could I possibly say no?" Her eyes glisten as she watches over her happy daughters. "You couldn't have given them a more perfect gift. Gracias."

"De nada," Leo says. He slips an arm around his aunt's shoulders and gives her a squeeze.

On the deck, someone turns up the music, and the lively thumps of salsa whirl throughout the yard. I watch in amusement as Jabari and Deangelo each ask a twin to dance.

As one of the firefighters pass Leo, he smiles and shakes his head. "I can't believe I let you guys talk to me into this."

Leo's head tips back in a laugh. "What's the matter, Chief? Your fifty-year-old bones don't remember how to salsa?"

"They're forty-eight, thank you very much," Chief says with narrowed eyes.

From out of nowhere, Leo's mother swaggers past and hooks her arm through the chief's. "Don't worry, hijo. If he doesn't remember how, I'll gladly show him. Why don't you show Molly how it's done?"

And just like that, a scorching heat flashes across my face like it's just been doused in lava. Everything moves in slow motion, from the twins spinning happily in the grass, to the excruciatingly slow turn of Leo's head.

I'm still sitting at the table. When his gaze meets mine, a softness plays around the edges of his lips. Finally, he offers me his hand.

Before he can get a word in, I shake my head. "Oh no—I don't dance. Remember?"

When the corner of his mouth curls into a smirk, my heart breaks into its own rendition of salsa. "Come on, what do you say? Should we cross off one of the goals on your bucket list?"

I swallow hard and try to play it cool, but I can barely catch my breath. "I don't remember saying I have an actual bucket list."

"What would you call it?"

I shrug. "Just a list of things I haven't done."

"So, live a little." Leo's smile widens as his hand reaches closer. "Dance with me?"

There are so many reasons why I should say no. Why I should get up and leave this party and stop hanging out with Leo De la Mora altogether.

But I don't want to stop, even though a voice in the back of my head tells me that once I'm in his arms, I won't want to let go. So I do the only thing I can think of...

I take his hand.

Words in total, approximately 21,612.