The American Roommate Experiment (Spanish Love Deception #2)(117)

I snuck out while she was still asleep.

I was a coward.

But it was about survival.

I couldn’t give her what she deserved. I was… a man with no plan. No life. No purpose. Sin oficio ni beneficio, like Abuela would say.

And if I had stayed one more minute in that bed with her all soft and warm and wonderful against me, I would have never left her side. I would have only delayed what was to come: her finding someone else that could give her all the things she wanted and deserved. Everything we’d had, and stability. Someone that had goddamn plan, a future. Someone who had his shit together.

I didn’t want Rosie to settle for me. And I wouldn’t let myself use her, use us, to ignore reality.

Eyeing the counter again, I finally saw my destination displayed on the screen above it indicating that it was open for check-in.

“Fucking finally,” I muttered under my breath, even when I knew that this was on me for showing up at the airport hours early.

Instead of enjoying that time with Rosie.

With a sigh that wasn’t of relief, I stood up, grabbed my backpack from the floor, and called for Taco, “Vamos, chico.” Then I headed to the queue before it got too long.

Checking my phone as I stood there, I fired a text to my sister, who had arrived in Spain from Boston yesterday. With the time difference, I knew it had to be around lunchtime in Spain.


Lucas: At the airport. Will you pick us up?

Lucas: Can we stay at your place tonight?

Charo: first, I babysit your dog. Now, the two of you?



I rolled my eyes; she was just being difficult by default. I knew my big sister.


Charo: Abuela is staying here too, she planted herself here today. So we’ll go pick you up. I’ll bring sandwiches to the airport; I know flying gets you hungry. Jamón or chorizo?

Lucas: Jamón.

Charo: How about please and thank you?

Lucas: Please. Thanks.

Lucas: And why is Abuela with you?

Charo: Rude. I hope you got her a gift. Mamá, too.

Lucas: oh.



Ah mierda. I hadn’t thought of getting anything for anyone. Not even the Empire State Building key ring Mamá had asked for.


Charo: oh? That’s all you got?

Lucas: what do you mean?

Charo: first you say please and thank you without being snarky about it. Then, you don’t even try to sell me something like “I’m bringing myself, I’m the gift.” Or like being your usual… charm-man.

Lucas: I’m sorry.

Charo:… Now you’re apologizing?

Charo: are you okay?



That was a loaded question. How I was, was something I didn’t have the energy to dissect myself, much less via text with Charo. I started typing an answer.


Lucas: I’m okay. Just tired, we’ll talk when I get there okay? I will land at—



“Lucas!”

My head lifted off my screen, my eyebrows knitting because that couldn’t be the voice I thought it was. Her voice. She couldn’t—

“Lucas! Wait!”

I turned around.

My eyes scanned the crowd behind me, jumping from head to head, from face to face, until settling on one. Just one. The one face I could never miss. Not even in a packed airport terminal.

And then, everything slowed down.

As if I was starring in a dream, Rosie parted the sea of busy people. Her hair was a beautiful mess of curls, her eyes burning green, her cheeks flushed, and those full lips I’d memorized parted. She was wearing the short-sleeved shirt she had been sleeping in—my shirt—the front tucked into her jeans and… God, why didn’t she have a goddamn coat on? It was November and freezing outside.

“Lucas!” Rosie repeated. She closed the distance while I stood there like a statue. Like a total dumbass, watching her run toward me, and hearing Taco bark excitedly. “Oh my God, you’re still here. Thank God.”

The last three steps she took felt like a haze. Like she wasn’t real, and this couldn’t be happening. I’d have to be imagining it.

“Rosie?”

But instead of answering, she threw herself at me, landing on my chest, and it was as if the ground beneath my feet had finally settled. Everything around me disappeared.

I wrapped myself around her, breathed her in, rejoiced in having her in my arms, being able to do all those things I’d regretted not doing one last time.

She looked up, meeting my gaze with those eyes I’d never forget.

Unable to stop myself, I leaned down and kissed her. Simply content to get one more kiss from her lips.

When I came up for air, I moved us out of the line, not giving a damn if I lost my spot. I looked into her face. “Rosie, what are you doing here?”

She shivered in answer and I took off my coat and placed it around her shoulders. Her head shook but she didn’t complain. Good. I wanted her warm. Safe.

“I…” she trailed off, taking one step back. “I couldn’t do it, Lucas.”

I didn’t like the space between us, but I had the feeling she needed it.

“I thought you didn’t want to do goodbyes,” I told her. “That’s why I left.”

Liar, it was you who couldn’t bear the thought of saying goodbye to her.

“And you’re right.” Her throat bobbed. “I can’t. I can’t say goodbye to you, Lucas. That’s why I’m here.”