When his gaze met Valentina’s, he forced an encouraging grin. While he’d grown used to the jolt of seeing her looking so pale and weak, nothing could’ve prepared him for the heartbreak of seeing that her hair had been shorn all the way down to her scalp. The once shiny, wavy dark mane she’d been so proud of was now replaced with an array of glimmering stars and moons—an entire constellation of gold and silver temporary tattoos.
“What’s the good news?” he asked. Leaning in to kiss his sister’s cheek, he noticed the purple butterfly tattoo that matched the one Heather wore on her face.
“She’s being moved!” His mom’s voice rose with excitement.
“I hope you’re not mad.” Heather shot him a tentative glance. “But I know it’s what you’ve been wanting, so I pulled a few strings and got your sister transferred to a hospital that specializes in childhood cancer. She’ll get the best care possible, and she’ll be back at school in no time.” From over the sheet, she playfully tweaked Valentina’s big toe, and Mateo was chagrined to watch his little sister laugh delightedly in response.
How was it possible for something to feel so wrong and yet clearly make everyone so happy?
“Why would Mateo be mad?” His mother frowned. “This is what we’ve wanted all along.”
Mateo stood silently, unsure how to respond. When Heather had mentioned she wanted to meet his mom, he hadn’t taken her seriously. He guessed this was Heather’s way of taking matters into her own hands. Sure he felt manipulated, but in light of the relief on his mother’s face and the hope and adoration on Valentina’s, how could he possibly complain?
Realizing his mother was still waiting, he forced a neutral expression and said, “I’m not mad.”
“You sure?” Heather cocked her head to the side and twisted a random blond curl around her index finger.
“Nothing but the best for my princess.” Mateo brushed the back of his hand across Valentina’s cheek.
“So, the rumors are true then?” Valentina narrowed her gaze. “You two really are a couple?”
Mateo cringed under the glare of his little sister’s laser-eyed stare. One moment she was a sickly little girl fighting for her life, and the next she was a savvy preteen obsessed with tabloid magazines. “You really need to get more age-appropriate reading material.”
Valentina was about to respond when the nurse entered the room and declared visiting hours were over.
“Your family is great,” Heather said, as they headed for the elevator bank.
Mateo gave a distracted nod. He felt simultaneously annoyed with her and indebted to her, and he wasn’t sure what to do about it.
“But despite your game face, I can tell you’re mad.”
“I’m not mad,” he repeated, but the words came too quickly to be believed.
“Well, I’ve seen your happy face, and that’s definitely not it.”
The elevator doors slid open, and he waited for the car to empty before he and Heather slipped in. “Maybe a bit frustrated.” He punched the L button and paused as the car began its descent. “Also, confused.”
“About what?” Heather began to pout. Then, reading his expression, she pulled her bottom lip back into place.
“Everything.” Mateo moved into the lobby and stopped under a large skylight. With the sun shining down from overhead, leaving Heather haloed with light, Mateo was sure he’d never seen her looking more beautiful. But nothing was ever quite what it seemed, including her. Especially her.
“The word ‘everything’ makes for a pretty big umbrella, don’t you think?”
Mateo shifted uncertainly. He’d never been any good at this sort of thing. Funny to think how he’d dated Layla for two years—a girl with no fear of confrontation—and yet, he couldn’t remember a single time when she’d made him feel as uncomfortable as Heather currently did. Not even at the very end of their relationship had he felt so much unease. Layla spoke her mind freely, and Mateo had appreciated her honesty.
Heather was just the opposite—rarely, if ever, authentic. Mateo always walked away from their encounters feeling like he’d been used to further her agenda. It was the way he felt now. And yet, because of her, Valentina would gain access to the very best doctors. He had no right to protest.
“I thought you’d be happy about the transfer. I thought that’s what you wanted. So when Ira mentioned he had a connection to the board of directors—”
“Ira?” Mateo’s voice hardened, his gaze locked on hers. It was the worst thing she could’ve said, and the look of regret that washed over her face told him she knew it.
She lifted a hand as though she could somehow stop what she’d started, but it was too late for that. “Listen,” she said. “I know how you feel about him, but you can’t deny—”
Mateo turned on his heel and pushed through the glass doors that led outside. “You asked Ira for help?” He stopped and faced her. He didn’t know what upset him more—that Heather would betray him like that, or that Ira had succeeded in helping Valentina in a way Mateo couldn’t. “I can’t believe you did that.” He ran a hand through his hair. He couldn’t bring himself to look at her. “You know how I feel about him.”
“So you are mad.”
“I’m not mad, I’m just—” Indebted to Ira Redman! He couldn’t bring himself to put a voice to it. “Why do you have a picture of Layla and Tommy kissing?” It came from out of nowhere, and yet, once it was out, he found he didn’t regret it.
“Did you go through my belongings?” She spoke with an edge that surprised him. If anything, he’d expected her to play defense. Then again, everyone had a shadow side they kept under wraps. Maybe Mateo had just glimpsed hers.
Technically, in his search
